Page 81 of The Scientist

“I guess, technically. But so did nine more spots. I spoke with Dr. Gremillion’s nurse earlier. She called to tell me the good news because she knew I was worried about you. She said there was some famous researcher who came in and petitioned the FDA to expand the trial. Apparently, he had some connections there, because it took them less than a week to give the green light.”

Lex.This had to be him. It was too much of a coincidence. I had told him what Dr. Gremillion said about the drug trial when he had texted me last week. My heart felt caught inside a fist. Iwasn’t sure how much harder I could fall for this man, but it was starting to feel like a freefall.

“It was Lex, wasn’t it?” my mom asked when Nurse Amber walked away.

“I think so,” I told her. It came out as a whisper as I was choked with so much emotion. “I can’t believe he did this for you.”

She smiled warmly. “I don’t think it was for me.”

I had an overwhelming urge to see him. Once her treatment was finished, I dropped her off at her house and hurried back to the townhouses. My heart lurched when I spotted Lex’s car in the parking lot. I ran over to his house, and the tears started to fall before I made it to the door.

I knocked impatiently. After only a few seconds, I started banging on it, unable to wait any longer. I had to see him. I was about to push the door open myself when it finally opened to reveal the warmest brown eyes looking back at me. I had fully planned to shove Stuart aside if it had been him and not Lex who answered.

I walked in and threw my arms around him without saying a word. His eyes widened momentarily before he caught me without hesitation. He wrapped his arms around me tightly as I started to sob into his neck. My knees had buckled so much, he was practically holding me up.

“What is it, Hadley?” he asked softly after a few minutes of us standing like that. “Is it your mom?” His voice was full of worry.

I couldn’t answer just yet. I continued to cry into his neck, letting out every emotion that I’d been holding in since we were told the treatment wasn’t working.

“Whatever it is, I’ll do everything I can to fix it,” he said into my hair, pulling me in even tighter. “I promise.”

I pulled back to look him in the eyes and said through the tears, “You already have.”

Chapter 19

The treatments were working.

After only a few weeks, Dr. Gremillion had told us her numbers had dropped drastically. Her body was responding to the chemo just as it should. This drug was taking a much harsher toll on her body, however. She could barely keep anything down lately and started to lose even more weight. We had to be extra cautious because it also wreaked havoc on her immune system. She stopped going out in public completely, and I wore a mask and kept my distance as best I could any time I was at her house.

Carl came over often and took the same precautions. My respect for him was at an all-time high. He hadn’t tucked tail and ran when my mom started to become more frail. If anything, he seemed to be just as worried as I was and was so gentle and caring with her. When she made it through all of this, I knew they were going to become even more serious about each other.

I hadn’t seen much of the guys lately. I was spending most of my time outside of work checking on my mom and taking care of things for her. But I was really starting to miss them. Stuart had texted me that he was throwing a party this Friday for the big Stanford vs. Berkeley football game. I knew they both could not have cared less about football, so I saw it for what it was—an excuse to throw a party. I checked with my mom, and she said that she and Carl could use some alone time.Bleh. So, I decided I was going to attend.

I’d been thinking a lot about my relationship with Lex. Uncertainty lingered over where we stood now, and whether there was anything beyond friendship from his end. But I’d made my decision. Life was too short, and I didn’t want anotherday to go by without him knowing how I truly felt about him… even if he didn’t feel the same way.

Friday night rolled around, and it was freezing out. So much for the vaunted California weather I was promised. I dressed in Stanford colors and threw on a large jacket and ran over to their house, banging on the door for someone to let me in before I froze to death.

“You made it!” Stuart said excitedly as he opened the door. He pulled me in for a hug that wasn’t playful. It was reassuring and kind.

Lex walked up behind him, appearing just as happy to see me. He didn’t make a move for me as we stood locked in a silent gaze. The world around me began to blur, the sounds fading to the background as I drank in the sight of him. It bordered on painful just how badly I wanted to reach out and touch him.

“How’s your mom doing?” Stuart asked, snapping me out of it.

I blinked rapidly a few times, trying to clear my thoughts before turning to him.

“The treatments are working,” I answered with a smile. “Her numbers are a lot better, but she’s been much sicker.”

“She’s going to beat this,” Stuart said solemnly.

I nodded in agreement. The alternative wasn’t something I could fathom.

I followed them inside the house, where Lex stopped to help me remove my overcoat. The soft brush of his fingertips across my arms sent goosebumps in their wake as a nervous flutter beat through my chest.I needed a drink ASAP to settle these nerves, or I’d never make it through this night.

I looked around to see they had quite a few people in attendance for their “football” party. Most of the guys on their research team were there as well as some other faculty members, none of whom were watching the game. I also spotted Nicky inthe corner talking to Jace, sipping a beer, and looking at me like I had the plague.

Glad to see everything was back to normal.

“We were just about to play another round of beer pong. You in?” Stuart asked.

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