I bite my cheek to stop myself from telling her what I’ve come to think of Kyle after spending more time together and hearing more and more stories of what he’s said over the past several months. The guy seems like a manipulative, controlling asshole. Shocking to no one, I don’t like him at all.
Instead of telling her how I really feel, I roll my lips together as I mull over how to react to this. “How many songs do they expect you to perform?”
She bites her lip in contemplation. “I told Kyle I’d only perform one song of my choosing.”
My brows pinch in confusion. “This concert is such a big deal that they’d have you fly to Nashville while receiving cancer treatments just for one song?”
“Apparently so. The label is one of the main sponsors who has helped put this concert together, and my participation is strongly advised.”
“When is the concert?”
“It’s actually the day after your game in Nashville. Saturday, November 18th. Do you think maybe you could ask Scar if you could stay back instead of flying with the team to MN?”
I take a moment to think of logistics then let out a curse when I realize that Saturday is when Scar had planned for our team to have our mom’s weekend where the players bring their moms on an away trip.
“Shit, I’ll double check with Scar, but I’m pretty sure that’s the mom’s trip. I believe we’ll still be in Nashville, but the itinerary has us scheduled for dinner and then a concert at the Grand Ole Opry.”
“I love the Opry,” Tae sighs wistfully, a brief reprieve from the anxiety that comes roaring back. Her face crumbles, her bottom lip quivering. “What if I’m completely unrecognizable by then?”
I kiss her forehead again. “Have you considered sharing your story? Telling your fans about your diagnosis? It might alleviate some of your anxiety around keeping it a secret.”
“I’ve mulled it over hundreds of times—questioning whether keeping it under wraps is the right thing to do. I just don’t want the pitying looks everywhere I go.”
My brows pinch. “Is that how you feel about me and our friends here?”
She shakes her head. “No. I swear I don’t. But I’ve learned to be okay with being vulnerable around you, and your friends have made me feel so welcomed and loved, I wouldn’t imagine keeping my diagnosis a secret from them. They’re not only here for me, but most importantly, they’re your biggest support system. I know I’m not the only one affected by all this.”
Wrapping my arms tighter around her, I wish my love could heal her right here and now. “Don’t worry about me, baby.”
“I do. I always will. But because of your friends and family, and the love they’ve consistently shown us both, I know I don’thave to worry about you as much.” Tears fill her eyes, and the quivering of her chin just about kills me.
“You keep calling them my friends and family, but they’re ours. In fact, I’m starting to feel like they love you more than me. And I’m oddly okay with it because who wouldn’t love you? You’re perfect.”
She scoffs. “I’m far from perfect.Ourfriends are though.”
“That’s my girl.” I place a chaste kiss on her cheek. “Come to the kitchen with me, I’ve got a little birthday surprise for you.”
“Okay. Give me a minute?” she asks, and I reluctantly let her go.
“Yeah, of course. I’ll be out in the kitchen when you’re ready,” I tell her as I make my way out of the bathroom. Shutting the door behind me, I make quick work of gathering the stray stands from her pillowcase, wishing I could erase not only this memory but this next phase of her battle.
My girl is strong and fierce—I just wish she didn’t have to be at times like these.
Minutes later, after I’ve rearranged her presents for the third time, Taevin comes to a stop as she rounds the corner into the kitchen.
“What’s all this?”
Pointing to the gift bags on the counter, I tell her, “I’ve got a decade’s worth of birthdays to make up for.”
Tae’s eyes widen. “Jax,” she breathes, a hint of shock in her tone.
Erasing the distance between us, I wrap my arms around her waist and tug her into my chest, placing a whisper of a kiss on her forehead. “Happy birthday, T. I’m so bummed I can’t get out of practice today, but I’ve made it my mission to be sure you still have the best day. Starting with breakfast and presents.”
I spin her around so she’s facing the kitchen island that’s littered with heart-shaped pancakes, berries and toppings, and eight gift bags of various sizes.
Tae’s hands come around mine, squeezing them as she wraps my arms around her tighter. “You didn’t have to do all of this. I told you I’m sort of weird about my birthday.”
“Pretty sure that’s the Libra in you, baby. Which is why it’s a good thing you’re married to a Cancer—we balance each other out perfectly.” Walking her closer to the presents, I point to the largest gift wrapped in black wrapping paper. “Okay, open this one first,” I tell her.
