"That went better than expected," Tristan said, wrapping an arm around my middle.
"Yeah." I pushed away, closing the door.
Tristan shoved his hands in his pockets, and he cocked his head. A few pieces of hair fell in his eyes, and I swept them away.
Using his chest like a wall, I pushed on my toes. "Thanks." His scruffy cheek tickled my lips when I kissed him.
The cocky grin I loved so much lifted the corner of his mouth. "Not sure for what, but you can definitely thank me any time you'd like."
∞ ∞ ∞
We counted the days until we'd see Conner and Kellie again. When the day arrived, Tristan and I were absolutely jumpy.
"Alyssa said we're supposed to be at their house in fifteen minutes."
Tristan rounded the corner, rolling up his sleeves. "Oh, yeah?" The front of his shirt parted. A few droplets of water slid down his chest. Dear Lord. "Spud, my eyes are up here." He lifted my chin. "I'm starting to get the feeling you're after me for my body."
Standing, I slung my arms around his neck, spreading my fingers through his dark, wet hair, and inhaled the fresh out-of-the-shower scent. "Nah, just for the mind-blowing sex."
His chest vibrated against mine. "Same thing." He tapped my nose. "I'll be ready to head out in a minute."
Light and air and wind and the sound of birds chirping outside marked the special day with accomplishment. In a few hours, our families and friends would witness a huge milestone when we graduated college.
"Have you heard from Kellie?"
Tristan glanced down at me, frowning. "No, I figured since you two talk every day, you'd have spoken with her."
"Maybe she and her parents decided to stop for a bite to eat while on the road?"
Worry lines creased along his forehead.
"Or they may have had to stop to feed or change Conner."
Tristan's face smoothed. "Probably so." He smiled. "Seeing him via FaceTime isn't the same."
I squeezed his hand in mine. "I miss him, too."
We stood outside, ringing Bret and Alyssa's doorbell when a voice hollered, "Come in." Tristan and I walked into Bret's house, the place Alyssa now called home, with a grin. "Daniels, I'm in the kitchen. Get in here." Bret's baritone voice carried to the living room.
"The man drinks too damn much." Tristan laughed.
"I'm gonna check on Alyssa." Nodding, he headed in one direction and I in the other.
Alyssa barely glanced my way when I entered her bedroom. "Can't believe we actually did it." Alyssa held emotions in better than anyone. Long blond waves swung down her back. While she applied color to her lips, I was inspired how someone, so full of life, had gone through so much and come out better.
"Yeah, kind of been a crazy four years, right?"
Some days, when thinking back to the beginning, I couldn't believe how much life had actually changed. What the meaning of freedom, living and loving, meant to me now was so different than before.
"Hell yeah, it has." Color reached her cheeks as she grinned.
"I'm proud of you." A lump formed and I swallowed it down.
Alyssa's blue gaze pinned me in place, studying me in the mirror before standing and smoothing down her pencil skirt. She lifted her head, her chin held high, and said, "You're my best friend, Elle."
I nodded. "Right back at you."
"Thank you for, for not letting me give up."
"You know I'm always here."
A sweet smile tipped the edges of her painted lips. Alyssa used to be full of light, and I always believed she'd find that again. Without a doubt, Bret was responsible for the sparkle in her eyes now.
"I–" Her shoulders dropped.
I ate up the space between us and hugged her close. "Don't ever thank me again," I said, choking on my words.
Heather's image popped in my mind, and gratitude washed over me. Every hardship, the setbacks, mixed with the moments of joy made up all of life's treasured moments. Life was short and I learned to cherish the now, the good and the bad.
"Perfect, because I won't ever say it again," Alyssa teased, her go-to coping mechanism.
"Girl-on-girl action, nice." Bret whistled from the doorway. "Two beautiful woman, groping and–"
"Ew," Alyssa and I interrupted at the same time.
"Bret," Alyssa said, exasperated. "I love these little teenage moments with you, too, but I'm not gonna lie." Her trimmed brows lifted. "I'm more than enough for you to handle." Alyssa draped her arm around my waist and tugged. "You couldn't handle us together."
