Read Online Never Let Go (Take My Hand) by Nicola Haken - Free Book Online

see us before you leave.”
    “Sure, Mum. We’re heading back Monday. We’ll pop round
Sunday afternoon.”
    “Great. I’ll cook dinner. Lamb or chicken?”
    “Beef,” Rachel replied with a smart smile, being
purposely awkward.
    “And Yorkshire puddings I hope?” Jared chipped in.
    “Homemade,” Caroline replied with a wink.
    Bryan, Rachel’s dad, joined us in the hall while we
said our goodbyes. He offered to drive us home but Rachel had already called a
taxi and it was waiting for us outside. After another round of hugs and kisses,
Rachel, Jared and I went outside towards the waiting car. Jared helped Rachel
in and collapsed her chair, put it in the boot and then climbed in the front
seat. Resting my head against the glass, I waved goodbye to Caroline and Bryan,
and then closed my eyes, breathing deeply as I prepared to face the situation
at home.
     
    The taxi stopped at Rachel and Jared’s hotel before
taking me home. I still didn’t understand why they weren’t just staying with
her parents, but then again money isn’t an issue for Jared. Dexter and Chris
were already home by the time I got there, and the first thing to hit me when I
walked in the house was the deathly shade of grey Chris’ skin had turned.
    “How’d it go?” I asked immediately, slipping straight
into Dexter’s arms but looking at Chris.
    “Fine, I think,” Chris answered. “It was long and
boring as hell but it didn’t hurt or anything.”
    “And how do you feel now?”
    “Sick. Exhausted. Weak.”
    “Oh, Chris,” I sighed, pulling away from Dexter to
give my brother a hug. “How long will it last? Feeling so crappy I mean.”
    “I’m not sure. I have a leaflet. I might go lie down
and read it.”
    “Do you need anything? I could make you some dinner?”
    “Ugh,” he groaned. “Not right now. Thanks though.”
    After tightening his grip around me and giving me one
final squeeze, Chris pulled away and went straight up to bed.
    Cancer is a bastard .
    **********
    “You ready for bed, doll?” Dexter asked when I let out
an impressive yawn. “I love the way you yawn – the way your little button
nose scrunches up.”
    “Yeah. I’m exhausted.” It was only 7 PM but I’d been
through so much emotionally the last few days I wasn’t surprised it was
catching up to me.
    We hadn’t heard from Chris again and by the time we
reached the top of the stairs we heard a loud snore coming from his room. All
the rubbish in his system must’ve wiped him out and I found myself hoping this
wouldn’t be his life for the next few months. Surely he will have better days
or what’s the point?
    Dexter undressed and climbed into bed under the covers
while I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came back I reached into
my pyjama drawer but Dexter stopped me by saying my name.
    “Don’t wear anything to bed, doll. We don’t have to do
anything. I just want to hold you. Feel your skin against mine.”
    His words warmed my chest, and so I slinked out of my
underwear and joined him under the covers. He lay on his back with one arm
stretched out so I could snuggle into his firm chest. I rested my hand along
the groove of his hips and inhaled the scent of him. It’s weird how people have
their own smell… and nothing on this earth smells as good as Dexter.
    “How’re you holding up?” he asked me, tracing small
circles on my back with his thumb. “I need you to talk to me, doll. Be honest
with me.”
    “I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “All I know is
that it hurts. All the time. And I
can’t see how it’s ever going to get better.”
    “Time. That’s all I’ve got to offer you. Because in
all honesty, I don’t know how it’s gonna get better either.”
    I snuggled in a little closer, my skin igniting
wherever it touched his. I’d missed this. I’d missed him. Instinctively my
fingers wandered along the groove of his hip, following its path downwards
until I reached between his legs. I wrapped my fingers