Gwen had told her she appreciated how forgiving she was about how Owen had handled abruptly canceling the wedding. And they’d both talked about how angry they were with Owen about him not coming clean with them about his diagnosis. At least Erin and Gwen were on the same page about that. But that was a done deal, and couldn’t be changed. Erin had to put that part in the past. The most important thing now was to get Owen healthy again, so he could have a future.
Owen was shocked to see her when she showed up in the waiting room at the cancer treatment center.
“I thought my mom was meeting me here.”
“She has a meeting. And I’m helping you out today.”
He frowned. “You know, I don’t need a babysitter. Treatment days are typically fine.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve done a ton of research, and sometimes you get nauseated, plus this is your long treatment day, and you need food.”
He cocked his head to the side. “There are vending machines.”
She rolled her eyes. “Snacks don’t count. I brought you a sandwich and soup and some healthy snacks.”
His lips curved. “You? Did extensive research? I’m so shocked, Erin.”
“Funny.”
They called Owen’s name, so she followed behind as they entered the treatment area. She watched closely as the tech took his vitals and weight. He’d lost twelve pounds since before the wedding. Wow, that was a lot. Owen was tall, but always a bit on the lean side, so the weight loss was noticeable.
They went to a cubicle, where he had a nice comfortable lounging chair. She took a seat in the available chair while his nurse, Layla, hooked him up to the IV. He’d get a bag of fluids first, then the chemotherapy drugs. Erin had been doing a lot of research, plus, she asked Layla a few questions and she was nice enough to answer them.
“How many of these have you had?” she asked after Layla left.
“I do a longer treatment, then the following week a shorter treatment. Then I have a week off to recover. I’ve had two complete rounds so far.”
“How have you been reacting?”
“Good. A little tired. Some nausea. Not too bad. This week where I get the longer treatment seems to be the one that wears me down the most. But I’m still able to get through work. Then I go home and pass out.”
“But you need to eat.”
“Mom takes care of that. She’s been bringing dinner over to my apartment.”
She studied him. “Maybe you should consider moving back home for a while. Just while you’re undergoing treatment.”
His lips curved. “You’ve been talking to my mom, haven’t you?”
“Why?”
“Because she suggested the same thing. And, no, I’m good at the apartment for now. I like being by myself.”
“You shouldn’t be alone. Not right now.”
“If it gets too hard to do it alone, I’ll hang out with my parents. But I’ve got this, Erin. My oncologist seems to think I’ll only have to do one full course of treatments. He has high hopes that’ll take care of it.”
“I hope so.”
“Hey, no one told me we were having a party here.”
Erin looked up, surprised to see Jason at the entrance to the treatment cubicle. “What are you doing here?”
“I decided to take part of the day off and hang out with Owen while he was loafing.”
Owen laughed. “Yeah. Loafing. Thanks for coming by. You don’t have to do that. I know how busy you are with work.”
Jason shrugged. “I don’t mind. Hey, Erin.”
She nodded, feeling so incredibly uncomfortable now that Jason was here. She hadn’t yet told Owen about her relationship with Jason, and now certainly wasn’t the time. She hoped Jason didn’t plan to.
They hadn’t talked, hadn’t seen each other. She’d been wrapped up in her emotions about Owen and hadn’t been able to face talking to Jason about how she felt.
She didn’t even know how she felt right now, other than confused. And sad. And upset.
Owen smiled at both of them. “Just like old times, isn’t it? Except for the toxic-drugs thing.”
Jason grinned. “Yeah, that part kind of sucks. But we’re here to keep you from running amok and annoying the nurses.”
Just then Layla came over.
“Got a fan club, I see,” she said with a smile as she removed the fluid bag and set up the chemotherapy bag.
“Yeah, I’m super popular,” Owen said.
“I’m not at all surprised,” Layla said, then turned to look at Jason and Erin. “He’s very charming.”
Owen gave a smug smile. “See?”
“Really, Owen?” Jason asked. “Hitting on the nurses?”
Owen let out a weak laugh.
“If you need anything, just let me know,” Layla said, then left.
“I think she had her eye on you, Jason,” Owen said.
Jason looked over at Erin, who did her best to give him a passive stare.
“Yeah, she seems nice.”
“She’s very nice. And single. So are you seeing anyone?”
Jason scratched the side of his nose. “Well, actually— Ow, dammit!’ ”
Owen frowned. “You okay?”
He bent low to grab on to the ankle Erin had kicked.
She smiled sweetly at him. “Yes, Jason. Are you all right?”
“Fine. Just got a cramp.”
The last thing Owen needed right now was to hear about her and Jason. Surely Jason knew that. She gave him a look, but apparently he’d grabbed a clue because he launched into mundane conversation with Owen. At his request, Erin got a warm blanket from the nurse, and Owen eventually fell asleep. Erin and Jason stepped outside.
“Are you crazy?” she asked. “You weren’t going to tell him about us, were you?”
“He’s going to find out eventually.”
“I know, but not right now, and definitely not while he’s in the treatment room.”
“So maybe we can go over there together sometime this week and tell him.”
“Tell him what, exactly? That we’ve been sleeping together while he was having cancer treatments?”
Jason gave her an incredulous look. “And how were we supposed to know that since he didn’t tell anyone? Surely you don’t feel guilty about that. About us.”
“I . . . I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel right now. But I don’t want to say anything to Owen yet. Let’s give him some time to feel better.”
“And when do you think the right time will be, Erin?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have a crystal ball. I’ve never been through this before.”
“So, like . . . never?”
She frowned, unable to fathom what was going through Jason’s head right now. Why couldn’t he understand she was trying to help Owen? “What are you talking about?”
“Are you still in love with Owen?”
“What? No. I just . . . want to be there for him right now. He needs me. He needs all of us. You’re here, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, but that’s different.”
He wasn’t even making sense. “Oh, come on. How is that different?”