Tristan appeared beside Bret in the doorway. "Nor is he going to try."
Bret glanced back at his buddy, then nodded to where Alyssa and I stood. "Come on, don't tell me you haven't thought about it."
Tristan locked his gaze on me, and lust coiled within. "Elle's enough for me. Always has been."
That man knew how to make me swoon.
Alyssa's arm dropped. "You've got it bad," she whispered.
"You've got no idea just how much," I said back, heading to Tristan.
The sound of laughter broke up the stand-off as Tisha brushed past the guys. Poor Bret mumbled something low and stepped into the bedroom.
"Oh my God! Can you believe college is over?" Tisha glanced down at the oversized golden band wrapped around her ring finger, smiling adoringly at it. "Well, it will be officially in four hours," she said with a shrug.
Rixon came up a minute later, leaning against the doorjamb. He had a sloppy grin plastered on his face.
Bret caught his expression and groaned. "Stop fucking looking at her like that."
Rixon shrugged, all attitude as his grin turned into a smirk. "How would you like me to look at my wife, eh?"
Tristan egged him on. "Dude, wanna bet how many times he defiled–"
Bret shoved Tristan's shoulder.
Alyssa pinched Bret's arm. "Let's get out of our room."
As the others filed past us heading to the living room, Tristan grabbed my arm, spinning me around to face him. "Dad sent a text. They're running late. What do you say we get out of here?" His breath heated my skin.
"God, yes," I said, willing to go wherever he wanted me to.
"Guys, we forgot something at the house. We'll see you after graduation." Tristan rushed us out of the house and to the car so fast, no one was able to comment about our leaving.
In the car, I brushed a piece of hair from my skirt. "You know that was rude of us to leave the way we did."
"Who gives a shit." Tristan shrugged.
Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up into our driveway, along with our parents.
"Guess our plans changed. Again," I grumbled.
Tristan agreed with a groan. "Let's pretend they're not there." He turned to me with a seriously dark expression.
Laughing, I opened the door and exited the car.
"Your mother drives like a snail," his dad said, stretching on the curb.
"I'd prefer to get here in one piece," his mom retorted.
"I thought you drove fine, Marcy." Mom shooed Mr. Daniels. The three of them becoming so close was wildly amusing, considering their history.
On the porch, I waved. "Y'all come inside."
Tristan pressed his front half against my ass as I wiggled the key into the lock, his erection digging in. "Spud, as soon as this is over, I'm bringing you home for some panting and begging." He ran the back of his hand down my arm. "Perhaps you'll call me God again."
I dropped the key, and he chuckled, landing him an elbow in the sternum.
Inside, we chatted about Kellie and Conner while Tristan answered a call in the bedroom.
"I forgot to send y'all the rest of the pictures I snapped." I scrolled through my phone until I found them. "Here, take a look."
Mom grasped the phone, sharing the screen with Tristan's mom. "Oh, he has Tristan's eyes."
Wade averted his gaze to the floor, eyes just as glossy as our Moms'.
"He does," I agreed. I turned my head at the sound
of Tristan's booming voice. "Um, I'll be back."
When I made it to our bedroom, I found Tristan shoving clothes in a bag while holding his phone to his ear. "What's going on?"
Tristan
"Kellie's sick, Tristan. And since she refused to go on with any more treatments, the cancer has spread." Mrs. Williams' voice shook as bad as my hands.
"Wait, I don't understand?" The sound of Conner crying in the background sealed my decision. "Doesn't matter. I'll be there in a few hours. We can work everything out as soon as I get to the hospital."
"Tristan, I-I'm…" Mrs. William stammered before exhaling sharply into the phone. "We're on the fourth floor, room four-oh-five. Drive safe."
Ending the call with Kellie's mom, I glanced up and stared at my future standing in the doorway.
"Go, I'll be there soon."
Without hesitation, I marched to her. Grabbing her chin, I pressed a kiss on her lips. "Thank you."
"I love you," Elle said, grasping my face between her warm hands before letting them fall to her sides.
I skimmed her cheek, her skin smooth and silky beneath my fingers. "Be careful on your way up."
Elle nodded, though worry lined her eyes.
