Page 234 of Toxic Kiss

Stevens turns back to Haven, and I block them out.

“Cy?”

Blinking, I realize that another thirty minutes has come and gone.

“You ready to go?”

Nodding, I grip Haven’s hand, and she leads me out of the office and the hospital. Reporters and fans wait outside, but Haven handles them like a pro as she guides me to the limo.

Once we are in the car and leaving the medical building behind, I can’t hold it in any longer. The tears fall. Grabbing Haven, I pull her into my arms, and she holds me tight as I cry.

My life will never look the same. I won’t be the same. And it feels as if part of me has died. What’s left is a new and dangerous neighbor that I don’t want to get to know.

“I should let you go,” I say. “I never want you to have to take care of me.”

“Cy, if you dare say that again, you won’t have to worry about the disease killing you because I will.”

I sniff and then chuckle as Haven pulls back and digs through her purse, producing a tissue like a magic trick.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I,” she says, her voice full of conviction.

“I’m not afraid of the future as long as we have each other. I’m never leaving you, not ever.”

“Even if one day you have to wipe my ass?”

Haven smiles.

“Oh, I was going to get Vex to do that,” she says, with a straight face, and I burst out laughing, until it hurts.

Resting back into the seat, I lock eyes with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. I can’t understand how I’ve stolen this angel and made her mine.

Cupping her cheek, I bask in her warmth and determination. She’s always been so strong. She leans closer and places her lips on my damp cheeks.

“Your tears are mine now,” Haven says, repeating what I said to her. “I love you. I always have, and no disease will stop me from loving you every single day of our lives. We’re going to be okay.”

“How do you know?”

“Because we have each other. After all the insanity we’ve endured, this…this is a cake walk. But you need to make me a promise.”

“What’s that?”

“Listen to your body when it’s telling you something is too much. I know you, Cy, you’ll want to run through this like it’s a brick wall, and that won’t work. It will only make things worse. So I’m asking you to listen.”

My lips graze hers. “Alright.”

“That easy?”

“Well…you know I’m a pain in the ass, but I promise to try.”

“That’s all I ask.”

“I love you, Butterfly. You are the quiet strength that lifts me higher than I can ever rise on my own. You keep me steady in a storm, and I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Wrapping her arms around my neck, Haven buries her head and holds me tight. I realize that she’s right. No matter the battle to come…we have one another, and that is what matters most.

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