Chapter Twenty-Eight
Micah
TODAY’S THE DAY OF BAILEY’S TREATMENT.
When I get to her place, she’s shoving her iPad into her bag.
“You nervous?” she asks me.
Of course I’m nervous. I always get nervous when she has treatment, but I’m just happy she invited me to come with her this time.
“Me? Nah. I’ve got nerves of steel.”
She coughs into her hand. “Liar,” she mumbles between the coughs.
“Wowww, that’s crazy.”
When we get to the hospital, she introduces me to a nurse who will be monitoring her throughout her treatment today.
She runs through Bailey’s medical history with her and asks if she has any questions.
Usually, Bailey doesn’t have any because she has a later appointment with her MS team of specialists, including her neurologist, but this time she looks to me.
“Go ahead, Chopper. Ask your questions.” She motions for me to start talking.
The nurse stands around waiting patiently for me to ask, but I don’t.
“Actually, I think I’m okay.” I trust Bailey to take the lead on her own care, and if she needs me to help, she knows I’ll always do so.
“I’m very impressed,” Bailey offers.
“I told you I was gonna be better.”
“That you did.”
“I have a lot of help.”
“Oh yeah? Who? Daniiiii?” she sings.
“She’s definitely a big part of it. But, I’m, uh, I’m going to this support group. It’s for people with family members suffering from autoimmune diseases. The people there are really cool.”
Bailey is teary-eyed when I look at her. “You started going to group therapy for me?”
It’s for both of us, really. I want to be better for her. For Dani. For everyone in my life. “Actually, I started going for the cookies, but you were a bonus.”
“Just tell me you love me, you big dumb idiot.”
I smile. “I love you, sis.”
“I love you too. Always.”
Dani texts to check in on us, and that pulls at my heartstrings.
“Okay, now that you can’t go anywhere, lemme see what questions I wanna ask you.”
“You waiting until I’m hooked up to this thing is diabolical.”
I rub my hands together evilly. “Let me see, have you made any decisions about the tour yet?”
“Still not one hundred percent onboard, but I am meeting with all the artists over FaceTime later this week.”
“Well, that’s good.”
“Yeah, Justin said I’d be a quote ‘dumbass bitch’ if I didn’t at least talk to them.”
I knew I liked Justin. “Well, I’m with them when they’re right.”
She gasps. “What happened to me being your baby girl? Now you letting people call me a dumbass bitch?”
“The two aren’t mutually exclusive.” I pretend to bite her finger when she flips me off. “No respect for your elders. Anyway, glad I brought two gifts for your indecisive ass, then.”
“Gifts, you say?”
I pull two small boxes out of my pockets. “One is for if you decide to go. The other is for if you decide not to go. When you make your decision, I’ll give you the right gift.”
“Or”—she holds her hands up—“hear me out. You could just give me both gifts now and who knows? That might influence which route I take.”
She tries to snatch the boxes, but I’m quicker. “Even more reason for me to keep them from you.”
She sucks her teeth. “Fine, keep your shitty ass boxes.” She pretends to knock them off the table, yelping in horror when one actually almost falls. “Let me stop playing before my diamonds get fucked up.”
“Now, why the fuck would you think there’s diamonds in either of these boxes?”
“Mmm, because I’m your favorite sister and I deserve them?”
“Now’s probably a good time to tell you about our secret sister. She’s my favorite.”
She flicks my forehead. “Good. Then she can take you off my hands full-time.”
“Whatever. Next question.”
“There’s more?”
Ignoring her, I press on. “How was your date with Nisha?”
Her entire face lights up. “It was nice. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date, so I was antsy, but I liked it. I like her.”
“When’s the last time you went on a date?”
Her mouth twists into an uncomfortable grin. “When I went on a date with Roc.”
I do a double take. “So I’m not crazy, there was something there.”
“Yeah, but it was just one date. We make way better friends. And, I don’t know. I don’t really like to date.”
“You like dating Nisha,” I point out.
“Well, we haven’t had our second date yet, so this could all go up in flames.”
I ask for more details, and she tells me all about the cooking class they went to, excitement flying off her every word. I know how my sister gets, and she really likes this woman. Who would’ve thought my little sister might end up with the assistant of the love of my life?
Once her infusion is done, she’s very excited. It’s like they pumped all the energy back into her muscles and she’s ready to party.
I remember this throwing me off the first time I saw her after an infusion. I was concerned they had given her too much or something, but now when she asks me to go mini golfing with her and some of her friends from the Lab, I go.
As I’m driving home, I’m about to call Dani to see what she’s up to, but I don’t need to.
I see her out at dinner—with Omari.