by Webster, K
Dad scoops me up and carries me into the living room. We sit on the couch and Landon drops on my other side. When I look at my brother, I see that he’s crying too. And that makes me cry harder.
Landon squeezes my hand. “Is this why you’ve been sick for months and months?”
“I don’t want to die,” I tell them, quaking with emotion.
Dad’s body shakes as he cries, but he quickly composes himself. His voice is gruff and firm. “I won’t let that happen.”
“But Mom,” I argue.
“Your mother went years and years ignoring her body until it was too late.” He kisses my hair. “And while you tried to keep it from us, because you’re just like her, it’s out now. We can work toward keeping you healthy. No more secrets, baby girl. From here on out, I want to be apprised of everything. I’ll go to all your appointments.”
“I guess it helps I’m dating a doctor too,” I blurt out.
Dad stiffens, pulling away. His eyes are bloodshot from crying and his cheeks are wet, but anger flickers in his dark blues. “A doctor?”
“The hot ER doctor Winter is always rambling about?” Landon offers.
I sometimes forget his girlfriend is best friends with Winter, who basically introduced me to Daniel when she brought me into the ER that day.
“Yeah, Dr. Venable. His name is Daniel.”
“Daniel Venable?” Dad hisses. “I know him.”
“You do?”
“Well, I know of him. We have mutual friends. Lauren, he’s my age,” Dad growls. “What the hell?”
My spine straightens and I pin Dad with a firm glare. “Don’t start. Not now. He’s kind and caring. Not some monster trying to seduce away your little girl. I’m eighteen and can make my own decisions about who I date.”
He opens his mouth to speak when someone knocks on the front door.
Oh crap.
Daniel had been texting me and I blew it off, which means…
He’s here.
“I’ll get it,” Landon says, hopping up and running off.
A moment later, Daniel strides in still wearing scrubs and a tired expression. When he sees me, he rushes over to us, dropping into the spot Landon vacated beside me.
“I’ve been texting and calling you. I was worried sick,” Daniel chides, grabbing both my hands in his. “How are you feeling?”
Dad practically thrums with fury beside me.
“Fine,” I lie. “Uh, Daniel, meet my dad, Teddy. Dad, this is my boyfriend.”
Daniel’s eyes scrutinize me for a second before he darts his attention to my dad.
“Mr. Englewood,” Daniel says, his voice polite but strained with worry. “It’s nice to meet you.” He offers his hand and Dad reluctantly shakes it.
“You do realize Lauren is eighteen,” Dad bites out, blunt as hell. “And you’re what? Forty?”
“Forty-five.”
Landon crosses his arms over his chest and scowls at us, looking just like freaking Dad. I stick my tongue out at him. He smirks and relaxes.
“Don’t you think you’re too old for her?” Dad demands.
Daniel squeezes my hand. “I understand what it looks like to an outsider, I’ll give you that. But Lauren and I have an intense connection. I’m not stringing her along or forcing her to do anything. I want nothing but her happiness and to take care of her.”
“I can take care of her,” Dad growls. “I can make my daughter happy.”
“Dad—”
“No, Lauren, I’m not going to have some old ass man swoop in and confuse my daughter—”
“Where were you this entire year?” Daniel demands, his voice icy cold.
“I beg your pardon,” Dad says.
“Working. While you were off working and her brother was with his girlfriend, Lauren was all alone. She was dealing with something no one needs to deal with on their own.” He darts his eyes my way, questions dancing in them.
“They know,” I assure him.
Even in the heat of the moment, he respects my secrets.
“I’m not insulting you, Teddy,” Daniel says, “I’m just speaking the truth. We met through the hospital and kept meeting. I took care of her because she was all alone. Then, it just evolved. I’m not sure when it happened, but it did. I’d do anything to keep her healthy and happy.”
“Lauren,” Dad says, pain in his voice. “I didn’t know. Had I known, I would’ve already come back to work in town. I can tell the office I can no longer travel. Things will change. I will be here for you, baby girl. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” I utter, leaning against his shoulder. “I want you home more. But I also want you to understand I’ll date whoever I want. I care a lot for Daniel and I have enough stress in my life without having to fret over if you approve of him or not.”
