GOOD TURNED SOUR within a matter of hours.
“You have to do something, Bryce. When do you think a transplant will become available?” Suddenly I couldn’t even look at my vegetable Panini. I shoved the plate away and demanded an answer, a miracle.
“I wish I could answer that for you.” He rubbed his temple, pushing his salad around with a fork.
Sam reached over and grabbed my hand; Bryce took note from beneath hooded eyes, his jaw tensing. “Calm down. It’ll happen. I know it will.”
“No. You don’t. You don’t know anything.” I shrugged his hand away and let out a sigh. I was on the verge of tears but I bit them back. There was no need to make a scene in the restaurant during its lunch rush, but given Bryce’s news of my mother’s latest lab results, I was really worried about her. “I thought everything was fine. She’s following all the rules. We’re doing everything right. What changed? How much longer does she—?” I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the thought.
Bryce leaned forward and commanded my attention. “Look at me.”
I did.
Sam did, too, but not before eyeing me first.
Placing a hand over the one Sam had just attempted—and failed—to claim, he implored me to relax in a mollifying tone. “I will do everything I can to help, but her numbers this morning were a little alarming. The residents from my team are going over everything with a fine tooth comb as we speak. I wanted to bring it up while Sam is present.” Bryce moved his gaze to Sam as he mentioned his name. “I know how close you two are. Both London and Ella need your support right now.”
Sam nodded but remained silent. If I knew him—and believe me, I did—he was telling Bryce off under his breath to the tune of Don’t tell me what I already know, asshole.
The two men shared a knowing glance and then Bryce broke the standoff by turning back to me. “Your mother’s disease is not going away. She’s highly anemic and her potassium and phosphorus levels are extremely elevated. At this stage, the dialysis is working and we can up the treatment, but you and I both know it isn’t a cure. I didn’t mean to scare you, and there’s no need to start asking questions like ‘how long’ and ‘when.’ She has time; she’s a fighter. I want to exhaust all options, talk it out. Even though I’ve been over her charts and numbers more times than I can count, nobody knows her better than you do.” He punctuated his sentence with an endearing wink.
I appreciated his efforts. Of course he would do right by us, especially now that we were seeing each other. But he wasn’t God and I realized it wasn’t fair of me to put that kind of pressure on him. “Thank you. I’m sure you’re doing everything in your power. But this waiting game is killing me. Is there anything else we can do?”
“You were tested as a donor, right?” Sam asked, throwing a crumpled napkin over his unfinished burger.
“Yes, of course. Unfortunately, I’m not a match.” I wouldn’t have thought twice about giving my mother one of my kidneys. I’d do anything.
Sam rapped his fingers against the wooden table. “What about Memphis?”
Bryce’s brows narrowed together. “Who’s Memphis?”
“Her brother,” Sam answered, still looking at me. “Was he tested?”
“Wait, your brother’s name is Memphis?” Bryce cut in.
“Mmm hmm,” I hummed.
“London and Memphis,” Bryce mused. “As in England and Tennessee?”
“Yeah.” Sam snickered. “Ella named them after places she wanted to visit. If they had a third, he or she would have been Tokyo or Budapest.”
“Very funny.” I slapped Sam’s arm and looked to an amused Bryce. “My Mom’s always been a dreamer. She had grand plans. London and Memphis were places my father promised to take her, but he left before he fulfilled those promises, not to mention a shitload of others.”
Bryce’s mouth was a tight line of pity. “I’m sorry.”
“They did perfectly fine without him, if you ask me.” Sam draped an arm around my shoulder and nudged into me.
Again, Bryce’s eyes seared into the part of Sam’s body that was touching mine. I wasn’t sure whether my best friend was fucking with him for fun or not, but I could tell Bryce was not digging it.
Between the tension flanking these two and the news about my mother, this whole lunch was a disaster. I needed something to take the edge off. “Is it too early for a drink? I could really use a beer or, if I remember right, this restaurant serves a great peach sangria. Waitress!” I lifted my finger to flag her down, ignoring the two pairs of disapproving eyes boring into me.
Once the refreshing sangria was in my hands, I tossed it back, abandoning the straw. The two men quietly appraised me.
Sam was first to break the silence. He looked over at Bryce for a beat and then dragged his eyes back to me. “Why don’t I get tested?”
