Page 22 of Serenity

“I’ve been super careful to not throw my money around too much because I didn’t want to freak you out. Not when you were already leery of the Porsche and the big house.” It’d been a little weird at first, and I’d had to get creative because she didn’t care about brand names or the latest fads. But we weren’t talking about date night or a birthday gift here. This was her health. Maybe even her life. The bottom line was that money talked, and I didn’t care if I had to drain my entire trust fund if that’s what it took to get her seen immediately. “But I can’t let that matter right now. Not if it’ll make a difference in the care you’llreceive.”

“It won’t,” sheinsisted.

“We’ll just see about that,” I muttered as I handed her a pill and went into the bathroom to get her a glass of water. While I was in there, I started the shower and pulled out a fresh towel for her. I was already on the phone with her doctor’s office, listening to their automated system, when I came back out to bring her the water. I pressed the button to let them know the call was for an existing patient, and went through the next option to speak to one of the nurses, while I watched her take her meds and finish her drink. Then I tucked the phone under my chin and lifted her off the bed to carry her into thebathroom.

“Make sure you use the bench,” I whispered to her. “I don’t want you to fall while you’re in there and I can’t join you until I get through to thenurse.”

“Is that who you’re on with right now? My doctor’s office?” I nodded. “You can call the physician assistant’s cell if you want. It’s usually faster than going through the office line. I have the number in myphone.”

“Thanks, baby.” I disconnected the call and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Maybe I won’t need to throw my weight aroundafterall.”

“You really won’t. Although I have to admit it was kinda hot watching you get all fired up on my behalf.” Her plump lips tilted up at the edges. “But they’re really great over there, and I’m kind of a favorite in theoffice.”

It wasn’t hard to see how that would be true, not with the odds Faith had battled to become the amazing woman she was today. “I’m sureyouare.”

I helped her strip out of my shirt and boxers and made sure she got into the shower safely before I headed back into the bedroom to grab her phone. Since I knew her password, I punched it in as I strode back to ask her what name she had the PA listedunder.

“Lisa,” shecalledout.

I pulled up the number and made the call, my eyes latched on Faith as she used the handheld shower head to get her hair wet. I had to shake myself out of a haze when the call was picked up after only tworings.

“Hey, Faith. Everything okay? Susan mentioned that you called in a couple of weeks ago, asking about the letter she forwarded to your donorfamily.”

“Lisa? This is Dillon, Faith’sboyfriend.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I have Faith programmed into my phone, and I figured it was her since you’re calling from her number. Is she alright? Is there a reason you’re calling me insteadofher?”

“She’s in the shower right now and can’t talk, but she’s running a fever and has a bunch of other symptoms I’m worriedabout.”

“This is tricky because of HIPPA rules but if you tell me what’s going on with her, I can at least get a jump start on figuring out what the problem is. Then if needed, you can put me on speaker phone with Faith so I can discuss her condition directly with her. It’s completely up to her if she’s okay with youlisteningin.”

I didn’t give a fuck about privacy rules. All that mattered to me was that she was willing to listen to what I had to say. “She had a tough week and missed a couple doses of her anti-rejection meds. Now she has a fever. It’s a hundred point five. Her feet are swollen, she’s exhausted, and she’s chilled. She’s also nauseous and has some pain inherside.”

“Shit,” Lisa hissed. “Pull her out of the shower. Now. Get her to the Emergency Room at Southeast Memorial. Immediately. We’ll call ahead and let them know she’scoming.”

It felt like the world slowed as I listened to her instructions. My heart stopped beating and my blood froze in my veins as I was swampedbyfear.

“Dillon! Can you hear me?” Lisa yelled throughtheline.

“What?Yeah.”

“Snap out of it. Faith needs you to remain calm. You can come ungluedafteryou get her totheER.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a few deep breaths. “Okay. Yes. I hear you. I’ll get herthere.”

“Good. Getgoing.Now.”

She disconnected the call, and I stepped forward to pull the shower door open. “Hey, baby. Lisa thinks it’ll be better for them to see you in theEmergencyRoom.”

The fear and despair in her eyes was almost my undoing. I was trying my hardest to be positive for her, but I was scared shitless that she was really sick. Faith was always so conscientious about what she ate, taking her medications, and sleep that I worried she’d done some serious damage in the last few days. Until the doctor confirmed she would be okay, I didn’t think I was going to be able to think straight. But I had to at least fake it.Forher.

“I’m sure I just overstated things when I was explaining your symptoms to her. Or it’s just a precaution because of the fever. Either way, I’m sure it’s going to be fine.” I offered her a reassuring smile. “Let’s get that conditioner out of your hair so we can get you dried off anddressed.”

She didn’t say a word as she handed me the showerhead, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes. I rinsed her hair, running my fingers through it to make sure I got it all out. Once I was done, I shut off the water and grabbed a towel. As I dried her off, it was the first time in our relationship that I touched her naked body without getting hard. It had nothing to do with wanting her any less than I did a week ago and everything to do with being scared to death about herhealth.

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