Read Online Eight Days (Love Always #1.5) by D. Nichole King - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: D. Nichole King
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on my shoulder. “Kate has a lot worth fighting for.”
~*~
Kate’s dad is with Marcy when I return to the Commons with our coffees. The Browdys sit at a small table, heads leaned in together.
“Thank you,” Marcy says as I hand her the Styrofoam cup.
Wordlessly, I slump onto the sofa on the other side of the room by myself. I want to be alone with my thoughts. It’s definitely not what Liam would do, but I’m done caring what he would do. Kate never wanted Liam. She didn’t even know him, so I can begin fresh. I don’t have his perfect-ass standard to live up to with her.
I drag a hand down my face, sliding my fingers over the stubble on my jaw. Six days ago, I was considering leaving Kate because I couldn’t handle her disease. Because I wasn’t strong enough.
Today, I’m still not strong enough, but thanks to Ellie, I realize that I don’t have to be. She didn’t love Liam because he was perfect. No, she loved him because he was genuine.
Kate doesn’t need me to be strong. She needs me to be there. To be me . The rest we can work out together.
Now all Kate has to do is beat the virus and wake the hell the up.
An hour passes, and beams of sunlight scatter through the blinds. No one has come in to give us an update on Kate’s condition. My coffee is long gone, and I cross my arms.
I’m cold. I’m hot. I’m scared.
I’m so fucking scared.
Finally, my dad appears in the doorway. His face is long, tired. He glances in my direction before he approaches Kate’s parents. I don’t follow him over. I just sit here, watching as he speaks quietly to the Browdys.
Marcy’s hand covers her mouth, tears slipping onto her cheeks. Mr. Browdy cradles her in his arms, and my heart drops into my stomach. Kate has to be okay.
The need to see her for myself overwhelms me. Quietly, I slip out of the Commons and head to Kate’s room. There’s one nurse at the nurses’ station, but she doesn’t look up when I walk past. The door to Kate’s room is shut, and I hesitate as I reach for the handle. I don’t know what I’ll find behind it, but I don’t want to dwell on the possibilities, either.
I push the fear away and open the door.
The soft hum of machines greets me, and for once, it’s a welcoming sound. But it’s not enough to back me off the edge. That won’t happen until I know she’ll be okay. Hell, until she says my name.
Whoever left the room last closed the curtain. I gather the material in my hand and slide it back. She’s lying there, hooked up like when I left her. I can’t see if she’s breathing. My eyes flick up to the monitor, and the first thing I notice is the steady heartbeat.
I hear myself exhale as relief floods through me like a damn breaking free.
She’s alive.
My gaze returns to her. The same body I woke up to this morning rests on top of the mattress, but it’s different. Stronger. More resilient.
This girl. This beautiful girl in front of me amazes me with everything she is.
Her skin’s not as pale as earlier. Her lips are pink again. I lean over her, my hands on either side of her head, smashing into her pillow. Closing my eyes, I hold my position over her, not touching her. I want to feel her warmth on my face, her breath on my mouth.
“It’s just us, Katie,” I whisper. “Give me something to let me know you can hear me.”
Closing my eyes, I wait. I don’t move or breathe. She offers nothing, and I open my eyes to take her in. I lower myself until my nose grazes hers. Then I repeat the words I told her a week ago in front of the fireplace. This time I understand what I’m saying.
This time it’s for real.
“Don’t leave me, Katie. Don’t leave me.”
~*~
Kate is under constant supervision. If my father wants a nurse watching over her, that must mean he’s worried. Dad’s even been in Kate’s room more than his typical once every twenty-four hours. The rest of the time, he’s in his office. What the fuck is up with that? Why
~*~
Kate’s dad is with Marcy when I return to the Commons with our coffees. The Browdys sit at a small table, heads leaned in together.
“Thank you,” Marcy says as I hand her the Styrofoam cup.
Wordlessly, I slump onto the sofa on the other side of the room by myself. I want to be alone with my thoughts. It’s definitely not what Liam would do, but I’m done caring what he would do. Kate never wanted Liam. She didn’t even know him, so I can begin fresh. I don’t have his perfect-ass standard to live up to with her.
I drag a hand down my face, sliding my fingers over the stubble on my jaw. Six days ago, I was considering leaving Kate because I couldn’t handle her disease. Because I wasn’t strong enough.
Today, I’m still not strong enough, but thanks to Ellie, I realize that I don’t have to be. She didn’t love Liam because he was perfect. No, she loved him because he was genuine.
Kate doesn’t need me to be strong. She needs me to be there. To be me . The rest we can work out together.
Now all Kate has to do is beat the virus and wake the hell the up.
An hour passes, and beams of sunlight scatter through the blinds. No one has come in to give us an update on Kate’s condition. My coffee is long gone, and I cross my arms.
I’m cold. I’m hot. I’m scared.
I’m so fucking scared.
Finally, my dad appears in the doorway. His face is long, tired. He glances in my direction before he approaches Kate’s parents. I don’t follow him over. I just sit here, watching as he speaks quietly to the Browdys.
Marcy’s hand covers her mouth, tears slipping onto her cheeks. Mr. Browdy cradles her in his arms, and my heart drops into my stomach. Kate has to be okay.
The need to see her for myself overwhelms me. Quietly, I slip out of the Commons and head to Kate’s room. There’s one nurse at the nurses’ station, but she doesn’t look up when I walk past. The door to Kate’s room is shut, and I hesitate as I reach for the handle. I don’t know what I’ll find behind it, but I don’t want to dwell on the possibilities, either.
I push the fear away and open the door.
The soft hum of machines greets me, and for once, it’s a welcoming sound. But it’s not enough to back me off the edge. That won’t happen until I know she’ll be okay. Hell, until she says my name.
Whoever left the room last closed the curtain. I gather the material in my hand and slide it back. She’s lying there, hooked up like when I left her. I can’t see if she’s breathing. My eyes flick up to the monitor, and the first thing I notice is the steady heartbeat.
I hear myself exhale as relief floods through me like a damn breaking free.
She’s alive.
My gaze returns to her. The same body I woke up to this morning rests on top of the mattress, but it’s different. Stronger. More resilient.
This girl. This beautiful girl in front of me amazes me with everything she is.
Her skin’s not as pale as earlier. Her lips are pink again. I lean over her, my hands on either side of her head, smashing into her pillow. Closing my eyes, I hold my position over her, not touching her. I want to feel her warmth on my face, her breath on my mouth.
“It’s just us, Katie,” I whisper. “Give me something to let me know you can hear me.”
Closing my eyes, I wait. I don’t move or breathe. She offers nothing, and I open my eyes to take her in. I lower myself until my nose grazes hers. Then I repeat the words I told her a week ago in front of the fireplace. This time I understand what I’m saying.
This time it’s for real.
“Don’t leave me, Katie. Don’t leave me.”
~*~
Kate is under constant supervision. If my father wants a nurse watching over her, that must mean he’s worried. Dad’s even been in Kate’s room more than his typical once every twenty-four hours. The rest of the time, he’s in his office. What the fuck is up with that? Why
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