The next morning, I woke up and looked over to find Ellery staring at me. I could sense something was bothering her. She kissed my cheek and laid her head on my chest.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as I held her.
“I’m scared to go today,” she whispered.
I kissed her on the top of her head. “Don’t be scared; I’m here with you, and I told you that I will protect you. You have nothing to fear when you’re with me; I promise you that, my love.”
She looked up at me and smiled. “I think we have time for a long shower before heading over to the hospital.”
“You must have read my mind, Miss Lane, because I was just thinking the same thing,” I smiled back.
We ate breakfast and headed out the door. I walked over to the Porsche as Ellery turned the opposite way. “Hey, where are you going?” I asked.
“I’m walking,” she replied.
“No, you’re not! Get in the car, Ellery, I’m driving you there.”
I sighed as she kept walking down the street. I ran up behind her and picked her up.
“Connor, come on, please?” she laughed.
“Sorry, babe, but it’s better to drive there because we don’t know how you’ll feel afterwards. You may not be able to walk home.”
“You’re right; I’m sorry,” she said as she kissed me on the cheek.
We arrived at the hospital, and I could tell Ellery was nervous as she was biting her bottom lip. We sat in the waiting room of Dr. Murphy’s office until a leggy blonde receptionist called Ellery’s name and led us to a room. I put my arm around Ellery as we walked down the hall, letting her know she’s safe. The blonde kept eyeing me up and down and Ellery noticed it. I was getting nervous because of what happened last night, and Ellery won’t hold back. She gave Ellery a cloth gown to change into and quickly left the room after Ellery gave her an evil look. I took the gown from her hands and helped her into it.
Dr. Murphy walked in with a silver tray and three large needles. She explained to Ellery what each injection was going to feel like. She looked at me and told me that Ellery is going to need me to hold her hand. Just hearing Dr. Murphy explain to Ellery what her body is going to feel like had scared the shit out of me. I looked at her face, and she was as pale as a ghost. She was frightened, and it was my job to protect her. I turned on the bed so I was facing her, and I grabbed her hand.
“Just look at me, baby, and focus on nothing but me, ok?” I said.
She nodded her head as Dr. Murphy inserted the first needle. She squeezed my hand hard as she shrieked. When the second needle was injected, her shriek turned into a cry as she let go of my hand, clutched my shirt with her fists and screamed into my chest. My heart was breaking for her. I held her in my arms as the third needed pierced her skin, and she continued to scream.
“Please, Dr. Murphy; isn’t there anything we can do for her?” I pleaded.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Black. We have to let it run its course, but it’s only temporary. I’ll be back in an hour to see how she’s doing; if you need anything, or she’s having a reaction, you are to push this button immediately,” she said as she walked out of the room.
“It’s ok, baby. Just hold onto me,” I whispered to her as she laid there and shook in my arms. My eyes started to swell with tears. I had to hold them back. I need to be strong for her, but seeing her like this and having to go through this pain was horrifying. I just kept telling her I loved her over and over.
***
A couple of days had passed, and we mostly stayed in bed, watched movies, and cooked together. Cooking with Ellery was fun because neither one of us were very good at it. When I sat at the table, doing work and holding meetings, Ellery would sit at her easel and paint. When she wasn’t looking, I would stare at her and watch how flawlessly she moved her brush on the canvas. This is how I pictured the rest of my life with her; she’s my future.
The next morning, I was up early for a brief phone meeting with Paul regarding the Chicago acquisition. Just as I hung up with him, my mom called. She wanted to make sure I was coming for Thanksgiving. I told her that I had met someone very special and that I would be bringing her to Thanksgiving to meet the family. I could tell she was excited by the way she screamed, “Connor’s bringing someone home for Thanksgiving!” I guess she had the right to be excited since I’ve never brought anyone home for her to meet before. I hung up the phone, walked to the bedroom, and stared at my sleeping beauty. She opened her eyes and smiled at me. I smiled back as I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” I asked as my finger ran down her jaw line.
“I’m feeling ok. I heard you on the phone.”
“I was talking to my mother. I’m taking you home for Thanksgiving.”
