Page 151 of Time Stops With You

“I’m fine. It’s just hot.” I turn to the door but my knees buckle on the way.

The room is spinning.

I push forward anyway. If I stay with Nardi, I’ll be tempted to tell her what really happened at the hospital. I’ll tell her about the test results. I’ll tell her what the doctor said about my lungs. About how much time I have left.

And I can’t do that to her.

A moment later, I feel her fingers clamp around my wrist. She gives a mighty tug. “Sit down. Catch your breath before you go down all those stairs.”

I resist her. “I appreciate your concern, but we had a deal, Nardi. I don’t want your pity or your understanding. I haven’t asked for any of that.”

Her nostrils flare. “Hating you and not wanting you to die halfway down the stairs aren’t mutually exclusive. Sit down. I’ll get you some water.”

There’s a knock on the door. Nardi heads there and flings the door open only to jump back a second later. On high alert, I push to my feet and assess the woman outside. Something about the visitor’s face makes my eyes blaze to the photo on Nardi’s mantle.

This woman looks like…

“Mom?” Nardi gasps.

“Hello, baby!” A woman who looks just like Nardi springs forward and wraps her in a hug.

Sixteen

NARDI

I’m so dazed by my mother’s unexpected visit that I don’t realize her eyes have strayed to Cullen until it’s too late.

Mom’s expression shifts to a wide-eyed stare. She places a stunned hand to her chest. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.” Mom collects herself and smiles coyly. Muttering to me, mom says, “You didn’t tell me you had a white boyfriend.”

I whirl around, my heart sprinting to my throat. Cullen is sitting in my sofa, his shirt gone and his face pale.

“Mom, it’s not what it looks like.”

“Hi.” Mom sails over to him, her hand outstretched. “I’m Nardi’s mom, Shadanne.”

“Ronan Cullen.” Cullen lifts his lips in a semblance of a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. His hand trembles when he reaches out to shake hers. “It’s good to meet you.”

“Mom, can you—just a sec.” I grab Cullen’s hand and pull him out of the sofa.

“Take all the time you need!” Mom calls after me, sounding far too excited about catching a half-naked man in her daughter’s apartment.

Cullen stumbles behind me as I drag him to my bedroom. He’s moving slowly and carefully. I realize he might be suffering from vertigo again and slow my steps.

“I’m okay,” he says, sensing what I’m doing.

“Saying that over and over won’t make it any more believable,” I snap.

He releases a strained chuckle.

I whirl around and glare at him. How does he have it in him to laugh right now?

“I’m…” At my dark look, he amends, “I’m not okay. But I will be. I just need a minute.”

We get to my bedroom and I slam the door shut. Cullen shrugs into his shirt, but it remains unbuttoned. He can’t hide his pain any longer. He’s on the edge of my bed, clutching his chest and leaning over.

“Cullen?” I sink to my knees in front of him. A part of me wants to rub his back and give him a hug, but when I’m feeling sick, I don’t really like people touching me. I get the feeling Cullen is the same way.

“My painkillers…” He rubs his chest. “I have… it’s downstairs.”

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