Page 48 of Spreading Her Wings

“She’s resting, but she’s fine. The paramedics said her blood pressure was really low. I called her doctor, and I’ll take her in tomorrow. He said to call him if anything changes today, but since she was stable, there was no immediate need for concern.”

My purse and keys were in my hand before she’d finished her explanation. “I’m on my way over right now.”

“Honey, it’s not necessary. She’s just sleeping.”

“I don’t care. I’ll see you in a minute.”

I slammed the door, and it echoed behind me while I jogged down the porch steps. Tears in my eyes made my vision blurry, and I was again thankful I’d bought a house a block away from my aunt’s. It only took a minute before I pulled into her driveway, turning my car off and running into her house.

My mom sat on the couch in the living room, standing up quickly when I burst through the front door. “She’s sleeping. Katie, I promise you, there’s nothing that can be done today.”

“The cancer. It’s worse, isn’t it?” When my mom’s face twisted into a guilty cringe, I knew I was right. “Why didn’t you guys tell me?”

“We didn’t want you to worry.Shedidn’t want you to worry.”

Betrayal tightened my throat in the same way grief did. Did I stress her out when I worried? I swallowed, hoping to take the lump growing in the back of my throat with it. “I can’t help it,” I whispered. “I’m scared of losing her.”

My mom closed her arms around me, running her hand through my hair like she did when I was a young girl. “Oh, sweet girl, we’re going to lose her at some point, but I see so much of her in you that we’ll never really lose her.”

The sob I’d been trying to hold back broke free from my chest, and a steady flow of tears soaked my mom’s shoulder. “Can I go sit with her?”

“She’s sleeping, Katie, and if I recall, your friends will be here at any time. She’ll be fine, and you can spend the day with her tomorrow if you’d like.” Her hand was soft but firm as she grasped mine. “We should let her rest.”

Defeat settled in me. I wanted to sit silently by her, watch her sleep, and make sure she was still breathing. My mom was right, though, and there was nothing I would be able to do today. Another thought of Auston crossed my mind, and I longed for his arms, knowing again I wouldn’t be able to have them today.

Tears continued to silently paint their way down my cheeks. My thoughts were interrupted by my mom’s grip on my shoulder. “Go home. Have fun with your friends and tell them all hi for me. Especially Auston, huh?” She winked, and I blushed.

“Tonight we aren’t… it’s a long story,” I said, deciding against explaining when my mom raised her eyebrow.

“I know you pretended to date him, and I know I don’t know the whole story,” she said, pausing with a pointed glance at my ring finger. “He makes you happy, though. I can see that. I think he’ll be good for you.”

I sighed. “Mom, it’s kind of a mess, but I really like him.”

“I think you more than like him, honey. Now go. Have fun.” She kissed my cheek, giving me a quick hug before she nudged me towards the door. “And be careful. Protect your heart, whatever that means for you.”

I sat sandwiched between my best friends on my sofa, William and Demetri watching closely from their stools by the counter. Carson cooed from his spot on Jules’s lap and reached out to Andy, who was making kissing sounds at him. When they’dwalked in, the guys had hovered by the door, cursing when the three of us stumbled against the wall trying to hug each other.

“Auston should be here soon,” Andy said, taking a quick glance at the watch on her wrist.

I nodded, hoping the nerves didn’t show on my face. The only thing I’d thought about since talking with my mom earlier had been the comfort of Auston’s arms. Knowing I’d have to pretend he wasn’t the man I loved when he walked in made me anxious.

The knock on my door made me jump, and I whipped around in my seat. “Speak of the devil,” Andy said with a laugh, jumping up from the couch. He knocked? I frowned.

Auston hugged his sister, spinning her around. When he slowly put her back on her feet, he locked eyes with me, and I blinked away the tears that had started to line my eyelids. His brow furrowed, but he quickly corrected his face when Demetri walked over to shake his hand. I shuffled away towards the kitchen, excited to get away from the enthusiastic greetings.

I dropped my hands against the counter, just out of sight of the front door, and took a deep, shaking breath. “Jesus, Katie. Pull yourself together,” I whispered, releasing the full breath that filled my lungs.

“You okay?”

I whipped around. “Auston. What if someone sees…”

“I don’t care.” He stepped towards me, his hazel eyes holding mine hostage. “You’re upset. What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. I just missed you today.” His chest was hard under my hands, but when he leaned towards me, Jules’s voice came from the living room.

“I think Katie was getting wine? I’ll go help her.”

Auston shuffled backwards, and I bit my lip in hopes of suppressing the blush in my cheeks before I opened the fridge door and grabbed the bottle of white wine I’d put in there to chill. “Will you grab those glasses over there?” I pointed to thecounter across the room, sending Auston to grab them while Jules entered the room.

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