Page 71 of Family Like This

“Hope you like that feeling because I’m not letting you go. Now tell me what you hear.”

“Traffic in the distance, the air conditioner.”

“What do you smell?”

“That tea you love.” He takes a long, deep breath. “You. Your shampoo…” He rips his hands from mine and pulls me against him, resting his head against mine as he inhales deeply.

“You can’t control this situation, but tell me something you can control.”

“How I support my friends.”

“Good.” I step back and brush my thumb over his cheek, watching as his breaths come slower and more evenly now. “Let’s get ready to go.”

He nods and turns down the hall, then he spins around and kisses me again. “Thank you.”

“You don’t ever have to thank me for taking care of you.”

I love you.I think the words that have been growing in my brain but I haven’t been able to say. I’m certain he feels them, too, but I’ve been too scared to let them come out of my mouth.

He squeezes my hand and heads down the hall. I quickly pour our tea into travel mugs, then change into leggings and a comfy shirt. I walk out of the room and into the hallway where Miles meets me and hands me one of his sweatshirts. I’ve been obsessed with them lately. We keep it pretty cool in here because I get sick to my stomach when I’m overheated, so I keep cozy in his sweats.

I grab our travel mugs as we walk to the door, then I sling my purse over my shoulder and shove my feet into my favorite slip-on Converse.

“Do you want to drive, or do you want me to?” I ask.

Miles pauses at the door and stares at me, thinking it through. I know he usually prefers to drive—not just with me, but with everyone. “I’ll drive. I’m calmer when I’m focused, but thank you for asking.” He kisses my head and takes my hand.

“Let’s go.”

I hold his hand tightly as we walk out of the apartment, hoping I’m able to comfort him as much as he always comforts me.

Aaron

Sarah’s advice about calling the hospital was helpful. They had a wheelchair and a room waiting for us. The nurse did vitals on Rae and they’re keeping a close eye on her because she’s dizzy and her blood pressure was low. She’s in a hospital bed wearing a gown, and I hate it. Hate seeing her suffer. Hate not knowing what’s going on. Every so often, she pulls her knees up to her chest and writhes in pain. She drifts in and out of sleep and I wish a doctor would just get the fuck in here already.

There’s a quick knock on the door, and I spin in my chair, but it’s not a doctor that walks in, it’s Sarah and Joel. While I wish it had been the doctor, I’m relieved they’re here. Rae’s awake, though her eyes are closed. I know she’s still awake because my hands are wrapped around one of hers and she keeps rubbing her thumb over my knuckles.

“Rae baby,” Sarah whispers, and Rae’s eyes flash open. They’re red and puffy from crying, and it’s more obvious than normal because her skin is pale. Sarah sits down on the edge of the bed and wraps an arm around Rae as Joel walks over and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“How’d you get back here?” Rae asks weakly. “I thought they said only one person.”

Sarah flashes a smile and shrugs. “Sister privilege.”

Rae lifts one eyebrow as much as she can muster. “Really?”

“More like I know a handful of the nurses who work here privilege, and since I’m technically a hospital employee, they let me in. Then pretended they didn’t see Joel.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Rae whispers, taking Sarah’s hand. “You too, Joelskies.”

“You know I wouldn’t dream of missing a party like this,” he jokes.

I lean down and kiss Rae’s hand, resting my forehead on my hands wrapped around her hand. I’m trying not to lose it. She needs me to be strong for her. That is my only job right now. I can break when I’m alone.

There’s another knock on the door, and this time, a doctor walks in with two nurses. They ask for Rae’s full name and date of birth. They then ask Sarah and Joel to wait outside while they go over what happened. I kind of wish Sarah was still in here, since she knows more about medical things. The doctor nods and types a few notes on the computer as he listens. Then he asks Rae a few more questions, mostly about her periods normally and this current one, and I get a funny feeling of déjà vu. Then I realize why. Minus the bleeding, most of this is like when Rae had that cyst on her fallopian tube. I think back to the nurse and doctor thinking she was pregnant.

Pregnant.

My heart seizes in my chest, and I suddenly realize why Sarah lied to me on the phone.

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