Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“UNCONDITIONAL - LIVE AT ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH” BY FREYA RIDINGS
LUNA
Before I know it, it’s time for my second-to-last infusion, and as Patty preps it, Blade is by my side, holding my hand in his and rubbing soothing circles on the back of it. I think about the past three days and the toll it’s taken on me.
My emotions are all over the place to be honest. It’s part relief that this round is finally coming to an end and I won’t have to face another grueling day of chemo after today.
It sucks more than I remembered though, drawing every ounce of energy from me and then some, which leads me to dread the next round that sits like a lead weight in the pit of my stomach.
I know I won’t be alone, the guys have assured me of that repeatedly, but it still doesn’t make actually going through it any easier. Especially as I know I’ll be weakened from this round and the side effects, which I’ll have to face over the coming weeks before my next treatment.
One step at a time, Luna.
I’m drawn from my musings by Chase moving to sit at the end of the bed, Thorn mirroring him on the other until they’re all around me. It helps to settle my nerves and worries, having them around me like this.
“Right, you’re all hooked up for this round, Luna. So just sit back and relax and I’ll be in and out, checking,” Patty says, packing up and leaving the room after I’ve thanked her.
My phone buzzes on my bedside table as the door shuts, and I look over to see it’s my mom. My heartbeat thrashes inside my chest, my breath a little short. I’ve not missed the fact that this is the first time she’s called since my treatment began.
Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I reach out and take the phone, swiping to answer it as I bring it to my ear. “Hi, Mom.”
“Luna love! How’s the treatment going? I know the boys are there taking care of you, which must be nice,” she says in a rush, the sounds of conversation in the background making me think she’s not at home.
“It’s okay, last day today, and yeah, the guys have been great,” I tell her, Blade giving my hand a squeeze.
“Oh, of course it’s the last day. I must have gotten mixed up in my head,” she answers, though she sounds a little distracted.
Suddenly, there’s a sound like her hand is muffling the speaker before she returns.
“I’ve got to go, Richard needs me, but I’ll see you tomorrow when you get home. Love you.”
And with that, she’s gone, and I’m left staring at my own harried reflection on the black screen.
“They’re on one of Dad’s business trips,” Thorn tells me, and I look up, my hand falling limply to my lap, my phone still in my fingers. Blade squeezes my other hand again.
“Oh,” I reply, my voice small. It’s like since she’s married Richard, I’ve ceased to exist. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially as she’s always been here before, well, as much as she could anyway.
“She should have called sooner,” Blade grunts out, and I switch my gaze to him. His nostrils are flared, his teeth almost bared as he finishes, “I’m sorry she didn’t, Goldilocks.”
Swallowing, my eyes prick with tears that I really don’t want to shed right now.
“It’s fine. She’s just been super busy with all the stuff your dad wants her to do, now they’re married,” I say, taking an inhale through my nose. I don’t miss the glances the triplets exchange at my words, the furrowed brows. “What?”
“Nothing,” Chase starts, rubbing my foot under the blanket, but I give him a raised brow, and he blows a breath out. “It’s just surprising that he’s keeping her so busy and away from you.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline. “You think he’s doing it on purpose?”
He huffs a frustrated breath. “I don’t know, Star, but I’ll find out. You just focus on getting better. Let us worry about it.” I open my mouth to protest, but he interrupts me. “Please?”
I can’t deny them when they say please. There’s something about these larger than life guys pleading with me that renders me useless.
“Fine, but at least promise you’ll tell me what you discover?”
“I promise, Star,” Chase says, leaning down and placing a kiss on my foot, even though the blanket is over the top of it.
We slip back into just letting the treatment do its thing, the guys taking turns sitting next to me or helping me to the bathroom, napping on the bed with me. It’s mid-afternoon when Patty returns with Doctor Harrison, the specialist Chase managed to get to take my case on.
