Page 18 of Alex
Thedoctor closes my file and gives me a grin I’m sure was intended to bereassuring. “Try not to worry. We just don’t know until the tests come back. Mynurse will be in shortly to draw some blood, then you need to head over to thehospital. They’ll be expecting you.”
SoI go from a doctor playing with my junk to an ultrasound tech slathering myballs in goop and running a wand over them. Not my proudest moment. The goodthing about an ultrasound is that there isn’t a long wait for test results.
Twohours later, I’m sitting in another doctor’s office on the other side of thehospital. The room is painted a calming blue, but it does nothing to quell mynerves. My hands fumble in my lap when the doctor enters.
He’san older man with thinning silver hair and a kind smile. “Mr. Turner, sorry tokeep you waiting. I’m Dr. Brennon. I specialize in urology.”
“DoI have cancer?” I demand, getting right to the point. Please just tell me myballs aren’t going to rot off.
Takinga seat on a stool beside me, he replies, “You have what’s known as a seminomatumor in your right testicle. It’s a very common and very treatable form oftesticular cancer.”
ChapterThree
Alex
Masonis ringing my phone before I’m out of bed Monday morning. Okay, maybe it’safternoon. “What the hell do you want?” I groan.
“Makingsure you’re coming in to work with Liam today. He needs a new Bo Staff Form andyou know that’s not my area. He’ll be here at three.”
“I’llbe there.” Liam is fourteen and a madman with a Bo Staff. He’s homeschooled, sohe can come in early for private lessons. Honestly, he’s better than me and mybrothers with that weapon. Once he learns to put together his own forms, hewon’t need me.
“Hearanything from Kyle?” I ask, and Mason laughs.
“No.He hasn’t even had his first class yet. Quit worrying and get your ass out ofbed.”
“Gofuck yourself,” I reply, cutting off the call before he can respond. It makesme smile. He hates it when I do that.
Myhand automatically travels to Cooper’s pillow and sadness washes through me. “Istill miss you, Coop. Always. But I’m getting out of bed. I’m doing what youwould want.”
Nothingsounds good for breakfast and I end up settling for a couple of Kyle’s toasterpastries. I’m just preparing to leave when the landline rings. I swearsometimes I forget we still have it. “Hello?”
Anautomated message kicks on. “This is a courtesy reminder call for Ian Turner toconfirm your appointment tomorrow at ten a.m. Please call the office if youneed to reschedule. Thank you.” The call disconnects. I guess Ian has adoctor’s appointment.
I’mjust about to text him and let him know when I notice the caller ID. The callcame from Marion Oncology. A sick dread fills my stomach. Cancer? Ian hascancer? Why the hell hasn’t he told me? Has he told anyone? Oh fuck. I can’t dothis again. Can’t lose another person I love.
Allteasing aside, I do love Ian. I have for a while. I know he’s straight, and I’dlike to be able to say I love him like a brother or best friend, but it’s morethan that, stronger than that. Sitting down, I take a couple of deep breathsand get a grip. This isn’t about me. Ian’s sick.
Hisphone goes straight to voicemail. I try him again every chance I get throughoutthe day, but with no luck. The day drags past, and I brush off Mason’s offer towork on the shelter. I just want to get home and find out what the hell isgoing on with Ian.
Hestumbles through the door after midnight, drunk off his ass. The coffee tableshifts as his knee slams into it in the dim room. “Fuck! Fuckin table comingout of nowhere,” he grumbles. It’d be funny if I wasn’t aware of why he drankso much. “The hell are you doing up?” he slurs when he sees me sitting on thecouch.
“Waitingfor you.”
“Sorry,still love pussy.” He heads down the hall, and I follow him.
Hisbed shudders, he drops onto it so hard. “I’m not in the mood for any bullshittonight, Alex. I’m going to bed.” His fingers fumble to undo his shoelaces.
“Moveyour hands,” I order, and pull off his shoes. He falls back and stares at theceiling. “Your doctor called. You have an appointment tomorrow at ten.”
Hisbrow dips. “They had no right to tell you that. What else did they say?”
“Itwas a recording. They didn’t say anything. Ian…what’s going on?”
“Nothing,it’s just a checkup.”
“Bullshit.”I sit down on the bed beside him. “It was an oncologist.”
Hesits up quickly and grabs his head, quickly regretting it. “Mind your ownfucking business.”
