She sits down beside me and looks me over. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good—you’re sweating.”
I wipe at my forehead. “I’m fine,” I respond.
“Don’t lie to me,” she says in a stern voice.
I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Something feels different.”
“Different?” She repeats. “Different, how?”
“I don’t know,” I practically whine, swinging my hands desperately. “It just does.”
I fully expected her to the be one losing her mind in this place, not me, and yet I think I’m pretty close to being put in a straight jacket and sent away.
She grabs my hand. “Jace,” she says softly, “we haven’t even made it to the room yet. Breathe.”
The fact she’s the one comforting me is almost comical.
But at least one of us is level-headed.
When her name is called I feel like throwing her over my shoulder and dragging her from here. We don’t need any more disappointment in our life.
I don’t do that, though. Instead, I follow Nova as the nurse leads us back to a room.
While Nova gets undressed I sit in the corner, my leg moving up and down restl
essly.
I want my optimism back. Where the fuck did it go? It’s like I dropped it somewhere.
Nova hops up on the exam table. “Chill, Jace.”
“I can’t help it,” I bite out through my teeth, resting my elbows on my knees and crossing my hands in front of my face in a praying motion.
“As much as your behavior is uncharacteristic, I’m secretly glad you don’t have your shit together like I thought.” She grins at me, her legs swishing back and forth.
I glare at her. “I’m glad one of us is enjoying this.”
The door opens and Dr. Illias walks in. She gives us a kind smile. “I have to say, I’m surprised to see you two, but extremely happy. How have you been?”
Nova looks at me and then back at the doctor. “It’s been a rough couple of months, but we’re much better.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She washes her hands and sits down on her stool.
“Ready to take a look?”
Nova nods and lies back. She turns her head and looks at me, reaching out her hand for mine. I give it to her immediately and she holds on tight, letting out a deep breath. It looks like she’s more nervous than she’s letting on.
I scoot closer as the doctor gets everything ready.
I hold my breath, and a moment later an image pops up on the screen.
I stare at it, blinking, trying to figure out what I see.
“This doesn’t look right.” Panic rings in my voice. “Something’s wrong.” Apparently, my gut was ahead of the game.
Nova looks at me, worried now. “Is something wrong? What’s going on?”