Everyone grows quiet and it’s Daniel who breaks the silence.
“I won’t ever hurt her. Never,” Daniel assures them. “Lauren deserves all the love in the world, and I’m just one part of her world. We don’t have to be divided here. Each of us wants the same thing: Lauren’s happiness.”
Dad’s shoulders relax and he shoots Landon a look. Those two often talk silently, sharing the same brain. Landon walks over and ruffles my hair.
“I’m cool if Laur has a sugar daddy.” He shrugs. “I’m off to see my girl. See you guys later.”
I mouth a thank you to my brother.
“I’m not her sugar daddy,” Daniel clarifies, making me snort with laughter.
“Thank fuck, because I was about to beat your ass,” Dad grumbles.
I can’t help but giggle, which makes both my guys smile. If Mom were here, she’d wink at me. We’d share our own silent conversation, one that says we know just how to bring the men in our world to their knees. God, I miss her.
Normally, thinking of Mom brings down my mood. But when your mood is as low as it can go, I can only go up from here. Mom was a fighter.
I’m a fighter too.
Fire burns in my stomach as newfound determination thrums through my veins.
So my kidneys are crapping out on me. That sucks. Really fucking sucks. But it’s not the end of the world. Not yet. I won’t let it be. I’m going to learn what I can, get the help I need, and fight for the life I deserve.
Happiness.
It’s mine. I just have to fight for it.
“Did you come here straight from work?” I ask, chewing on a piece of chicken.
He nods as he makes a sandwich. “You weren’t answering and it was worrying me.”
Guilt trickles through me. These people worry about my health and it’s unfair to leave them hanging. I vow to do better and not purposefully scare them if I can help it.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him, sipping on some ice water. “I was in a dark place.”
He cuts his sandwich in half and then comes to sit beside me at the kitchen table. After a stern talking to from Dad about “no hanky-panky in his house,” Dad retired to his room, giving Daniel and me some privacy.
“Want to talk about it?” he asks as he practically inhales his food. I know today was a long shift and it makes me wonder how long he’s gone without eating. His dedication to his job is admirable. It’s doctors like him who help people like me. They care and want solutions. They want to heal and cure. They give hope.
“Missing my mom and worrying over things,” I admit. “I should have replied. Honestly, I was too exhausted. All cried out.”
He swallows and darts his eyes to my plate, silently indicating I should continue eating. “We all have bad days, angel. You’re allowed them.”
I eat a cooked carrot and shake my head. “Normal people, yes. Me, no. I can’t afford bad days. They all need to count. Every day has to be a good one.”
“This isn’t Instagram,” he says grumpily. “You can’t just show people all the good and expect that to accurately portray your life.”
“No, I agree. I’m not hiding anymore. But I’m also not going to fa
ll into the pit of despair. Mom would want me to take my life by the horns and ride with everything I’ve got.”
He lifts a brow, smirking. “Of all the analogies, you choose the dirtiest one.”
A laugh bubbles up my throat. “You’re just horny if bull riding gets you hot.”
“You get me hot,” he says, flashing me a flirty grin.
My heart does a flop in my chest and my skin heats. Daniel is good for me. He helps me forget all the wrongs because he’s so damn right.
“Dad said nothing about the porch,” I tease, stabbing at another carrot and licking it.
His green eyes burn hot. “You’re not riding me on your father’s porch.”
I give him a faux pout, batting my lashes. “I guess I’ll have to settle for sucking your dick instead.”
He leans forward, gently gripping my neck. I’m pulled right into a possessive kiss that makes my stomach tighten with anticipation. “Naughty angel.”
“You like it.”
“No,” he growls. “I love it. A little too much, in fact. I’m going to have to walk through your house with a damn hard-on.”
“Which I could take care of on the porch,” I remind him.
“How about you kiss me like you mean it and then I’ll take you to my house tomorrow night, cook you dinner, and then take care of you on my bed.”