A shuffling sound followed by loud chatter drifting from down the hall snapped my attention to our guests. Mom's pleas to wait for them, or hell, to hold off until graduation ended, would waste precious time.
"Will you help me get out of here quick?"
Elle nibbled on her lower lip. "Yeah. Don't worry about packing clothes, I'll bring them up with me."
"Thanks." I followed her to our parents.
"Elle, honey?" Elle's mom frowned as soon as we stepped into the room.
"Tristan has to leave. Kellie's sick." She lifted her hand. "You all can follow me, but he's going up there now."
"Conner, is he–" Mom gasped, covering her mouth.
"He's fine, Mom." I held Dad's gaze. "I love y'all, but I've got to go."
"Go, son." He shook the change in his pocket. "We'll follow Elle."
"Thank you." I kissed Elle once more and dashed out.
The busy interstate traffic didn't stop me from weaving in and out of lanes. My mission to drive the speed limit forgotten as my mind created worst-case outcomes. Was she suffering? In a foolish attempt at bravery, would she try to eat up the pain in silence? The vision of her screaming forced my heavy foot on the gas pedal.
The two-hour drive cut down to an hour and a half wasn't quick enough. Elle called when I pulled into town.
"Are you there?"
"Just got to town. Heading to the hospital."
Elle sighed. "Good, I'm glad you made it okay. We've all been worried." She blew into the phone. "We'll be in either late tonight or in the morning." Elle covered her hand over the receiver. Muffled voices cut through the line, though I couldn't catch who they belonged to.
"Bret said he'll call later." Elle's voice dropped. "I'm going to give your parents directions, then I'll head up after graduation." Before I could ask why she wasn't leaving with them, she said, "You need time alone with Kellie and her family. To talk." Elle panted and the tink, tink, tink of her shoes hitting the floor broke through the line. "Shit, I've gotta go, students are sitting in their seats already. I'll be there soon. Love you." The background noise instantly hushed.
My tires screeched to a stop in the parking garage. From sitting so long, my legs felt floppy as I jogged up to the entrance.
The sterile smell of hospitals was all alike. My nose stung and my stomach rolled as memories of Heather's lifeless body resurfaced. I bent over, hands on my knees to focus.
My phone chimed with a text message from Tracy, Kellie's mom. The nurse gave Kellie medicine and she's resting now. Grant headed to the office and Conner needs a nap so I'm taking him home. Let me know when you're here.
Spine straight, my thumbs sped across the keys on my phone while I jogged to the elevators. At the hospital. Heading up to the floor now.
The elevator dinged, and when the doors cranked open, I rushed out. What room? Shit! I couldn't remember a simple number. The damn device nearly jumped out of my shaking hands. A quick glance at the text and there it was: 405.
Down the hall and around the corner, I stopped in front of Kellie's room. Before going in, my grip on the door handle tightened. The cold metal was a contrast against my warm, sweaty skin, oddly calming the tremors enough to knock once before walking inside.
Bright sun from the double windows, giving a false sense of happiness, blinded me when I came in. When my vision cleared, the generic gray walls and green and blue-speckled linoleum floor greeted me.
The inflating blood pressure cuff broke through the temporary blockage of sound in my ears. I followed the noise–the constant beep monitoring her heart and the buzz from the other machines keeping track of Kellie–only it wasn't really Kellie. It was as if the sickness had swallowed up the feisty woman I used to know and replaced her with a new version.
Every bit of air in my lungs rushed out, leaving me breathless. Several tears splashed against my cheeks. "Kel, it's me, Tristan."
Her brows knitted as the cuff suctioned tighter around her bone-thin arm. My feet worked on their own, carrying me closer to her side.
"I'm here," I whispered next to her ear. The monitor evened and her brows relaxed. She heard me? "You always had to be the center of attention." I chuckled, pulling the chair from against the wall next to her bed.
Kellie didn't move. My chest, God, it hurt. Why the hell was this happening?
"Kel, I'm not ready to raise our son without you. Stay strong. Besides, you can't yell at me when I do something dumb if you don't get better."
