“Oh yeah. It’s too memorable for me to not tell you about it because it’s my first tattoo on—”
“Shut up.” She pushes my head to the side. “Just for that, I will be showering alone.”
She throws the blankets off her body and drags herself out of bed. My eyes follow her every move. Everything she does is the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen.
“Take a picture; it’ll last longer.” She grabs her towel from the back of her door.
“Oh, trust me. This will be engrained in my brain forever,” I smirk, and Avalon flips me off, walking over to the bed and crawling across until she reaches me. Her lips meet mine in a gentle, tender kiss. “Will you still be here when I’m done showering?”
I kiss her again.
“I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
You should sleep at home tonight.” My mom yawns. “You have a busy couple of days coming upand—”
“I just wanted to spend as much time with you before I left.” I smile. “And I don’t mind sleeping on this couch; it’s pretty comfortable.”
It’s actually the most uncomfortable couch I’ve ever slept on. I don’t know if Avalon would even fit on this couch, let alone me. But if these are the last moments I get with her, I’ll embrace every one of them.
“Zeke, you’re about to be on the road before two hockey games, so you need rest. Not to be in pain from sleeping on that stupid couch that wouldn’t even be comfortable for a dog.”
“Mom, I really don’t mind.”
“You’ve been here for days, Zeke. Go home.”
“Your results came back—”
“Inconclusive, Zeke. It’s not the first time that’s happened; unfortunately, it probably won’t be the last. It doesn’t mean the cancer spread, it doesn’t mean it’s gone, it means we’re in the same boat we were before they took the biopsy.”
“How do they mess this up, though, Mom? Isn’t it their job to test the sample properly?”
“Zeke.”
“You’re right, sorry. I just hate that you have to go through another biopsy.”
You’d think the more biopsies she had done, the easier they’d be. But I think the weaker she’s gotten causes her to be in more pain and discomfort during the biopsies.
“Nothing I’m not used to. It’ll be much easier to get through it, though, knowing my son is well-rested for his games. I expect some wins this weekend.”
“I don’t know how to play hockey any other way.” I wink.
“That’s my boy.” She runs the palm of her hand down my cheek, then grips my chin, giving my head a little shake. “I’m proud of you, Zeke. I hope you know that.”
“I do.”
“Good.” She regains her composure, sitting up a little higher. “Now go home. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Yes, you will. We get back late on January 1st, so I’ll come see you on the second, okay?”
“I’ll see you then.”
thirty-two
Zeke
Brinley texted me this morning to tell me she’s driving down here with the girls so Ember can spend the New Year with Declan. And honestly, I’m surprised I haven’t slipped up about it.
Not that I’m bad at keeping secrets. Obviously, I have no problem keeping secrets, but Declan’s been mopping around all day because he misses Ember.