“Because phones track locations, baby, and sometimes we have to go places where we don’t want to be tracked to.”
“So how did you get in touch with Rowan?”
“Burner phone. And before you ask, no, I couldn’t call or text you from it. That makes a trail.” Some of her anger melts away, but I can tell she’s still mad.
“You said you’d be there, and then you weren’t.” The sadness she tries to hide behind her anger slowly pops through. “I thought you weren’t coming back. Flynn didn’t get there until almost twelve hours after you left. I thought something happened, or that you finally realized you deserve so much better than what I can give you.”
She might as well have ripped my heart out. “Hey, you know better than that. I don’t want to be anywhere else but here. It’s you and us or it’s no one, Lelonie.” She quietly nods in acknowledgment before laying her head back on my chest. “Tell me how you’ve been feeling? I’ve been going crazy not being here.”
“I think I’m getting sick. My bad days are worse than normal, and I’m throwing up more frequently.” I can tell; she looks so fragile.
Before I can answer, footsteps have me pushing up to stand in front of the bed and grabbing my gun. Who the fuck is running towards this room? Declan stops in the door frame,panting.
“I’m— I’m a match.” He chokes out, emotion clogging his throat.
“What?” I can’t even process what he’s talking about.
“Mac, I’m a match. I’m a match for her. I’m a fucking match.” A huge smile covers his face.
Holy shit, he’s a match!
I spin around to see Lee’s bright smile, but instead I see her asleep. She’s only been awake for maybe twenty minutes. When I turn back around, Jakob is standing behind Dec.
“Yeah, it’s been like this for a couple of days. The doctor came in yesterday and said she needs dialysis daily. She’s getting worse, and I don’t know what to do.”
Lee’s phone begins to ring, pausing our conversation. Her hand reaches out and hits different spots. She finally answers and brings it to her ear. Her half awake voice making me smile.
“Hello?” She listens for a second before sitting straight up. “What?” She practically shouts. She listens for a few minutes before thanking the person on the other end and hanging up.
Tears stream down her face as her watery eyes lock onto mine. “I’m getting a kidney. Mac, they found a match.”
I look at Dec. He slightly shakes his head before he quietly exits the room. I turn my attention back to my girl, whose whole face is lit up. “You’re getting a kidney?” I say in disbelief. I know what Dec said, but it’s different when I hear it from her. She jumps up and throws herself into my arms.
“I’m getting a kidney, Quill.” She sobs against my lips as I hold her up by the backs of her thighs, kissing her back.
She’s getting a kidney. Thisis so surreal.
* * *
Lee
I used up most of my energy jumping into Mac’s arms and kissing him like it was our last. Finally pulling back from his perfect lips, I lay my head on his shoulder. I don’t have the energy to do anything else. I need to pack and get to the hospital in a few hours, but I can’t muster up the energy. He lays me back on the bed and begins looking around, putting my chargers, laptop, skincare, and toiletries into my duffle bag.
“What are you doing, Handsome?”
“We have to go home and pack, don’t we?”
As if on cue, Jake walks in with a freshly folded pile of laundry. “I guess I’m right on time, huh?”
Mac can’t help his look of disgust. “You did your sister’s laundry?”
“Don’t be gross. Annie did it.” He works to smother his smile. Jake loves me a lot, but not enough to do my laundry, and honestly I’d rather do a lot of sketchy shit before I let my older brother touch my panties.
“We have a few hours before I have to be there. I’ll just take what I already have with me.” I yawn while answering them.
They both look at me like I’m crazy, but it’s Jake that speaks first, “Are you sure? You have everything you’ll need at the hospital here?”
“Yeah, I guess. If I’ve survived without it this long, I don’t need it at the hospital.”
