Page 85 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“It’s my grams. She has breast cancer,” he announces.

“When was she diagnosed?”

I keep my eyes ahead. I don't want him to close up on me. The vulnerability is what makes me fall harder for him. I get a better understanding of him and what makes him tick. Not just the sides he wants me to see but the ugly, painful side too.

“Only recently. It's been a couple months, maybe four?”

“What stage is she?”

“Three.”

“Oh, same stage as my dad.”

“I'm sorry,” he says.

“I'm sorry, too.”

We stop walking for a moment and face each other. His hands move to the sides of my waist.

“Since your dad was diagnosed, has your relationship with him changed?”

“Yes, I always make time for my dad and mom. Check in almost every day. A visit, a call or text. I need them to know I’m thinking of them, and I work just to give them money.”

His tongue rubs along his bottom lip. “You’re one of the most extravagant and selfless women I’ve ever met.”

Opening up to him feels natural and like a weight is being lifted from my shoulders. So now that I have started sharing private things, I tell him something that’s been playing heavy on my heart.

“I don't know what I am going to do without him to be honest. I don't let myself think about it. I try to avoid reality as much as I can, in the hopes that it will help me not waste the time I have left with him.

“What’s his prognosis?”

“Surprisingly good. But he's going through a swollen kidney at the moment. They're managing it well. I’m grateful he has such a great medical team.”

“It helps that he’s young. Since Grams is older, they avoid any harsh treatment.” He exhales, this is obviously heavy on him too.

“You have to keep me in the loop.”

“You too. It's actually…” He trails off.

“Yeah,” I push, wanting him to finish his sentence.

“It's nice talking about this with someone. I don't speak to anyone about this except for my brothers but even then, we don't often talk openly about it. We definitely don’t share how we feel either.”

I nod, understanding guys aren’t as open with discussing their feelings as women. But I hope he knows I’m here and happy to listen.

“She's our rock, so I know I need to talk about her. She definitely is the link in Lincoln. Our family loves and adores her. She’s our everything. She is the warmest person you'll ever meet. I actually can't wait for her to meet you. I think she'll end up loving you more than she loves us.”

I giggle. “I doubt that.”

He smiles, but it fades just as quick. “I think we're all scared. We're fearful to lose her. We're afraid to not have her in our lives anymore. We each spend time with her alone. Every one of us is trying to soak up these last moments because we just don't know how long we will have her.”

To think this intelligent and handsome man would ever have something in common with me would have made me laugh only a month ago. Now, as I stare at him longingly, I wonder how I’ve spent so long without someone like him in my life. His friendship, his tenderness, and his touch.

It’s getting dark, the stars are out. A shiver runs through me with the drop in temperature.

“You ready to go?”

My stomach somersaults. “I'm ready to beat you.” I’m totally faking confidence here. But it seems to work.

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