Chapter One
RYAN
Three little words, that’s all it took.
Three little words to shake me to the core and turn my world upside down.
I didn’t want to hear them.
I wasn’t ready to hear them.
But she said them anyway.
And it changedeverything.
“You could die,” Dr. Shilts states.
“Is it really that bad, Doc?” I question.
She sighs, places her hands on the table, interlocks her fingers, and gives me that piercing, unmistakable look only doctors can. “Ryan, your tests show a fatty liver, dangerously high blood pressure, and you’re teetering on type 2 diabetes. If you don’t quit your excessive drinking and poor eating habits now, your liver could fail. You will be dependent on insulin. As it stands, I’ll need to monitor your blood pressure closely…” She fixes her gaze on me, unwavering. “Ryan, you need to change your lifestyle immediately. I know you’re a rock star, but you cannot use that as an excuse. You must consider your health. You arenotinvincible.”
Sitting back in my chair, I exhale. “Okay, I hear you. Eat better, lose weight, cut down on my drinking. Anything else you want to take away from me?”
She leans forward, takes a deep breath, and changes her approach. “Have you given any more thought to seeing a professional counselor about your wife and daughter?”
Maddie’s tiny toddler face comes straight into my thoughts, and my whole body clenches. “I don’t need counseling,” I declare through gritted teeth.
Her eyes drop away, and she takes a deep breath. “Okay, Ryan. Let’s schedule a follow-up for next week and reassess then?”
“Sure…” I stand and turn, walking out of the consulting room without glancing back.
Hearing that my health is in serious trouble is bad enough, but the mention of Maddie and Katie puts me on edge. All I want to do is drink myself into oblivion like I have done so many times before. However, considering Dr. Shilts just told me I could die, I need to head home instead.
The drive is troubling as my mind shifts from one disaster to another, but the smell of sweet cinnamon rolls wafting through the air is comforting as I walk through the front door. My stomach rumbles, and I groan at the fact that I now know I should not be eating them. Goddammit!
Walking into the kitchen, Danger’s better half, Lunar, pulls a tray from the oven and places the rolls on the cutting board on the counter. “Cinnamon rolls just for you, Ry. I know how much you love them.”
My body slumps, and I sigh.
I can’tnothave one.
She made them especially for me.
“Thanks, Lunar, I need cheering up.”
She pulls the oven mitts off her hands as she frowns. “What’s up, buttercup?”
I pick up a piping hot pastry and take a large bite, burning my tongue. She laughs while shaking her head.
With my mouth still half full of pastry, I reply, “Went to the doctor for the results of my checkup.” My words are muffled by the massive lump of food in my mouth.
She raises her eyebrow and places her hand on her hip, tilting her stance. “And?” she asks just as Danger walks in. He spots me, nods, and reaches for a cinnamon roll. I sigh, taking another bite, fully aware that once I tell her, she’ll switch into mother hen mode and likely snatch the roll from my hand. Hell, she might even try to pry the pieces from my mouth.
“She said I have a fatty liver, high blood pressure, and I’m a borderline diabetic.”
Danger and Lunar both widen their eyes, their mouths forming perfect Os.
Lunar races forward, yanking the treat from my hand, and slaps my chest hard. “You’re a borderline diabetic and eating this?” She points to it as if it’s poison. “Are you a damn idiot!”
