Page 83 of Mine to Take

Some of his embarrassment fades. “You never mentioned having a sibling. Is he older?”

I chew my lower lip and nod. “Yeah.”

Technically.

By four minutes.

“Does he attend Western?”

“No.” I clear my throat, no longer wanting to discuss my family. I’m afraid he’ll put two and two together and figure out that River isn’t my boyfriend.

But my brother instead.

And then all hell will break loose.

It would be so much easier if I didn’t feel anything for Maverick. If I didn’t like the way it feels when he lays his hands on me. Or enjoy the time we spend together.

But that’s not the case.

It takes effort to banish that thought.

“What about you?”

As soon as the question leaves my lips, I realize that I met his sister the other day at lunch. It’s tempting to admit the truth, but I hold it back.

“Just a sister. She’s older by a year and also attends Western. She’s pre-med.”

“That’s really impressive.”

His lips curve as he nods. “Juliette is really smart. She’s the one who helped me in school when I needed it. Even when I came here, she made time to work with me, but the more challenging her classes have become, the less she’s been able to do that.” He jerks his shoulders and stares at the computer screen. “Plus, she’ll graduate this spring and won’t be around much longer, so I need to figure it out on my own.”

It’s obvious from the pride that fills his tone that he doesn’t resent her for not struggling with the same academic challenges.

“Sounds like you two are really close.”

“We are.” For a long moment, he’s silent before admitting in a softer voice, “Our family was always tight, but after Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, we became even more so. It’s the reason Juliette decided to become a doctor.”

A thick lump swells in my throat at what he’s just revealed. The emotion that had flashed in Juliette’s eyes when she’d told me about her career choice now makes more sense. “That must have been difficult.”

I know exactly how much a loved one’s diagnosis can affect their family members. It’s like a windshield getting hit with a rock and the cracks in the glass spidering outward, touching everyone. Even distantly.

Emotion flashes across his face. “It sucked. I’ve never felt so powerless in my life.”

“I can imagine.”

“There were times when she was so weak and sick from the chemo, all I could do was sit by her side and keep her company so she wasn’t alone. Nothing I did took away her pain or lessened it. The worst was watching as she lost weight and then her hair. At one point, she was a much thinner, paler shadow of her former self. And I lived in constant fear that she’d be taken from us.”

My heart contracts at his rough words. It’s so tempting to gather him up into my arms and hold him tight.

“I’m sure it meant a lot to her that you were there, offering support and cheering her on. When someone is battling an illness, having that love can be a source of real strength. It gives you something to fight for during those days when you’re so tired and sick that you just want to give up.”

His gaze sharpens on me as he nods. “Yeah, that’s exactly what she said. Sounds like you’ve been through a similar situation.”

I glance away as everything he confided swirls through my brain. “Unfortunately, I think most people have been touched by cancer in some way.”

Air deflates from his body as his shoulders collapse. “You’re right about that. Cancer fucking sucks.”

I squeeze his hand again, only wanting to pull him back to the present and out of the painful memories. “Is she all right?”

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