Page 109 of Misery and Ecstasy

“And thank you. For always being around and for not giving up on Mom and me.”

When the word sinks in, Alexander presses his lips together as his eyes fill up with more tears. Overtaken with emotion, he squeezes my shoulder in love and gratitude.

Grabbing Draven’s hand in mine once more, I force myself to turn away from everyone else in my life I hold near and dear before I crumble to the floor in pieces.

* * *

My nerves are beyond shot by the time we reach the prep area.

I feel like I just laid my whole damn heart and soul out for everyone to see. It’s an odd feeling to allow yourself to be vulnerable in front of people. I may as well have stripped myself naked and ran through the waiting area.

“Go ahead and change out of your clothes and into this gown.”

Speaking of getting naked.

Trudy lays a hospital gown out on the bed which Draven scoops up before I can get to it.

“I’ll wait outside with the nurse.” My mother smiles at both me and Draven before leaving us.

Is it possible for one person to grow as much as she has—or at least as much as she’s pretending to have grown—over such a short period of time?

I’d like to think so. Especially since the alternative is to never see her again.

Draven told meallabout the conversation they had with one another when she and Alexander first arrived at the clubhouse.

“Arms up, Kins.” I let Draven undress me, my eyes glued to his the entire time.

I need a distraction, and I know watching him fight his desire for me is going to be just that.

“Turn.” Even though he’s barking orders at me, I turn away from him, letting him tie the gown in the back. My body quivers with each errant tickle of his finger against my skin.

Once the gown is secure, Draven helps me into the bed before pulling back the curtain to let Trudy and my mom back in. He sits in a chair by my bedside, and my mother takes the one at my feet as Trudy starts my IV.

“How long did you say it’ll be until they take her back?” My mom asks, even though Trudy just told us on the walk over here I would only be in my prep room for about fifteen minutes.

I think her nerves are getting to her, so I offer her a reassuring smile.

Why is it always easier to comfort others than it is to comfort yourself?

“Not long. Once I get her IV in, I’ll call for anesthesiology. They’ll take her back to the OR.”

“Oh, okay.” I watch as my mom tugs her sweater around her more tightly.

“Trudy, when you’re done, can you please get Cheryl a blanket?” Both my mom and I turn toward Draven.

Only, while I look at him in awe, my mother looks at him suspiciously.

“Of course.”

“Kins, do you need one?” He scratches his eyebrow as though the request he just made was no big deal.

“I’m good, but thanks.”

“I need to go get some more tape for your IV. I’ll grab a few blankets while I’m at it.”

When Trudy leaves the room, I look from Draven to my mom.

“That was very sweet of you, Draven. Mother, wasn’t that very sweet of him?”

---