Her monitor went crazy, and a few seconds later, the door opened and a tall brunette wearing dark blue scrubs hurried in. She stared at the bed. "Oh, I didn't realize Miss Williams had a visitor." The nurse, I assumed, pressed silent on the machine.
"Yes, ma'am." The smile I wore was a lie. On the inside, I was a fucked-up mess. "I was hoping to catch my son and Tracy before they left."
Something flickered in her expression, and she flexed her hands. "Tristan Daniels? The Tristan Daniels?"
"That's what they call me." When she didn't take my outreached hand, I let it fall to my side. I glanced at her nametag: Zoey. Didn't come close to ringing a bell.
"Kellie and I grew up together." She scowled.
Figured it was best to keep quiet. I was right.
"You dumped her." She scrunched up her nose. "For another woman. Then left her pregnant and alone, and now you decide to be in the picture?"
Kellie's machines beeped out of control again. The nurse silenced them and checked the settings. Kellie's skin changed from pale to greenish, though she didn't wake.
Dammit.
"Listen, you're obviously a good friend." I stepped up to her. "Seeing her here, in–" I ran a hand over my face. "I care about her." My jaw twitched. "You're right, I wasn't there for her or Conner, but I am now."
"I-I…"
My phone buzzed. "Excuse me." Not checking the screen, I stepped into the hallway to take the call. "Hello."
"Tristan, hi. I was calling to check on you," Kellie's mom said.
"Hi, Tracy. I'm with Kellie now. We must have just missed each other. How's Conner?" I ran a hand through my hair, pacing.
"Asleep, finally." She sighed.
"Are you at Kellie's place? I can meet you, watch Conner so you can–"
"That would be wonderful."
"I'll be there in ten." I turned, facing a red-eyed, Zoey. Shit. "Listen, I imagine you don't think I deserve to be here." I shook my head. "And to some degree you may have a point, but I'm here now."
"No, I stepped over the line, professionally." She wiped her cheeks. "It's just hard seeing someone you're close to suffering." She cleaned the black smudges under her eyes. "You're not a bad guy. Kellie told me what happened."
Maybe I should've been angry, but I didn't have it in me. "Really, it's no big dea
l. Let's forget about it and move on." She nodded, and I shoved my hands deep in my pockets. "I'm going to run."
"Yes, yes." She nodded, vigorously. "Of course."
Stepping around her, I left.
Animosity crawled under my skin as I drove past a crowded park. People who took life for granted, who didn't appreciate how precious life was.
Finally, I parked in front of Kellie's house but stayed in, calming the rage twisting me up.
My phone beeped. On any other day, the damn thing hardly made a sound. As soon as I read Paul's text, the pent up, energy fizzled.
Talked to your girl. Man, why the fuck didn't you tell me sooner?
Didn't want to bother you with my shit.
Brothers to the end.
Those four words grounded me, brought me out of the emotional spiral of self-pity. Thanks, man. I gotta get to my son. Talk later?
You SOB. Can't believe you made me an uncle. Plan on my coming home early to teach him a few things. ;)
In that case, stay the hell away.
See, now that hurts. Even from across the globe, I could imagine his booming laughter waking up his crew.
Bro, get some rest. I'll email you updates soon.
Take care.
Tristan
Mrs. Williams didn't answer the door so I let myself in. Shadows eclipsed the daylight when I walked inside the house. Flicking the living room lights on, I found Kellie's mom asleep on the sofa. She never moved when I covered her up. Kellie had her mom's dimples, big brown eyes, and brown hair. A faint sound carried from down the hall, and I followed the noise to Conner's room.
"Hey, buddy." Upset or not, Conner's red face and pudgy cheeks were so damn cute. Stepping closer to him, the smell of his dirty diaper clogged up my nose.
"Not sure about his, little man." When I picked him up, he rubbed a fist in his eyes. "Where does Mommy keep the diapers?"
I stared at Conner, in awe actually, and bounced him, stopping when the punch of stench hit my nose harder. "Okay, enough bouncing."
I found the diapers tucked under a table next to the rocking chair, the container of wipes sitting next them. I reached for the whole box and two diapers. Just in case.
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