“Did you tell your mom about me?” she asked.
“Of course I did, and she’s looking forward to meeting you. She’s going to love you.”
“I meant, did you tell her that I have cancer?” she asked as she licked her lips.
I sat there and looked at her because I didn’t tell my mom about Ellery’s cancer. I shook my head.
“Why didn’t you tell her, Connor?”
My eyes traveled to the window, “I haven’t had the chance, and it’s not something I want to do over the phone, Elle. I think that needs to be done in person.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you want me to spring it on her on Thanksgiving? Hi Black family! I’m Ellery Lane, your son’s girlfriend who has cancer for the second time in her 24 years of life and is nothing but a walking cancer disaster.”
I got up from the bed. I couldn’t believe she just said that. “Wow, Elle, you really know how to ruin a moment. I will tell her before Thanksgiving; end of discussion,” I said in an authoritative tone.
“No, Connor. It’s not the end of the discussion, and don’t you dare take that tone with me!”
I turned away from the window and looked at her, “Are you looking to start an argument?”
“All you have to do is tell me why you didn’t tell her yet,” she pleaded.
I didn’t know why I didn’t mention it. I’ve been so busy with trying to take care of Ellery and conducting business at the same time. I didn’t think about telling my mom about her cancer because I just want to forget about it. I looked at her and yelled, “You want to know why?! I haven’t been able to do anything because I’m stuck here taking care of you!” Shit, that came out wrong, but it was too late because I could see the rage in her eyes. I turned towards the window and ran my hand through my hair.
“Stuck? You’re not stuck here, Connor. I didn’t fucking ask you to come here, and I sure as hell didn’t ask you to take care of me.”
She was so hurt by what I said, but I didn’t mean it. I turned and looked into her sad blue eyes, “Baby, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Get out of here!” she screamed as she picked up a glass that was sitting on the night stand and threw it at me. I ducked and shook my head.
“Fine, if that’s what you want!” I yelled as I stormed out of her apartment. I took a walk to the beach. The sun was shining, and it was warm out. I needed to let her cool off before I went back and apologized. She was right; I should have told my mom about her having cancer. Ellery has every right to be pissed as hell at me. I was gone about an hour, and on my way back to her apartment, I stopped at the store to buy her a bag of chocolate.
I walked into the apartment and into the bedroom where I saw Ellery bent down, picking up the pieces of broken glass. I knelt down beside her and lightly took her hand.
“Stop, you’re going to cut yourself,” I whispered as I removed the pieces of glass from her hand.
She took in a deep breath and started to say she was sorry. She didn’t need to apologize. She had every right to act the way she did. I took her face in my hands, “I know, baby, and it’s ok.”
“No, it’s not, Connor. I know this is hard for you, and I’m so sorry.”
She was begging for forgiveness, but she didn’t need to. I brought my lips to hers as I said, “It’s ok, baby. I didn’t mean what I said; it came out wrong.”
“I know you didn’t, and I overreacted.”
I kissed her again and held her tight, letting her know that she was forgiven.
“Where did you go?” she asked.
I got up from the floor and told her to go sit on the bed. I walked over to the dresser, grabbed the brown bag, and handed it to her. “I figured this would make you feel better,” I said with caution. She opened up the bag, and her eyes widened as she looked inside and dumped the chocolate on the bed.
“You are amazing and absolutely perfect! I love you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me on top of her. “I know something else that will make me feel better,” she smiled as I hovered over her.
“Are you sure you’re up for it?” I asked. She lifted her head and kissed me passionately. That was the only sign I needed.
The next morning I got out of bed and made a pot of coffee. Ellery was still asleep, and I had some business I needed to take care of. I sat on the couch with my phone and opened an email from Phil, stating that there’s one more meeting scheduled to finalize the deal for the Chicago Company. He said the meeting is first thing tomorrow morning and that I really need to be there. I got to thinking that it would be great to bring Ellery back to New York, so we could spend more time together, and she’d be able to see Peyton.