“Good afternoon, Luna. How are you doing?” he asks, coming up to the bedside and looking at my chart. He’s older, his hair is grey, and he has round glasses, which make his eyes look like an owls. It’s quite endearing if I’m honest.
“Feeling crappy to be truthful, but glad it’s almost all over for now,” I tell him honestly as Patty sets up the last treatment.
“As to be expected. This treatment is not for the faint of heart, and you’ve done remarkably well, Luna,” he tells me, and it does make me feel a little better about it all. “Aside from that initial reaction, the rest seems to have gone by without a hitch, which is good.”
“So we’re all set to continue with the treatment plan?” Chase asks, and Dr. Harrison blinks before turning to him.
“Looks like it. Plus, as you all came back as a match for Luna, we can use you for the bone marrow transplant later on. Your blood matches too, which is helpful,” he says, and I startle.
“They’re a match?” I ask, remembering them telling me they were going to get tested. I’d forgotten about it, and now the idea makes my heart beat faster, the monitor bleeping a little, letting the whole room know.
“They are, which is extremely lucky. You are very fortunate to have such caring brothers, Luna,” the doctor replies, and my cheeks heat, because what we’ve done, what we have, is not like normal siblings.
“Stepbrothers,” I respond instantly, and Thorn gives me a shit-eating grin, which I catch and glare back at him.
“Of course,” Harrison smoothly says, his eyes darting to Blade next to me, clearly noticing the closeness of him by my side, holding my hand. “Well, I shall leave you to have your last treatment, but things are looking promising, Luna.”
“I’d like to just finalize a few details before you go, Doctor,” Chase states, getting up and heading over to the table where his laptop sits.
“Of course,” the doctor replies and walks to be beside him.
They don’t hide their conversation from me, and I watch, a little slack-jawed as Chase asks the doctor technical questions, asking adjustments where needed.
It blows my mind that I have such advocates in the triplets.
That I don’t have to make all the decisions by myself, or with limited knowledge, because I have them now.
A flash of worry tightens my stomach at how reliant I’m becoming on them for all of this, for depending on them so much with my care and with my heart. We hardly know each other. Shit, I don’t even know what their favorite colors are.
“What’s wrong, Goldilocks?” Blade asks as Patty finishes up.
I turn to look at him, his hunter-green eyes full of worry.
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Navy blue,” he answers, no hesitation or questioning as to why I’m asking. “My favorite food is pizza, any kind as long as there’s no fucking vegetables on it. I like working out, boxing is my favorite sport if I had to choose.”
My chest warms at the fact he somehow knew what I was worrying over.
“I like pizza too, plain tomato and cheese is my favorite,” I tell him, and he gives me a half smirk that melts me a little more inside.
“I’m a ham and pineapple kind of guy,” Thorn adds, and I snap my head to look at him.
“Of course you are.” I laugh as Patty gives my arm a little squeeze.
“I’ll be back later, just buzz if you need anything,” she tells me, and I give her a grateful smile before she leaves with the doctor.
“Now, what were you worrying about just then, Princess?” Blade asks, taking my chin in his fingers and turning my head to face him.
“That I hardly know you all, yet am relying on you for everything,” I confess, unable to resist the command in his tone.
He leans in, pressing our foreheads together. “You know our fucking souls, Goldilocks, because they are a part of yours. Everything else is unimportant.”
His words feel like a star has exploded inside me, rendering me speechless, because I know that he’s right. It’s like I’ve finally been reunited with the missing pieces of myself, which is fucking terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.
“Now, Chase, order pizza for a snack and let’s get through this last bout together, then we can get the fuck out of here and take you home,” Blade commands and gives me a soft kiss before releasing his grip and settling back against the pillows, pulling me against his chest.
I look at Thorn, who’s staring at me like I’m every star in the sky, and it makes my heart skip a beat. Blade is right. Everything else is unimportant, because we have this connection which feels life-changing, and that’s all that matters…for now anyway. Everything else can follow.