Page 91 of The Paradise Problem

“We barely knew each other. I was just trying to get through every event without catastrophe.”

Anna settles back down beside me. “We just have to get through the next few days. We can do this.”

I pull in a deep breath. “We can.”

“This was a lot to carry, Liam.”

“It was.” After a beat, I look over at her and smile. “You called me Liam again.”

“I did.”

Our gazes lock for several quiet beats and then she leans forward, pressing her lips to mine. When she pulls back, I ask, “Do you look more like your mom or your dad?”

“My dad, definitely. My mom is short, has blue eyes and blond hair. My hair is naturally brown, eyes brown.” She laughs. “I used to want her eyes, but now I’m glad that I got everything from him. He’s the shit.”

“I’d like to meet him.”

She nods. “Yeah. I’d like that. I think you two would get along.”

I smile, opening my mouth to say something about not being sure about meeting Vivi again, though, but Anna speaks first, grinding my thoughts to a halt: “He was diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks after you moved out.”

I roll to my side again to face her. “Oh shit. Is—is he okay?”

“Well, the lung cancer is gone—for good, I hope.” She smiles weakly at me. “But one of the possible side effects of the type of chemo he had is what’s called secondary acute myeloid leukemia.”

I go still, heart dropping. “So his cancer is cured, but he got leukemia as a result?”

Anna nods. “Before you worry too much, his prognosis is good. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. But at first, we didn’t know. The prognosis for this type of AML usually isn’t great. So the past six months have been… yeah.” She reaches up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “His oncologist and hematologist both think he’s going to get through it. I really do think we’re on the other side, but it’s been hell.”

“I can’t even imagine.”

“I wish all of my research had been more useful to Jake’s jellyfish sting,” she says, laughing. “I know more about topoisomerase II inhibitors and myelodysplastic syndrome and doxorubicin than I ever imagined I’d have to learn, and there’s not a lot approved for secondary AML, but what there is, is—of course—also chemotherapy, which is just… fuck,” she says, exhaling sharply. “Just a type of drug that kills the cancer a little faster than it kills you.”

“Anna—”

“He has insurance, but because our health care system is a nightmare, he’s underinsured. And he’s a mechanic, you know, so even though he owns his own shop it’s not like he has a pension or paid medical leave.”

It hits me so hard. Of course. This is why she needed money. She’s been scraping her bowl just to cover her expenses and his. And she’s twenty-five.

“Anna, you could have asked me for money anytime.”

She laughs at this, the true, round sound filling the room. “I assumed you were as poor as I am.” Anna tucks her hands beneath her chin. “Besides, I have enough now. It feels weird to take the money from you after everything, but—”

“No. You’re taking it.”

“Unless they figure out we’re lying.”

“Even if they all figure it out, you’re taking it.”

She gazes steadily at me and then nods against her hand. “Okay. I can be selfish when it comes to my dad.”

“It isn’t selfish. It’s a business arrangement, revised verbally just now.”

“Still,” she says, and our gazes snag and hold. “It’s different now.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “I can’t believe it’s only been a week.” Reaching forward, I stroke my thumb over her cheek. “And… whatever happens between us after, I mean who knows… but I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. “No way. You’re not responsible for me.”

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