Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 62056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
ARGH.
"How do you know that?" Like, seriously. How the hell did he find out, when I've only been in the clinic for under an hour?
"If you hadn't skipped freshmen orientation, you wouldn't have to ask."
"Orientations are boring," I say loftily.
"But necessary and informative," he counters in a mild tone. "It's your college's SOP to contact next of kin if a student has any medical concern."
"And they contacted you? Not Io?"
"Naturally."
Ha!
There is nothing natural about Nik's involvement in Iolanthe's life, much less mine. All Nik just happens to be is this wealthy dude that my older sister used to work for and fell in love with.
But because I was desperate and penniless a few years back...
Nik is now a part of our lives, for better or for worse.
And right now, it's the latter.
Halp, God.
The interrogation begins as soon as his limo cruises out of campus, and Nik and I are facing each other in the backseat.
"How long have you been having these headaches?"
"Weeks." It's been months actually, but what's a couple of days, right?
"And you never bothered to get a checkup?"
"It's just a headache."
Nik's gaze narrows, and I fight against the urge to squirm like I have something to hide...which I do.
The two of us might butt heads all the time, but that doesn't make me any less aware or grateful for all that he's done for Io and me. He's the reason my sister's still alive, and that's why I can't ask him for anything more. It's time I learn how to stand on my own feet, even if he doesn't agree with it.
"There's something you're not telling me," Nik says finally. "Isn't there?"
Shit, shit, shit.
"Can you give me a week?" I ask stiffly.
"For what?"
"To get my shit together."
I hold my breath when Nik studies me in pensive silence. The billionaire isn't one to make snap decisions, but neither is he the type to go back on his word. I know his overprotective ass is dying to force me to accept his help, but all I'm asking for is a week. Just one week for me to at least try solving my own problems—-
"A week then. But if I don't like what I see in a week..."
The warning in his tone isn't lost on me, but I'm too relieved to care.
You da best, God.
A week is not much, but it's still something, and I can't afford to let this something go to waste.
If I don't get my shit together in a week, Nik will take over like he usually does, and since the billionaire is big on honesty, that likely means letting my sister know about my headaches.
My sister, who's finally stress-free...because she now happens to be cancer-free as well.
And for her to stay that way, I need to make sure I don't give Io anything to worry about.
Two
Me: I really need your help. I only have one week to "fix" myself.
Karen: You need the right mindset to start with. You have NOTHING to fix.
Me: You got me there. =/
Karen: It's okay. I've been in your shoes, obvs.
Karen: I know what it's like.
Me: I just got so used to spending every minute of my life worrying about my sister.
Karen: And now that you don't have to, you realize you don't remember how to live for yourself. Right?
Me: Exactly.
Karen: I know you're not going to take my advice on this, but I just have to say this for the nth time—-you need to let your family know what you're going through.
Me: I know. But...no. I don't want to make my sister worry about anything. There's a huge correlation between stress and cancer, and I just don't want to risk it.
Karen: You're being overly cautious, but...*sigh* I get it.
Me: You got over it, didn't you?
Karen: Yeah. Took a while. But I did.
Me: Did you ever tell your husband about your fears? Your worries?
Karen: Uh...no. LOL
Me: Knew it. :P
Karen: But I knew I should have!
Me: If you can't walk the talk...
Karen: :P
Me: Any other advice on how to become "normal" again?
Karen: I tried a lot of things, but honestly? You know what worked the most?
Me: Meds?
Karen: SEX.
Karen: There's honestly nothing like lots and lots and lots of sex to make you forget everything except what you're feeling.
NIK GLANCES AT ME WHEN I accidentally drop my phone.
"Sorry." I bend down to pick my phone up like everything's normal, and a friend from my online cancer support group hasn't just advised me to distract myself with sex.
"Everything okay?"
"Just Andie being Andie," I lie without missing a beat as I straighten back in my seat. "She texted me something again about her Daddy."
This has my companion wincing as expected, and he doesn't ask any questions afterwards.
Sorry, Andie.
While I'm totally supportive of Andie crushing on her dad's best friend, I'm also not above using the other girl's ongoing one-sided romance as a way to keep Nik from poking into my business.