Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 118459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
I walk across the dock and pick up another one and toss it on the pile then wipe a bead of sweat off my forehead with the end of my shirt. It’s hot today, the sun beating down for the first real time this year. The humidity makes everything feel strangled. As if that’s not bad enough, I’m dealing with the rumors and speculation from all the fools I work with. Most of them didn’t realize what was going on until the pre-fight conference aired. Walking into work the next morning, everything had changed. I hate it. Work was the one place where my life was normal. Shitty, maybe, but normal. Unaffected by everything else going on. The bullshit has even tainted my job now.
Everyone has a prediction. Everyone has a wager to make. Would I make it out of the first round? Would it end by decision or knockout? It’s starting to piss me off.
I pick up another bag and toss it on the pile when I hear my name being called.
“Yeah?” I shout back, my voice barely heard over the activity of the dock.
“You got a call.”
My stomach falls. I never get calls at work. With the feeling of lead in my stomach, I head into the office. Any other time, the coolness of the air would’ve been nice, but I don’t even notice.
“I got a call,” I tell the secretary, heaving in a breath.
“Yes. You can take it over there,” she says, pointing to an empty desk next to the wall. “I’ll transfer it over.”
I walk to the phone and it lights up. I pick it up. “Hello?”
“Crew,” she breathes, and my heart skips a beat. Then two.
“Jules? What’s wrong?”
“I called the ambulance to come get Ever a little while ago. We’re at—”
“What? Why?”
“She was just so pale and I couldn’t get her to wake up. The doctor’s office called while I was trying to get her to do something, and they asked me to bring her in. I told them what was going on and they said to just call 911.”
“Is she okay?”
“I don’t know,” she cries. I hear the panic start to take over.
“Jules. Stay calm. I’m coming there.”
“But you’re at work.”
“I’ll be there in half an hour or so.”
“I’m supposed to meet with Dr. Perkins shortly. So I might be there . . .” Her voice falls off. I hate this. I hate how this fucking thing is wearing her down.
Please fight, Ever. Don’t give up. I just need a couple more weeks . . .
“I’m on my way, love.”
CREW
Dr. Perkins sits back in his chair and places his glasses on his desk. He looks at us, waiting for us to react to what he’s had to say.
“What do you suggest we do?” Julia asks. She reaches over and grabs my hand. I squeeze it.
“That’s up to you. Your options are the ones I just gave you. You two can talk it out at home, if you want, but we need to move pretty soon. I just don’t think we’re having a lot of luck with the chemotherapy, not as much as I’d hoped, anyway.”
“She’s signed up for the therapy, right?” I ask, looking from Julia to the doctor.
“Mr. Gentry, the insurance company denied Everleigh for that.”
“I know,” I say, confused. “But you said if we came up with the money that she could get in.”
He nods. “Yes, that’s true. But a substantial amount of that must be paid in advance. This isn’t something you can sign a promissory note for.”
“I understand that,” I say, not appreciating his tone. “What I don’t understand is why she isn’t ready to go.”
I look at Jules and she’s watching the floor. “You did tell them we had the money, right?”
“We don’t,” she says.
“Yes, we do.” I try to stay calm as I turn my attention back to the doctor. Getting charges for assault before my fight isn’t gonna help anyone. “I will have the money, in full, on July 13th. Get her ready to go.”
“Excuse me for asking, but how are you getting that kind of money that quickly?”
“You’re excused.” I’m not about to answer this motherfucker. I know his type: a know-it-all, holier-than-thou asshole that thinks he’s better than us. If I tell him I’m fighting for the money, he’ll automatically think it’s a cock fight. It’ll be handing him my sins while he sharpens his knife.
“Mrs. Gentry, I’ll need to know your choice in a few days,” he says softly.
Julia pulls her head up, her eyes wide. She searches my face, studies me for a long couple of minutes before turning back to the doctor. She takes a deep breath, a look of resolution falling across her face. She squares her shoulders.
“We’ll have the money on July 13th. Please get things ready.”
FORTY-SIX
CREW
“So, Sal’s given me an assignment,” Will says, sipping a beer.