“So I’m dessert, huh?”
“It’s only fair since I’m a…what did you call it? That’s right. I’m a snack.”
I bark out a laugh. “Damn right. A yummy little snack.”
His dark brow hikes up. “Little, huh?”
“I mean, I could disprove this myth…on the porch.”
“Bad girl,” he growls.
He likes it when I’m bad.
Daniel
Three weeks later…
“You look nervous,” I say as I guide Lauren into my house.
She frowns. “I’m officially meeting your daughter for the first time as your girlfriend. What if she kicks my ass?”
The idea of Jenna kicking anyone’s ass is cute. She’s tiny and has a fierce scowl, but she wouldn’t hurt a fly.
“This is a happy home,” I tease. “No ass whippings.” Then I lean in while grabbing her ass. “Unless you’re into it later.”
She snorts. “Oh, I’ll be into it.”
Things feel lighter than they have been, which is nice. Teddy tolerates me and Landon actually likes me. Her family isn’t the problem, though. It’s her. Well, her body specifically. She went to her specialist, Dr. Benton, and what we feared is true. Her right kidney is overrun by cysts, many of them on the brink of rupturing. At this point, she doesn’t need dialysis, but it’s coming. Frequent kidney infections and continual pain in her abdomen is the norm for her. All we can do is treat the symptoms and try to prevent things from worsening.
Sometimes, it’s so fucking hard to be her boyfriend when I crave to doctor the hell out of her. I just want her—need her—to be okay. Dr. Benton said that often, people with ADPKD, will end up needing a transplant. Scary as hell because it makes me think about losing her, which is unimaginable. After he dropped that bomb, I took her home and held her while she cried.
She hasn’t cried much since.
That’s one beautiful thing about Lauren…she may feel defeated, but she never gives up.
Lauren is a fighter.
“Yum,” Lauren says as we enter my kitchen where Enzo is already hard at work over the stove. Enzo, an Italian social worker and my daughter’s husband, stirs something in a pot.
“My mother’s chicken parmesan recipe,” he says over his shoulder. “It’s been modified a bit.” Spaghetti squash rather than regular noodles, no added salt, and sugar-free sauce. We discussed what he was going to cook prior to her coming over so I could make sure she could eat it.
I give him a thankful nod of my head. Because of Lauren’s condition, she’s to decrease her salt and protein intake. With those notes, Enzo has taken it upon himself to cook the family something that will be good for her as well. Most guys wouldn’t like that their son-in-law lives with them, but our situation is different. And temporary.
“Where are my girls?” I ask as I usher Lauren to a bar stool.
“Jenna and Cora went out back to see if there were any cherry tomatoes growing on the vines for the salad.” He places a lid on the pot and then strides over to Lauren. “Enzo. Nice to meet you.”
Her cheeks turn slightly pink and I suppress a grin. Enzo is the typical Italian good-looking man. I’ve seen women do double takes at him, and Lauren is no different. I’ll just tease her about it later.
“Lauren,” she greets, shaking his hand. “Thanks for cooking. That’s really sweet of you.”
“Anything for my old man,” he jokes, ribbing me in the side.
In truth, I’m not much older than the guy.
“PopPop!”
Cora hugs my leg and I reach down to stroke her hair. I’m technically her guardian—on paper—but Jenna is every bit her mother where it counts. I scoop up my granddaughter and kiss her adorable face.
“Hi, Cora Bug. Did you get some tomatoes?”
She holds out one of her fists, red juice running down her wrist. “Mato, PopPop!”
I pretend to try and eat her fist, making her squeal.
“Hey, Dad. Hi, Lauren,” Jenna says, coming to stand beside me. She leans her head on my shoulder. “I’m starving.”
Lauren’s stiff posture relaxes. I think she expected war, kind of like the first time I met her family. But my family is easygoing.
“It smells amazing,” Lauren says. “If it’s as good as it smells, I’ll take a picture and post about it on my blog.”
“You have a blog?” Jenna asks. “About what?”
