Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 118592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
“Tristan, it’ll just be another few minutes,” the receptionist behind the counter called and I nodded.
“Thanks.”
I’d faced an uphill battle this morning with Brennan when he’d said he was going to take the afternoon off work to come to my appointment with me, but I’d finally managed to convince him it wasn’t necessary, and that I was certain the doctor was going to tell me the results from the re-check of my viral load would show everything was back to the way it had been and that the blip had been just that. The truth was that I was just too afraid of seeing the look in Brennan’s eyes if the news didn’t go my way. I had no doubt he wouldn’t leave me because of it, but I didn’t want to bear witness to the pain I’d see there. I didn’t want to be around anyone when I faced the prospect that all the good fortune I’d had with my disease had finally come to an end. I needed to be strong for the people who loved me, if the worst case scenario happened, but I would need time to shore up my defenses.
“Oh good, I’m not late. Traffic was a bitch getting here.”
I looked up in surprise as Brennan dropped down in the chair next to mine.
“Brennan-”
Before I could even say anything, Brennan kissed me hard. His next kiss was softer and much, much longer. So much so that I had trouble speaking, but I managed to say, “You agreed not to come.”
“No, I just stopped arguing with you about it,” Brennan said as his hand searched out mine and pulled it free of my pocket. His fingers linked with mine and then he pulled my hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it.
I bit back the tears that threatened and clutched Brennan’s hand against my chest. I hung on to his hand with my other one, too, because it was the only thing keeping me from coming apart at the seams. I was glad that he didn’t try to draw me into any kind of conversation or attempt to make me feel better with empty statements about how everything would be okay. It wasn’t until five minutes after my appointment had been scheduled to start that a nurse opened the door to the back part of the office and called my name. I managed to climb to my feet, but I knew I had to be hurting Brennan with how hard I was holding on to his hand. We hadn’t taken more than a couple of steps when the waiting room door swung open and a very agitated Memphis entered. I was completely speechless as he walked up to me and leaned down to kiss me. “Sorry,” he murmured, though I wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for since I hadn’t actually told him about the appointment.
Uncaring who was watching, Memphis leaned past me to kiss Brennan and then his hand was at the small of my back as he urged me towards the door where the nurse was still waiting. If the nurse thought it odd that I was being accompanied by two men, she didn’t show it.
I went through the motions of having all my vitals taken as well as consenting to allow Brennan and Memphis to hear my medical information, and then it was just me and my men in the exam room waiting for the doctor. Brennan was still holding on to one hand and Memphis had quickly taken the other soon as the nurse had finished taking my vitals. I felt like my body was going to shrink in on itself from how tight my insides were wound. I felt hot all over at the same time that I felt bitterly cold.
“Baby, look at me,” I heard Memphis say, though it sounded like he was far away. I felt a spark of sensation on my cheek, but it felt sharp and uncomfortable and I couldn’t help but flinch.
“Tristan...”
I hated the worry in Brennan’s voice, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. I’d focused on a spot on the floor where the laminate was scuffed and I was terrified that if I took my eyes off of it for even a moment, I’d fly apart into a million pieces.
“Damn it, Tristan, look at me!”
The anger in Memphis’s voice was enough to jar me back to the present, and I realized at some point he’d moved so that he was kneeling in front of me. One hand was at the back of my neck and the other was still holding mine.
“Tristan, take a deep breath,” Memphis ordered. His tone was such that I didn’t want to argue with him so I did it.
“Everything okay?” I heard another voice ask and I knew it was my doctor, Dr. Reston. I heard Brennan say something to me, but I kept my attention on Memphis as his face came into focus and he ordered me to take another breath. I had no idea how much time passed before my body began to relax and I became aware of my surroundings.