Page 54 of Fighting a Riot

It hurt to hear that because I’d been looking forward to that with him in due time. Like a year or two from now– even before I found the lump. When I felt the tingle in my sinuses, I turned around, because I’d be damned if he saw me cry.

“I’m sorry, Nora. I never meant for things to happen like this. After Sara told me about the chemo side-effects, I panicked.”

I faced him. “You know, they won’t decide what drugs to use until after they’ve analyzed my tumor and lymph nodes. Even if they use drugs that cause my hair to fall out and my fertility to be impacted, that’s all temporary. Afterward, my hair will grow back, and similarly, my fertility should go back to normal, too.”

“Should, Nora. Sara said many people freeze their eggs to be safe. If starting a family is something that matters to them.”

While I fought to control my anger, I gave him a pointed look. “You talked to your sister about freezing eggs, but you couldn’t bring yourself to talk to me about it before calling off the engagement?”

His face fell. “Nora, I swear I pani—”

“No, save it. Mom was right. I dodged a bullet finding this out about you before we walked down the aisle.”

He frowned. “It isn’t like that.”

“I’d believe that, but you and Mia hooked up pretty darned fast for it not being like that.”

“And you found a biker awful fast,” he bit out.

I crossed my arms, careful of the stitches and my drainage tube. “He found me passed out because my ‘friend’ left me behind. But really, Destin, that isn’t the point. You explained your side of things, and I hope you enjoy picking up your old relationship with Mia.”

I almost smiled at the surprise on his face. “She told you—”

“No. Someone else did.”

Before I could open the door, he said, “I never cheated on you, Nora. I care too much about you—”

I put my hand on my hip. “Destin, it’s clear to me that you only care about yourself. Funny enough, I think you and Mia have that in common. Have a nice lunch with her.”

That evening, I opened the fridge and pulled out the to-go container with the other half of my Fluffernutter sandwich. Had I known Destin would be dropping by the office, I’d have taken that for lunch, because heaven knew I wanted to stress-eat after he explained his side of things.

I warmed up the sweet potato fries separate from the sandwich and poured a glass of lemon-flavored sparkling water. While I ate, I debated calling Mom. For some strange reason I didn’t want her to think even less of Destin… mainly because I felt like it reflected on me and my ability to find a good man.

My phone ringer had been set to vibrate and it shimmied in a small arc with an incoming call. The screen lit up with Trixie’s name.

I chuckled at her timing. “Hello, Trixie.”

“Hello, yourself. I dropped by earlier and you weren’t home. Tell me you didn’t go to work.”

“I could tell you that, but it’d be a lie.”

“Woman, you had surgery last week. You got no business going into work so soon.”

I grinned. “Trixie, I figured out how to hide my drain lines. For once, I felt up to it, and seeing as how I have to use up all of my paid time off before getting medical leave, I want to save those days for when I really feel like crap.”

She sighed. “Fine. I can’t argue with that. Get a load of this, I was right.”

“I’m scared to ask, but right about what?”

Her chuckle sounded self-satisfied. “Roll kept at Yak about why he got his hair chopped off.”

“It wasn’t chopped off,” I said without thinking.

She laughed. “For as long as it was, that was a crap load for him to lose. Anyway, he donated it to a firm that makes children’s wigs for kids going through chemo.”

My heart skipped a beat and I held my breath while I enjoyed the warm feeling those words sent through me.

I exhaled quietly. “That’s great to hear, Trixie. But how does that make you right?”

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