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“I’m his fiancée.” I pat my chest, pleading, “I’m not asking you to disclose his condition, but you must have referred him to a cancer treatment center. All I need is a name.”
Her eyes search mine and she dips her head. After a few deep breaths, she confides softly, “It’s Belvedere Cancer Center.” She sticks out her finger. “But you didn’t hear that from me.”
“Thank you.” I breathe out. “Thank you.”
Her shoes slap the floor as she walks away and I turn in the other direction. Cullen and Josiah are sitting in the lobby.
Cullen sees me first and shoots to his feet. Josiah follows more slowly, his eyes locked—as always—on his phone.
“Why are you two waiting in here? Why didn’t you go to the car?” I ask.
“Cullen was in pain so he had to buy a bottle of water and take pills,” Josiah tattles.
My eyes widen.
Cullen shoots my brother a look of betrayal.
I swoop toward the tall programmer, my heart in my throat. “Do you need to see a doctor?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“There are plenty around,” I insist. “I’m sure we can find someone who can check on you.”
When I try to grab his hand to pull him toward the nurse’s station, Cullen tugs me toward his chest instead.
“I’m okay, Nardi. It was only indigestion. Nothing serious.”
I don’t believe a word he’s saying. Especially because he didn’t look me in the eyes for that entire sentence.
“If it’s just indigestion, then you shouldn’t mind a quick consultation,” I insist.
“Nardi.”
“It’s just a doctor, Cullen.”
“Nardi, you’re shaking.” Cullen grips my arm.
“I’m fine.”
I’m not fine. My heart is thudding in my chest. There’s an air of desperation to my words. I don’t know where the urgency is coming from, but it feels like something precious is about to slip through my fingers and I have no control, no way to save it.
Cullen tries to steer me toward a seat. “Sit down.”
“I don’t want to sit down! I want you to see a doctor!” I snap, throwing his hand off.
I don’t realize that I’ve shouted until the people in the lobby look at me and Josiah lifts his eyes from his phone.
Shame creeps into my chest and I struggle to calm my breathing.
The tips of Cullen’s ears are red, but his voice is calm when he speaks to me, “Okay, Nardi. If you really want me to, I’ll see a doctor. But not today. Let’s just leave now and get Josiah home. You and I can talk when we’re alone.”
Josiah’s head whips up. “But you promised I could show you my idea.”
“Another time, Josiah.”
I rub my forehead in frustration. “No, it’s fine. Josiah came with us because he wanted to spend time with you.”
Cullen observes me carefully. Then he turns to my brother. “How about we talk over ice cream?”