Lauren shrugs. “Food. Books. Sunsets.”
“Sounds fun,” Jenna says, smiling. “I’ll have to check it out.”
“Sometimes I interview hot doctors,” Lauren reveals.
“Oh yeah? Dad on there?”
“No, but George Clooney is.”
I snort. “This one’s a snarky smartass,” I tell Jenna. “Aren’t you, angel?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Lauren says, blinking her big brown eyes in an innocent way.
Jenna laughs, which makes Cora giggle. Cute little Cora never knows what she’s laughing at…she just loves to do it.
“At least we know these two will get along,” Enzo says, ruffling Jenna’s hair and messing it up. “They’re both brats.”
The movie has long since ended. Enzo already carried Jenna off to bed, promising to be back to fetch Cora. I can’t help but smile at Lauren and Cora. Lauren has drifted off and has a sleeping three-year-old glued to her side. With Cora’s blond hair nearly the color of Lauren’s, they could almost pass for mother and daughter. Since I never saw my own daughter at this age, loss pangs in my heart. I missed out on so much. Maybe one day I’ll get to do the whole parenting thing again, but not from age eighteen and on. From birth would be fantastic.
I feel Lauren’s sleepy eyes on me and I flick my gaze to hers. Her fingers stroke through Cora’s hair as she burns me with an intense stare.
“I’ll never have kids,” she tells me, seemingly reading my thoughts.
All I can do is frown.
“Not that I don’t want to have them, because I do, but because it would be irresponsible of me.” Her eyes water. “I’ve been reading up on ADPKD, and my kind is most definitely hereditary. If there’s a chance I could pass it on, I don’t want to take it.”
My heart clenches. I hate that Lauren will never have a normal life. That she’ll never be able to do the things any other woman her age can do for fear of it impacting her health or someone else’s. She can’t even eat regular spaghetti, for fuck’s sake. Rather than placate her and give her false hope, I reach forward and squeeze her thigh.
“You’re the strongest woman I know,” I tell her firmly.
Her features relax and she
smiles. “Thank you for being exactly the man I need.”
Enzo walks back into the media room and scoops Cora up. He winks at me before disappearing.
“Come on,” I tell Lauren, rising from the sofa to pull her up. “You’re staying here tonight.”
She smirks. “Is that so?”
“Yep. Get used to it.”
I hug her to me, tugging on her hair so she’s forced to look up. A serene smile plays at her lips. Leaning forward, I kiss her softly. When I pull away, I quickly asses her. She’s tired. Feeling unwell. It’s written all over her face—dark circles under eyes, ashen skin, slumped shoulders.
“Let’s get you to bed,” I say, grabbing her ass and lifting her.
She holds on and doesn’t even fight me when I take her straight to bed. So she can sleep. No fucking. It’s days like these that scare the shit out of me.
I scrub my hands with soap and then rinse them off before drying them on a paper towel. I’m tired as hell. Thank fuck it’s nearly time to go.
“You heading out, Dr. Venable?” Lin asks as she scribbles something on a chart.
“I have to finish writing up something for Dr. Morris, but then I’ll be leaving. I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
She waves to me as I stride down the hall. Once I push through the door of my small office, I freeze at seeing Lauren there. Her back is to me as she stares at a painting on the wall. I appreciate her delicate, feminine form. In just a simple yellow dress and white wedge heels, she’s fucking stunning. Upon realizing my presence, she turns her head, her brown eyes darting my way.
Troubled.
Upset.
Angry.
I see it all flash across her face before she masks it away, giving me her flirtiest smile. With confidence, she struts over to me and grabs onto either side of my stethoscope hanging around my neck.
“Wanna play doctor, Dr. Dan?”
No. I want to know what the fuck is wrong with her.
“Lauren—”
She presses her palm to my mouth, her eyes closing briefly. “I just need you. Right now. Can you give that to me, Daniel? Please? I promise, you can play real doctor in five minutes. But right now, I need the dirty, filthy you. I need to forget about my life and focus on us.”