I was momentarily stunned, confused even. Was this a way to one-up Bryce or a genuine act of kindness? “You’d do that?” I was skeptical. Not that Sam wasn’t a chivalrous guy, but we were talking about a major organ. Was he really about to offer one up to my mother? Me, maybe. But he didn’t have to do this.
“Yeah. Why not?” He shrugged. “You only need one, right?” His question was directed at Bryce, whose expression was unreadable.
What’s going through your head, Doctor Love? I couldn’t figure it out. And I couldn’t say I was surprised by what came out of his mouth next.
“Well, it can’t hurt.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I would reach out to Memphis first—blood relatives are usually the best match—but like I said, we need to explore all avenues. If Sam’s willing and able, it’s worth the shot.”
Many things went through my mind, but in the forefront, I questioned my seating choice. From where Bryce sat, this had become a doctor/patient consultation type thing. I should’ve been sitting next to him, not across from him. Our positioning made it look as if Sam and I were together and Bryce was only along for his expertise. In an effort to express my gratitude and show him this was not the case, I reached across the table and clutched his hands in mine with a smile.
Of course, Sam chose that exact moment to push his chair out, scraping it across the floor with a loud screech, to turn in my direction. Bidding my attention, he squeezed my shoulder, grinning proudly. “I’m willing, London. Really. I want to help. I would do anything for you . . . you know this.”
I did. Sam was the boy who’d scared off bullies, cleaned scraped knees, wiped away tears, and mended broken hearts. There was no doubt in my mind that if he turned up as a match, he would hand over that kidney as easily as he would a stick of gum. But could I really let him do this?
“How can I ask this of you?”
“You’re not. I’m offering.”
I blinked, taking in a deep breath. It was one thing to hold out hope, to wonder. But it was another to know there was someone standing right in front of you who had the ability to save your mother’s life. Waiting to find out whether he was a match wouldn’t even be the hard part. If it turned out that he was, there was no way I’d be able to ignore the gift at my fingertips.
Does that make me selfish? Is this whole thing crazy? What am I supposed to do?
“Can I think about it?” I choked back my emotions, a mix of gratitude and fear strangling me.
“Of course,” Sam answered.
“But don’t take too long,” Bryce cautioned.
I nodded, swallowing hard. “I’ll call Memphis today.”
“I’m . . .” Sam paused, looked at Bryce, and then continued. “We’re here for you. You don’t have to deal with any of this on your own, okay?”
Bryce smiled in agreement, the invisible veil of tension magically lifting away. “We got you, beautiful.”
For the first time all afternoon, I was hopeful. I knew these boys had it in them to behave, but I never expected this.
Sam and I went back to spend more time with Mom before I had to be at the salon for my appointments. While they caught up, Bryce and I stole a quiet moment alone until he had to return to his patients.
“Thank you for everything,” I cooed, reaching up on tip-toes to peck his cheek. He quickly turned his face so I missed my target and our lips collided. I giggled into the sweet kiss, relaxing against his comforting warmth.
“Don’t thank me. Thank Sam. He’s the real hero here.” There was no suspicious undertone, but I still wondered whether he meant anything by it.
I decided to brush it off, feeding Bryce’s ego instead. “We don’t know that yet, but in the meantime . . . I’m free tomorrow night. Can I invite my favorite doctor over for dinner at my place?”
“Mmm,” he hummed, his brows rising, his eyes glimmering. “Favorite doctor?”
“Yup.” I made sure to pop the P.
Growling, he bent to steal another kiss, this time showing no shame in the public display of affection. The idea that Bryce had pride in being seen with me only fueled my desire for him that much more. I got lost in our moment, enjoying it a little too much perhaps, only to pull away breathless and wanting more.
“You’re really spoiling me.”
He shook his head and winked. “Nah, I’m just getting started.”
I liked the sound of that. Actually, I loved the sound of that.
At that, his pager went off. Bryce checked the call and then pressed his soft lips to the tip of my nose. “I have to go.”
“Ugh. Saving lives is so demanding.” I rolled my eyes with a giggle.
He caressed my cheek and then retreated. “I’ll call you later.”
I watched him disappear down the hallway and around the bend with a long-sought-after spasm of joy jolting my heart. Leaning against the wall for balance, I clutched my chest and said a silent prayer to whomever it was that put Doctor Bryce Owen in my path.
I had this bewildering belief that he was sent to save us. I laughed to myself, pondering the irony. He could very well be responsible for reviving the vital organs of two Monroe women: my mother’s dying kidneys and my own damaged heart.