“Why are you still working? You should rest so you’re strong for when we find a heart.”
He closes his eyes as if he’s in physical pain. “I’m not just going to lie here and waste away. I only told you because I owed you. I don’t want your pity, Mia.”
“You owed me?”
“The screw crew list. It’s true, Mia, what goes around comes around.”
“No, Marcus, don’t ever think that.” I whisper. I take his hand and hold it in both of mine. “I don’t blame you for what happened with Josie. That’s on her.” I take a deep breath. “I don’t pity you, Marcus. I care about you. I want to help you because we’re family.”
“Don’t feel bad, Mia. You were right. I fucked up. You wanna know what’s the worst?”
“What can possibly be worse?”
“Her name is Willow. She was roommates with Della and Evie. I don’t know if you met her. She’s … she’s smart and stubborn. She’s a lot like you actually. I pushed her away, but all I want to do right now is hold her, and tell her how much I love her.”
I press a kiss to his hand wishing I could make things better for him.
“Why did you push her away?”
His eyes well with tears and I quickly wipe one away as it escapes.
“I’m fucking dying. Would you want to be with a rotting piece of flesh?”
His words are cruel and ruthless, breaking my heart.
“Don’t say that, and yes I would. If Logan were in your position, I’d want to spend every second with him. I have no guarantee that he’ll be here tomorrow. I learned that lesson when my parents were yanked out of my life.”
“I can’t do that to her. I love her too much.”
“Think about it, Marcus. She has a chance to love you, to feel your love, but you’re taking that away from her. If the worst happens, and you do die, she’ll be left with the thought that you never cared for her. I’d want to be left with the memories that I was loved and that even though he’s gone, his love will be with me forever and no one can take that away from me. Love her while you can.”
He pulls my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss to the back of it. “When did you grow up to be such an amazing woman?”
I just shake my head at his compliment, but I bury it deep in my heart where I’ll treasure it.
“Can you do me a favor?” he asks. “Grab my phone.”
I reach over and pick it up then look at him.
“I don’t have the guts to tell her alone. Will you phone her and ask her to come over? Will you stay with me?”
“Of course.” I blink the tears away and scroll through his contacts until I find Willow. I press on her name and put it on speaker.
“Marcus?” She sounds surprised to hear from him.
>
“Willow, it’s Mia. I’m Rhett’s little sister and a friend of Marcus. He asked me to phone.”
“Is he okay?” she asks, now sounding on edge.
“Can you come over to his place so we can talk?”
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”