tell you that you can’t give her another reason to worry. You need a cavalry too.”
“Look.” Every muscle in my body tightens in defense—not because of what she’s saying but because she has to say it at all. “I’m fine. If I need your help, I’ll ask.”
“I’m just saying that—”
“Jesus, Kelsey.” I drag my hands down my face. “Why the hell does Archer want to marry you?”
Regret stabs me the second the words are out of my mouth. Snapping at my best friend sure as hell isn’t going to make anything better. Then she laughs and reaches out to squeeze my arm.
“Touché,” she says. “All right, I’ll leave you alone. But please, for the love of god, don’t run yourself into the ground trying to be the hero.”
I push away from the table and go into the kitchen, smothering another wave of frustration. I can’t run myself into the ground trying to be the hero because I can’t even be the fucking hero at all. I can’t do anything. So what the hell do I need help for?
There’s a clatter on the stairs as the kids come hurrying down, dressed and ready to go.
“Okay, rug rats.” Kelsey rises to put her mug in the sink. “Grab your stuff and let’s go before Uncle Archer eats all the pancakes.”
Bella and Nicholas barrel toward the front door to put on their shoes and coats. Kelsey turns to Liv, her expression sobering. They reach for each other at the same time.
“It’ll be okay.” Liv tightens her arms around Kelsey. “I can handle it.”
“Yeah, you’re a tough girl.”
“I learned from the best.”
They hold each other for a minute before Liv detaches herself slowly. Kelsey takes hold of the sides of Liv’s head and looks into her eyes. She whispers something, too low for me to hear.
Liv nods, her eyes glassing over before she manages a tremulous smile. She wipes her eyes and turns, taking a deep breath before going to help the kids finish getting ready.
Kelsey looks at me. “We’re a phone call away, Professor Marvel.”
“I know. Thanks.”
I walk with her to the front door. The tightness in my chest intensifies as Liv and I hug Nicholas and Bella goodbye. Liv’s embrace is so prolonged and tight that eventually both kids squirm a little to be released.
They trot out the door on either side of Kelsey. Bella’s ponytail swings behind her. Nicholas jumps over a puddle on the way to the car.
As soon as they drive away, Liv takes her coat from the closet. “Let’s do it, professor.”
Despite her ready words, nervousness simmers in her eyes as she buttons her coat and winds a scarf around her neck. We drive to the hospital, and the nurse lets me stay with Liv as she is prepped for the surgery.
I sit beside the bed. Everything that happens tightens the cold knot of tension in my throat.
The flimsy hospital gown. The check of Liv’s vital stats. The IV needle sticking into her vein. The nurse telling her to take off her jewelry.
Liv unclasps the Fortune Favors the Brave necklace from around her neck. She gives it to me and reaches for her wedding ring. Her hand is shaking.
I lean closer and take her hand, slipping the ring off her finger. I enclose her ring in my fist, the silver band warm against my palm.
Dr. Turner stops by, and his reassuring calm seems to alleviate some of Liv’s anxiety.
Doesn’t do a damn thing for mine, though.
“Mr. West, we’ll be taking her in now,” the nurse says, putting her hand on my shoulder.
I get to my feet. The nurse leaves us. Liv lifts her head and gives me a faint smile.
“You want to feel me up one last time, professor?” she asks.
I slide my hand to the back of her neck and lean in to kiss her.
“I plan to feel you up countless times for the rest of our lives, Mrs. West.” I rest my forehead against hers. “We’re years away from any last time. You go in there and get this done like the warrior you are. When you come out, I’ll be waiting for you.”
She curls her hands around my wrists. “I love you.”
“I love you, beauty. My heart goes with you.”
“Mine stays with you.”
There are a thousand other things I want to tell her—don’t be scared, everything will be fine, I will not let this evil hurt you anymore—but then the nurse is speaking again, and an orderly approaches to take my wife away.
I watch her