She stumbled out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she headed towards the coffee pot. “Hey, babe, I hope I didn’t wake you,” I smiled. She poured some coffee and sat down next to me. I leaned over and ran my finger over her lips before kissing them good morning. I told her how I needed to fly back to New York today for the meeting tomorrow morning, and that I wanted her to come home with me. She was unsure if she could because of her treatment. I explained to her that it didn’t matter, and that we’d be back here for her second treatment next month. She threw her arms around me in excitement, especially when I told her that she would be living with me at the Penthouse. I laughed when she pouted and asked me if she had to stay in the guest room. I took the coffee cup from her hands and set it down on the table. I grabbed her and pulled her onto my lap as I lifted up her nightshirt, threw it on the floor, and made love to her.
***
I was in the bathroom shaving while Ellery was still in the shower. I could smell the lilac scented body wash that she was using. It’s the same scent that I’ve smelled since I first met her. She stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around her wet body, and walked up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and laying her head on my back. I stopped shaving and looked at her through the mirror. She had a smile on her face. Damn that smile. I turned around so her head was on my chest as I wrapped my arms around her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing’s wrong. Can’t a woman hug the man she loves without there being something wrong?” she asked.
“Of course she can,” I said as I kissed the top of her head. She took her hands, placed them on my chest, and gave me a kiss. “I love you, Connor Black,” she smiled. “I love you too, Ellery Lane,” I smiled back and kissed her nose. “Now, let me get back to shaving,” I said.
Her bathroom was small, and there was really only room at the sink for one person. Ellery decided she was going to be funny and pushed me out of the way so she could brush her teeth. She reached over to the medicine cabinet and opened it as I was in the middle of shaving. I could see the smirk on her face. She grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste and shut the cabinet. She reached over me and ran her toothbrush under the running water. “Would you like me to move out of your way?” I asked. She looked at me as she put her toothbrush in her mouth. “No, you’re fine,” she mumbled. I took the can of shaving cream and put some on my hands. I started to bring my hands up to my face when she bumped into me so she could spit in the sink. I lightly pushed her back, and she missed the sink and spat on my leg. She looked up at me and tried to hold back the laughter that was dying to come out. I looked at her, then at my leg.
“Oh please! We share spit all the time,” she started to laugh.
I was going to play this one cool and get her back. “It’s ok, Ellery. It was an accident,” I said as I opened my hand with the shaving cream on it and planted it firmly on her cheek. Her jaw dropped as she looked in the mirror. She looked at me with that look she gets when she’s going to take revenge. She grabbed the tube of toothpaste and squirted it at my chest.
“Here’s a little toothpaste to go with that shaving cream,” she said.
I took my finger and tried to wipe the toothpaste off as she stood there, smiling; our eyes never leaving one another. I grabbed the can of shaving cream and squirted her legs and chest with it. She jumped back and screamed.
“Need a shave darling?” I asked.
“How dare you!” she exclaimed.
I laughed as I pointed the shaving cream at her, and she ran out of the bathroom, holding her towel so it didn’t fall off. I chased after her and tackled her to the ground. I rolled her over and pinned her arms above her head. I stared at her, mesmerized by her beauty. I took my hand and gently wiped away the shaving cream from her face while my other hand had her wrists locked tight. She didn’t struggle. I could tell by the way she stared into my eyes that she didn’t want me to stop. I was hard and wanting her again.
“I want to feel you inside me,” she whispered.
I wanted to make sure that she was ready because I didn’t want to hurt her. I reached down with my free hand and felt how wet she was. I pushed myself into her. She tilted her head back and lightly moaned as her hands were running through my hair. I moved in and out of her slowly before I began to grind my hips and move circles inside her. The feeling was amazing, and hearing the sounds she made from pleasuring her was heightening my arousal. I hovered over her, pushing in and out with shallow thrusts as she moaned and became breathless. She started to come, and I followed shortly after, releasing myself inside her. I looked at her as her eyes locked on mine, taking in the pleasure and the beauty of what just happened.
“I think we need to hit the shower again,” I smiled as I was covered in shaving cream and toothpaste.
“At this rate, we’ll never get on that plane back to New York,” she laughed.
I got off her and helped her up. I wrapped my arms around her from behind as we walked into the bathroom and took a shower for the second time that morning.