Page 75 of Set on You

I can’t help but snort, hand to stomach. It isn’t sexy in the slightest, but I’m relieved beyond measure. I wasn’t flying solo last night on my journey to heaven after all.

He takes my plate and sets it gently on the counter before wrapping his arms around me, pulling me into his warm chest. I nestle my head against him, trying to capture this moment. I want to remember how it feels to be in his arms. I take in his musky scent,which, even after a full night of serious cardio, is still alluring as sin. I revel in the security of his muscly arms enveloping me with just the right amount of squeeze. Not tight enough to crunch my bones and loose enough to wriggle free.

We stay like this, rocking back and forth in the kitchen, before I finally come to my senses. I can’t pretend I didn’t see the text, as much as I wish I could. This can’t last. This isn’t reality. I can’t tiptoe around this any longer.

I shrink out of his arms. It’s cold without his body heat. Instinctively, I wrap my arms around myself. Frankly, it’s a poor substitute. “Scott...”

“Yeah?”

“I know about Diana.”

His jaw tightens as he frowns at me. “What are you talking about?”

“I know she’s back in town. I know you’re talking to her again.”

He runs his hand through his thick hair. “I’m not talking to her, Crys.”

“Then why is she texting you? I didn’t mean to see it... I thought it was my phone.”

He sighs. “She texted me the other day, saying she was coming back to town and wanted to come get a necklace she left at my place. That’s literally it. She was supposed to get it last night... but I obviously wasn’t home. I never mentioned it because I honestly didn’t give it a second thought.”

I slow-blink, registering his words. “So, nothing is going on between you guys now that she’s back?”

“You really think I would cheat on you with her? After everything?”

“What am I supposed to think? We aren’t technically together. You could do anything and it wouldn’t really be cheating.”

He sidesteps away from me. “I told you I wouldn’t see anyone else.”

“How can I believe you? You’re being so sketchy with me. It doesn’t make sense. If she just texted you for a necklace, why were you acting so moody?”

He reaches forward, cupping my cheeks with his massive hands. “I’m telling you, it has nothing to do with Diana.” His shoulders slump, which tells me he’s at the end of his rope.

“Then what is it?”

He stiffens, letting his hands fall to his sides. “I can’t tell you.”

I laugh manically out of pure frustration. “That’s highly convenient.” How on earth does he expect me to trust him when he refuses to enlighten me on whatever this deep, dark secret is?

He bows his head. “I know it sounds ridiculous.”

“Then tell me. Please. Is it bad?”

He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. “You’re going to hate me.”

My stomach twists as I take in his watery eyes. This is bad. And try as I might, I fail to scrounge up any possibilities in my head. “Scott, tell me.”

“My grandpa might be sick.”

I blink. “Sick? What do you mean,sick?”

“He hasn’t been feeling well for the last few weeks. That’s the phone call I got. He needed someone to bring him to the ER.”

I exhale loudly, hand pressed to my chest. I’m light-headed. Thank god Scott has fed me, or I’d have passed out.

“They ran some tests and they found a tumor. He has to goback to find out if it’s cancerous. My mom and I are bringing him this afternoon.”

Cancer.The word echoes in my mind, bouncing around, taunting me like an out-of-control Ping-Pong ball. The same disease that killed my grandpa. And now, it could be happening all over again to Martin. My heart is broken for Scott and his family, who are now kind of my family too. When I think about them having to endure the pain of losing Martin, the same way we lost my grandpa, I want to scream.

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