Page 62 of Tech

I hum, not willing to agree because something just doesn’t feel right with the situation.

He bites his bottom lip, his eyes taking me in from head to toe but not in a sexual way, his eyes looking concerned, and I cringe, knowing he’s figured something isn’t right with me.

“What’s going on, Brook?” he asks, confirming my thoughts.

I give him a small smile, and my mouth moves before my brain can tell it not to, “I haven’t been feeling well lately.” Crap! Shut up, mouth, I snap to myself, but again, the mouth just flipping moves without my permission. “I went to the doctor yesterday, and they’ve taken some blood, ran some tests…. I’m waiting to hear back.”

He nods and asks, “What are your symptoms?”

And…he’s gone into doctor mode. Crap.

My eyes tear up, and I whisper, admitting, “Abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches, and I, I had a seizure at work.”

Must admit, the seizure scared the crap out of me yesterday. I called the consultant who saw me in the ER, and he confirmed it’s one of the symptoms of stomach cancer.

He squeezes his eyes shut. “What have they said?”

Wiping away my tears, I sniffle and whisper, “They said it could be cancer.” Doc shakes his head in disbelief, then takes me in his arms, hugging me tightly. I hug him tighter, then beg, “Please don’t tell him, not yet, not until I know more.”

He hugs me tighter, and I know he’s going to tell James, his words proving it, “I don’t think I can promise that, darling.”

I nod and squeeze him in understanding; he’s had people lie to him and keep stuff away from him, causing him to miss saying goodbye to his and Kennedy’s daughter. They couldn’t find the heartbeat at roughly twenty weeks, and she had to give birth; Doc knew nothing of it, and Breaker and his momma, Doc’s dad's old lady, kept it from him.

He wasn’t even aware Ken had their daughter cremated.

I pull out of his hold and kiss his cheek, my eyes tearing up again, and I whisper, “You do what you’ve got to do. I’m just sorry I told you.”

He smiles and says, “I’m a doctor, Brook. I’m not blind; I could see something wasn’t right.” He sighs, shaking his head. “When you get your results, I want to see them. Do you understand?”

I smile back, happy to have him in my corner, and nod, then head to my truck.

“Is this the reason why you won’t let him back in? You’re sleeping with him, so clearly you’ve forgiven him for sleeping with the clubwhore and what he did with Faith…” he trails off.

I look at him and admit, “I never forgave him; I actually ran over his laptop then carved ‘dickhead’ into the tank of his bike.” His eyes widen. I smirk. “And then I locked all his computer systems. But to answer your question, it is.”

And that’s the truth. I was ready to beg him to forgive me for running. Then this happened, and I refuse to put this on him.

Giving me a nod, he rasps, “Remind me never to piss you off,” making me giggle as I climb into my truck and drive off. I see him jogging to James’ house in my rearview mirror, and my tears fall again.

I wasn’t ready for him to know.

“Brook….” My dad whispers, bringing me out of my head. I sit up in my chair and look his way; heartbreak tumbles off him.

“How long?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

My eyes tear up, and I admit, “I’ve been getting pains for a few weeks, and then last week, I got extreme pains, and yesterday I had a seizure.”

“Mrs. Andrews…” he murmurs, and I nod.

“She came back inside after I fell down. The doctor believes it’s stomach cancer.” I shake my head, leaning forward, putting my head in my hands. “I wasn’t ready for anyone to know, Daddy….”

He sighs. “She invaded your privacy, and she knows she’s messed up, sweetheart….”

I look at him. He seems sad and stressed, and I can read him like a book.

“I’ll forgive her, Daddy, don’t worry; she’s my momma, maybe not by blood but by my heart. I just need some time.” He nods then a shadow stands behind him.

My heart pounds, my body tingles.

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