Page 171 of Just This Once

“You smell like a brewery just sitting there,” he persisted. “You can’t do it.”

“That’s only because I spilled a drink on me earlier. I’m fine. I?—”

“I said no.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I boomed, not backing down. “You just want to let her die, then?”

A small clearing throat caused the two of us to whirl and pin our attention to Foster’s cousin who was hesitantly lifting her hand into the air and cringing. “I—I have O negative blood too.”

“Xander,” Raina breathed in worry, going to her side and clutching her arm supportively.

Alec gaped for a split second before stuttering, “Are—are you sure?”

I bumped his arm. “Shut up and let her talk.” But as I turned my attention to Xander, all I could think to say was, “Are you sure?” Because apparently, her alcohol-free liver would be better for Hope, and I wanted Hope to get the best.

Xander nodded, glancing around at everyone as if frightened. But she answered, “Yes. Definitely.” Her gaze sought Alec. “I mean, your liver grew back, right?”

“Uh, yeah.” He bobbed his head as he pushed to his feet. “Yes, it did.”

“And you seem fine today,” she added as if trying to talk herself into the idea. “It didn’t seem to impact your life too much.”

“Not at all.” He stepped toward her as if to reassure her. “I was back at it again as if nothing had happened within half a year. And the scar fades. I mean, you’ll always be able to see it, but—” He lifted his shirt to show her a J-shaped scar on the upper half of his abdomen that had to be a good six to eight inches long.

Xander reared back, her eyes flaring with worry. Then she swallowed thickly and rasped, “Oh.”

Raina took her hand. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

Still looking terrified, Xander tore her gaze from Alec’s scar to glance at the rest of us, where we held our breaths and waited for her answer.

“She was nice to me,” she said, nodding. “I want to help.”

39

HOPE

Waking up felt as if I were trying to walk through water, or a murky, dense bog.

My head hurt, and my thoughts were sluggish and drowsy. I started to turn onto my side, only for a tugging on the back of my hand to stop me short.

Recognizing the sensation of an IV stuck in me, I inhaled the familiar scent of hospital and took in the sound of a heart monitor before I let my eyes flutter open.

Yep. Looked like a typical recovery room.

Not remembering how I’d gotten here, I started to glance around, until I heard a familiar voice to my right. “Here she comes.”

I shifted my gaze over to send Alec’s mom a sleepy smile. “Nina.” When I lifted my hand toward her, she smiled big and took my fingers to kiss the back of them before squeezing warmly.

“Hey, kiddo,” she greeted. “How’re you feeling?”

“Weird,” I admitted honestly, my speech sounding slower to my ears than I intended for it to be. “What?—”

“You got some fluid on the brain,” Alec’s voice explained from my other side as he stroked my arm in reassurance. “Butthey drilled a hole in you and drained it, so we got that part fixed.”

I turned my head his way and murmured, “Dopey,” with a drugged smile.

He chuckled and took hold of my other hand. “And don’t worry about the liver. We found a donor for you. A perfect tested match. Your transplant is scheduled for the morning.”

With a wince, I slurred, “You know about my liver?”

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