“She is,” he finally told Pixie with a nod. “And she assured me she would give it some thought, but I won’t know for sure if she will meet with you until the day of.”
“That’s not a ‘No,’” Pixie said with an optimistic smile when she looked back at Doe.
“No,” he said quietly, his gaze skimming over her face. “It’s not a ‘No.’”
I shot a look at Doe, wondering if I was the only one who noticed the way the doctor’s voice had changed. I was getting weird vibes from both my sister and the doctor. Doe met my gaze and shrugged at my silent inquiry.
Clearing his throat, Dr. Contreras seemed to force his eyes off Pixie and back to me. “Good to see you, Jenner.” He gave Doe a nod and then turned to leave. “I’ll check on you again before I leave, Pixie.”
She didn’t respond. When the door shut behind the man, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut another second. “What the hell was that?”
Pixie busied herself opening another small pack of crackers. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. You and Contreras. He was all puppy-dog eyed, and you were turning avoiding his gaze into an Olympic sport.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. Just a difference of opinion about something.”
I felt the blood leave my face. “About your care?”
“No, of course not,” she was quick to deny. “It was something personal. Just a comment he made in passing that I didn’t agree with.” I opened my mouth to question her further, but she shot me a hard glare. “Drop it, Jenn. I’m tired, and I really don’t want to talk about stupid stuff that isn’t even important.”
“It’s important if it has you upset,” I argued.
“I’m not upset,” she lied, giving me a fake smile.
Doe jumped to her feet and wrapped her arms around my neck. Even with the mask on, her kiss was sweet against my cheek. I slid my arm around her waist and grabbed a handful of her lush ass. Molding her against me, I forgot all about Pixie and Dr. Contreras for a moment.
“Babe, let’s not overtire Pixie,” she murmured. “She needs to get as much sleep as possible so she will be strong for the bone marrow she’s getting.”
The glimmer in her eyes reminded me that Pixie wasn’t the only one who needed to be well rested for the upcoming procedure. I was still torn about her being the one donating the bone marrow, but I knew I couldn’t stop her. This was important to her, and it meant that Pixie got what she needed sooner rather than later.
Giving Doe’s ass a squeeze, I glanced over at my sister. “Do you need anything? Just name it, and it’s yours.”
Her smile was more genuine this time. “I really am okay. These snacks will definitely hold me over until tomorrow. Thanks for bringing Doe.” She held out her hand, and Doe took it. “I’m so glad you came. I like seeing Jenner this happy.”
“Me too,” she murmured. “I’ll come back tomorrow. Maybe bring my mom?”
“If you feel up to it, I would love the company. It can get a little boring around here. I’m not much of a television person, and I’ve read the book I packed.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” I grumbled at her. “I could have stopped at the bookstore.”
“I’m fine for another day or two,” she dismissed. “These headaches make it hard to focus sometimes. Brain fog sucks, but chemo fog is the worst.”
“What time is better for you, brain-wise?” Doe asked. “I don’t want to exhaust you.”
“Anytime you want to come by is fine,” Pixie assured her, giving her hand a squeeze. “I nap throughout the day, so it doesn’t matter. And I really would like the chance to get to know you better.”
Doe’s smile could have lit up the room, if not the entire hospital. “I’ll see you in the morning, then.”
20
Doe
“No arguing,” I commanded as soon as the hospital door opened and all three of my brothers walked in, with Aspen leading the way. My gaze was on Jackson, but I pointed to all four of them individually so they knew I was including each of them. “I hear one growl in your voices, and Dad is going to show you the door.”
Bryant and LJ pressed their lips together, fighting a laugh, while Aspen gave me a pout. I barely looked at them before directing my gaze back to the eldest of the golden three. “I mean it, Jackson.”
He leaned over the bed I was propped up in the middle of and kissed the top of my head. “I swear I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Thank you.” While he was close, I hugged him. “Thanks for coming.”
He squeezed his arms around me. “There is absolutely no other place I would be right now, baby sis.”
The other two shoved him back after a few seconds, wanting their turn. I was practically lifted off the bed by them both as they hugged me hard. “Where are the parentals anyway?” LJ asked when he released me. “And the boyfriend? Where the fuck is he? Why are you all alone in here?”
“Mom and Dad are talking to Dr. Contreras. You know how Dad is, he wants all the details.” I rolled my eyes, but I wasn’t all that annoyed that my father was so concerned about my well-being. He might smother me at times, but I’d never doubted his love for me. “I sent Jenner to check in on Pixie. She seemed really down yesterday when Mom and I left for the evening.”
“It’s crazy that the person you got matched with turned out to be your boy’s sister,” Bryant commented as he leaned against the wall by the door. “I mean, that’s some weird fate shit right there, Doe.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I guess it was just meant to be.”
“Are you nervous?” Jackson asked, moving to stand beside me—and closer to Aspen. “You already have an IV and everything. Are you sure it’s safe?”
“I’m going to be fine,” I promised. “And no, I’m not nervous. At least, not nervous for me.” I was worried for Pixie. This was her last chance…
But I couldn’t think like that. I’d promised myself all week to stay positive. That as long as I kept thinking about Pixie getting better, then when they took my bone marrow, they would also give her a lot more. My strength and love for her as my new sister. The will to keep fighting.
The night before, as Jenner had held me, I’d told him to keep thinking the same thing. So that I could absorb all of his strength, love, and will to fight. I’d felt his silent tears, but I’d also felt everything I’d asked for soaking into my pores. If that alone could save Pixie, then she was going to make a full recovery.
Realistically, I knew that it didn’t work like that, but I refused to let that rot my mind. Pixie was going to get better.
I’d spent the entire week with her. Mom and I would visit her each morning with baskets of goodies. Puzzles, word searches, crosswords, sudoku. Baked goodies that Mom remembered enjoying while undergoing her own chemo treatments, as well as a few things she and I had both researched that would be easy on Pixie’s stomach. When she would take a nap, I’d drive Mom home and then come back with Jenner in the afternoons.