Kiss To Forget (Blairwood University #2) - Anna B. Doe Page 0,81
onto the front porch. The front door opens before I can even think to knock—or, you know, chicken out? Jade’s head peeks out, her eyes going wide in surprise. “Yasmin.”
“Hi.” I lift my hand in a small wave. My voice comes out squeaky, making me cringe.
Jade either doesn’t notice it or decides to ignore it. “Hey, what are you doing here?” She looks over her shoulder and shouts, “Nixon! Company.” Then she turns back to me. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Yeah, about that…”
But before I can finish, Nixon appears behind her, throwing a dishtowel over his shoulder. “What company? What are you…” His eyes land on me, words dying on his lips.
“Hi,” I repeat the whole awkward wave thing.
Seriously, what’s wrong with me? Could I be any weirder? This was such a bad idea. I shouldn’t be here…
“Hey,” Nixon greets me as he pulls to a stop and leans against the doorjamb. He’s dressed casually in a fitted white t-shirt and a pair of loose sweats. His hair is messy like he ran his fingers through it one too many times.
We stare at each other, neither of us saying anything. The tension filling the air is so thick it’s almost palpable.
Why isn’t he saying anything? Did he change his mind and doesn’t want me here any longer? I knew this was such a bad idea.
“Well, then.” From the corner of my eye, I can see Jade observing us with curiosity. “I guess I’ll leave you two to it.”
“This isn’t awkward at all,” I laugh as I watch Jade leave, but it’s strained.
Nixon shakes his head as if he’s snapping out of it. “No, you caught me by surprise, that’s all. I didn’t think you’d come here.”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “I can go if you’d rather…”
His hand catches mine, pulling me closer. Our chests brush together as I bump into him. I splay my hands on his firm pecs to steady myself, the heat of his skin warming me, even through the cotton barrier. Looking up, I find those light eyes watching me. They are more gray than blue now, tempestuous and haunted. Just like the sky before the storm.
His thumb brushes over the inside of my wrist, and I know that he can feel my wild heartbeat.
“Stay,” he whispers.
One word.
One fucking word.
The sweetest of prayers and the damnedest of curses.
Stay.
How can I say no to this man?
My tongue darts out to wet my suddenly dry lips. “Okay.” I nod my head and then repeat it. “Okay, I’ll stay.”
With one final brush of his fingers over my skin, Nixon pulls back and moves to the side to let me enter. Our shoulders brush as I pass next to him, the familiar rush of excitement shooting through my limbs.
I toe off my shoes in the foyer and take off my jacket before walking down the hallway.
“They’re in the living room,” Nixon offers quietly behind me.
I nod and follow the soft hum of a television coming from a few doors down.
“Yasmin!” As soon as she hears me, Nixon’s mom sits straighter in her seat, looking over the back of the couch at me. “Jade told me you’re here.”
“Hey, Mrs. Cole. How are you doing?” I ask as I enter. My smile falters a little at the sight of her, a vice grip squeezing around my heart and throat.
I’ve heard the stories, seen an occasional photo, but I’ve never seen a terminal cancer patient in real life. Until now.
The woman I met only weeks before is nothing like the one in front of me right now. She was skinny before, but now she’s all skin and bones. Her complexion is paler than before, almost to the point of translucence, cheeks hollow and swollen at the same time. She’s dressed in a thick blue sweater and covered in a blanket, but I can see the dark veins covering her hands.
The disease is slowly but surely eating her alive, and her kids have to watch it all play out, unable to do anything.
I didn’t think my heart could hurt more for Nixon and Jade, but I was wrong.
She waves her hand dismissively. “Nonsense, I told you to call me Helen.”
“Helen,” I correct, blinking once to chase the tears away.
“Today’s a good day.”
“Really?” I move closer, taking a seat on the couch opposite of her.
If this is what her good day looks like, I’m afraid of what the bad days are like.