Page 68 of Out of the Blue

She bursts out, “Oh, no! I’m not doing any such thing unless it’s with you!” She rushes to her feet, kissing my forehead. “I love you.”

I open my mouth but nothing comes out. She gives me her side-eye, then continues, “That’s right, you dumbass. I. Love. You. And I’m saying it out loud, to you. Right here, right now. And you better love me back, or I’ll never forgive you.”

An unanticipated laugh escapes without my permission. “Then I guess I better tell you I love you too, since I don’t want to go to my grave knowing you’re mad at me.”

The impact hits me square in my chest. Hard. But the machines don’t beep. No, our admissions go much deeper than my heart rate—our confessions come straight from the soul.

Cordy leans over and plants her lips on mine. The touch is tender, yet so much more than any other kiss we’ve ever shared. A touch I want to savor for the rest of my days, no matter whether it’s measured in days or years. “I love you,” I whisper.

“Right back at you,” she returns.

We stare into each other’s eyes for a long moment, until the opening of my door breaks our trance. My girlfriend spins around and moves away from me.

When the new occupants of my room cross my line of sight, my body tenses. What ishedoing here? I glance between a smiling Sara and Braxton, and over to Cordy, but no one says anything.

Until Braxton breaks the silence. “I'm glad you’re awake. That’s great.”

My shoulder rises and falls. “Thanks.”

“We’re happy to see you doing so well,” Sara offers.

Well? I’m doingwell? I guess for a dead man walking—rather, lying in a hospital bed with one leg in a cast—being awake is a good thing. I can’t respond, so I blink.

Braxton takes a step closer and places his hand on the footrail. “We have some good news for you.”

I glance at Cordy, but she’s looking at him, a small frown marring her face. Sara’s watching her husband. Because it’s expected, I reply, “Guess I could use some good news about now.”

He nods. “We’ve talked it over, Sara and me, and it’s a go. I’m here. I’m ready. My kidneys are your perfect match. I want you to have one of mine.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I round my gaze to Cordy, who’s now sporting a huge smile. How could she do this to me? All that bullshit about loving me she spouted was just that—bullshit. My ire blasts at her. “How dare you!”

My “girlfriend” whips toward me, her mocha eyes open wide. Her hand covers the spot where her heart should be. Her head shakes violently from side to side. “No, I—”

My hand slashes through the air. “Save it.” I direct my attention to Braxton. “Wow. Must make you feel like a big star, coming to the aid of your dying son. And all you have to do is give up a kidney. And some sperm.”

The air in my hospital room stills while my own beating heart gallops. Thank fuck the machines somehow remain silent.

Sara’s the first to find her voice. She stutters, “What?”

I stare at Braxton’s wife. “Didn’t he tell you what Cordelia obviously told him?” I spit out her full name like an epithet. “How rich.” I focus on the rock star who picked my mother out of the crowd for a quick tumble. “You’re only coming here to do your fatherly duty now, after over thirty years. Keep your kidney.”

Braxton’s knuckles become whiter as he crushes the foot railing. He mimics his wife’s query. “What?”

“I’ve had enough of you two.” I point toward the door. “Go. Leave.”

Sara places her hand on Braxton’s shoulder and turns him toward the door. Before they walk out, she says, “We’ll be back, Trent.” They shuffle out of my room.

I round on the woman who I thought was special. Who was going to inherit all my worldly possessions. Well, not anymore. I snarl, “How dare you?”

In a low voice, she responds, “I didn’t. I swear to you I didn’t tell him. I only asked them to get tested, like I’ve been begging everyone to do.”

“Pretty words. Too bad I don’t believe them. Go! Get out of my sight!”

“No. I would never—”

The machines around me choose this moment to blare. I’m so fucking pissed, and now the whole hospital knows it. Good. I don’t care.

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