Page 13 of When Sky Breaks

Finally, I stop near a tree, its pale green leaves hiding the sun, providing a chill to the air.

“I have to go back home.”

“Okay,” he says, scratching his ear, clearly confused.

“Back to my hometown in Maizeville. My dad’s sick.”

“And that’s why your brother had to talk to you. How come you never told me about him?” Classic Dr. Hawk in action, forgetting that emotions are necessary and going straight to the chase.

I inhale and grab his hand, needing some sort of comfort. He curls his fingers around mine, brushing my knuckles with his thumb. “I didn’t tell you about him because, well, I haven’t been home in five years. Trek and I had a falling out, and I just couldn’t be there anymore. And he’s technically my adopted brother.”

Johnny blinks. Maybe he’s rethinking this whole dating me thing. “Adopted?”

“When I was twelve. Long story short, my house burned down when I was ten, and I lost my family. Trek and Foster adopted me a few years later, and that’s that.”

Definitely, not just that, but there are only so many revelations I plan on parting with him.

He blows out a breath and finally pulls me in for a hug. “I’m sorry, babe. That has to be a lot for you to handle.”

I nod into his chest, inhaling the fresh scent of laundry on his shirt.

“How sick is he?”

I was hoping to avoid saying this to a literal cancer doctor but here we are. “According to Trek, he just got diagnosed with cancer.”

He blows out a breath, ruffling my hair. “What type?”

I finally lift my head. “We meet Tuesday to discuss in more detail the diagnosis, but it’s looking like a blood cancer. They biopsied some tissue and believe it’s in his lymph nodes.”

A dent appears between his brows. “How long will you be gone?”

I shrug and step back. “Not sure. I’ve applied for a six month leave and could take up to a year?—”

“A year?” his incredulous voice dips low.

Taken aback by his tone, I scrunch up my brows. “I don’t know how bad it is, Johnny. You, of all people, should know that cancer doesn’t always follow a predictable pattern, and I can’t even think about leaving my dad while he’s dealing with this. Even if it wasn’t cancer, this visit has been long overdue. I’m waiting on HR to return my call, so for now, I’m using PTO until I know more.”

He pulls me back in for another hug, running his hands up and down my back. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. We just started seeing each other and Maizeville is far. I attended a lecture at the hospital in the town over a few years ago.”

“Three hours away is far, so if this isn’t going to work out…” I let my statement fall, and he chuckles, the rumble deep in his chest.

“Babe, I don’t spend my time with just anyone. I like you and not going to be scared off that easily.” He grips my arms and looks me in the eye, his brown ones sparkling. They really are very pretty and expressive. “There’s always video chats and I’ll come visit.”

That makes me stiffen, but I hide it by staring at his chest. Not sure how I’m going to deal with being home and adding him to the mix? That small town might not be able to contain him.

“Besides, it’s not like you have some secret boyfriend holed up in that town, right? No one I need to be worried about stealing my girl?”

I dart my gaze from his broad shoulders to his face, hoping he can’t read the panic on mine. Technically, August isn’t even within a hundred-mile radius of Maizeville anymore, but his presence is everywhere. Here’s to pretending I’m over that part of my life.

“No. Definitely not. Nothing to be worried about.”

* * *

After a very chaste kiss, I send Johnny away with a promise to text later and try to ignore Trek eyeing him like expired meat in the fridge as we pile in my car.

As soon as he clicks his seatbelt and I turn the key, Trek starts in.

“Who is that guy?”

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