“I can understand that.”
“But the last four years, I sort of found my way back. And when I first heard I was out of remission my immediate thought was, I’ll be with my parents.” I wiped away a stray tear. “But. Lukas, this choice I make means I lose you and never see you when my story ends.”
“Sam.” He leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. “Don’t think such things.”
“You said I’m your eternal, and if I die, it eventually would kill you. You told me how you wanted it all to end once. Lukas, you have to promise me that no matter what, you don’t let my choices dictate yours.”
He didn’t answer me; he kissed me instead. I needed his words but when his tongue slipped inside, everything became fuzzy. Next thing I knew, a throat clearing broke our blissful moment. A nurse chuckled.
“I need you to rinse out your mouth for the endoscopy, and we’ll be ready to go.”
I looked at Lukas, wanting to hear him promise me. “Lukas.”
“I’ll be here when you wake up, Sam. Love you.”
“Lukas, promise.”
He smiled softly. “Say you love me, Sam.”
The nurse’s laughter tinkled.
“I love you, Lukas.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Lukas
“These areall normal thoughts running through Sam’s head, Lukas. Give him time.” I was sitting in the large waiting area, that was thankfully private and didn’t have a lot of people in it, talking to Vincent on the phone.
“I don’t know how much time he has, Vincent.”
“That’s what this is all about today, isn’t it? Getting answers.” He sighed. “You have to play by Sam’s rules here.”
“I am. I’d thought with him being my eternal, he’d feel the pull as strongly as I do.”
“He does, Lukas. But he’s holding on to a faith he only just reconnected with. He wants to see his parents. What kid who had a great mother and father wouldn’t? And while he seems to believe he’ll never grow old as a human, he can’t bear to watch his friends and all those he loves die.”
“But it’s okay for them to watch him wither away and die?” That part bothered me. Did Sam think Natalie and Ben wanted to watch him die? If they knew the offer I’d given him, would they agree with his choices?
“I can’t answer that.” There was a pregnant pause before Vincent spoke again, “You want to tell them, don’t you?”
“I think Natalie and Ben would be voices of reason.”
“Or, they’ll be his deciding factor to let life run its course. Are you willing to accept that?”
“I feel that’s exactly where he’s at right now anyway. What more do I have to lose?”
He hummed. “This Natalie and Ben, how sure are you that they won’t say anything? Revealing our secrets has dire consequences.”
I didn’t know them half as well as Sam, but I was sure they were good people…as good as people could be. Sam trusted them with his life—hell, they were one of the biggest reasons he didn’t want to turn.
“They’re trustworthy.”
“Okay, Lukas.”
From the corner of my eye I saw someone approaching. I thought it was a doctor for a second until I saw the police uniform.
“I gotta go, Vincent. I’ll call you when I get more information.” I disconnected the call and looked up at the auburn-haired man. “Hello.”
