We both scramble to grab towels and then run to answer our phones. Andi nearly crashes to the floor on the slippery tile, but I steady her with my hands on her hips. Water drips from both of us, but neither of us gives a damn. All we care about is what the news on the other end of those buzzing phones has for us.

Andi is the first one to yell, “What is it? What’s happened?”

I grab mine next and shout the same thing. Mom’s calm voice steadies my galloping heart rate.

“Chase, honey, everything’s fine. Take a deep breath. I’m only calling to let you know Violet’s awake and grinning. She’s even asking to eat.”

“What?” I shout.

“Honey, if you don’t stop yelling, I’m going to need a hearing aid. I said your daughter appears to be feeling much better. I thought you would want to know.”

My ass hits the bed because my legs basically give out. All the tension instantly drains out of me, leaving me as weak as a baby bird. I’m so choked up I can’t speak.

“Chase? Honey, are you still there?”

Clearing my throat, it takes a few deep breaths before I can respond. “Yeah, Mom, I’m here. It’s just that’s such great news. Such a relief, you know?” My entire body is trembling and I can’t figure out why. I glance across the room and see that Andi is crying. I want to go over and hug her, but I’m too weak to get up at this time.

“Chase, Violet wants to talk to you now.”

“Yeah, that’s good.” I’m dimly aware of what’s happening. What’s wrong with me?

“Dada. I hungy.” I hear her giggle after she says that.

“That’s great, sweetie. Is your nana going to get you something to eat?”

“Popsicle.”

“A Popsicle?”

“And waffle.”

“That sounds exactly like something you’d eat.” I laugh at her choice of a meal and then realize the weird sensations in my body are easing up. “Make sure you eat the waffle before the Popsicle, okay?”

“Okay.”

“And Mama and I will be back soon.”

Mom’s voice hits my ear. “Chase, you and Andi need to sleep. You don’t sound normal to me. I think you’ve hit the wall and you’ll be no good to anyone, especially Violet, if you don’t rest. The last thing we need is for you and Andi to get sick too.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“Now get some rest.”

“I will.” We end the call and I think maybe she’s right. I’m feeling a little better, but for a minute there I was in the crash zone.

“Chase.”

I hear Andi calling me. I stand up, and on wobbly legs, walk to her where she sits in a chair.

“Come to bed with me. We need sleep.”

“She’s good, right?”

“Yeah. She’s going to have a waffle and a Popsicle.” I laugh. It’s with relief as much as humor. Andi stands and I notice she’s as weak as I am.

“Look at us. This is definitely a sign we need sleep. Mom made a good point. We’re both near the point of exhaustion. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be able to take care of our daughter.”

Andi grabs my hand. “Yes. Let’s sleep and then go back. Make sure our phones are on, though.”

“They are.” We climb into the bed and I turn off the light. The blackout curtains are drawn and I put the Do Not Disturb sign out when we came in. Hopefully, we can catch a few hours and then go back to the hospital to relieve our moms.

* * *

When I stretch, every muscle is tight as though it hasn’t been moved for a week. Sitting in a chair in that hospital is harder on a body than a grueling practice on a football field. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I notice that Andi is still breathing softly. I slip out of bed, not wanting to disturb her. She needs this time, and even though we’ve only been asleep for probably a few hours, I want to let her get as much as she needs. I grab my phone to check the time and then take a second look. We went to sleep at four in the afternoon. It’s now noon. Noon of the following day! We almost slept around the clock. About that time, my stomach lets out a gigantic roar. No damn wonder. We haven’t eaten in an entire day. How the hell did we sleep this long?

I trudge into the bathroom on stiff legs, and pee, and pee, and pee. Jesus, how did I hold it for this long? We must’ve been in a coma.

I decide to take a shower and then run down and grab some food for us. As I’m showering, a thought plows into me. Our daughter’s beautiful curls have all fallen out due to the potent chemo they had to give her before the bone marrow transplant. To show her my support, I’m going to shave my head. I grab my electric shaver and go to town. It takes longer than I thought, as my hair is as thick as a damn hedge. When I’m done, I check it out with a mirror to ensure I didn’t miss any spots and don’t look like some weird animal. Then I shower. As I’m getting dressed, Andi lifts up her head.

“What the hell, Chase! What happened to your hair?”

“Nothing, other than I’m supporting our daughter. By the time mine grows back, so will hers.”

“Oh, my God.” Her hand covers her mouth. “Come here.” Then her arms are around me, holding me tight. “That’s the sweetest, kindest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“No, it’s not. It’s nothing really. Just a shaved head, babe.”

She’s still hugging me when she asks, “You do realize it will take hers longer to grow back than yours? Yours is just shaved, but hers is pretty much destroyed down to the follicle. And where are you going? Did something happen?”

Chuckling, I say, “Nothing, other than we both slept like lazy dogs. I’m running down to grab us some coffees and a bite to eat.”

“Oh? What time is it?”

This time I laugh. Super hard. “It’s noon.”

“Okay.” She releases me and plops back down, but then springs up like a jack-in-the-box. “What the fuck! Noon! How the hell did we sleep that long?”

“Must’ve been bone weary. Why don’t you shower and I’ll have food by the time you’re out?”

“Ugh, I’m so lazy now.”

“Stay in bed then. We’ve gotten no phone calls or texts, so all is good, babe.” I bend down to kiss her sweet lips. “I’ll be back.”

The hotel lobby has a coffee shop, so I load up on her favorite latte and then grab an assortment of muffins and pastries for us to munch on until we feel like heading out for a real, honest-to-goodness meal. I’m going to convince her that’s what we need to do for our health and sanity.

By the time I get back to our room, Andi is emerging from the steamy bathroom with a robe on. She looks yummier than the goodies in the paper bag I brought up to the room.

“Here.” I hand her a latte.

Her face morphs into one of pure happiness as she sips the concoction. “Oh, is this good.”

“I knew you’d love it.”

We both sip our drinks and nibble on the muffins for a minute. Then I make a suggestion. “I think we should go to lunch. A nice lunch before we head back to the hospital.”

Andi gets ready to object, but I stop her before she gets the opportunity.

“Hear me out, please. Yesterday, after Mom called, I sat on the bed and literally could not move. My legs were gone, Andi. I was out of juice. At first, I was really scared there was something major going on with me. But then I realized I’d hit the wall. I do that sometimes when I play too hard in a game, but it wasn’t computing yesterday because my brain was malfunctioning. We were both so tired and weary. When was the last time you slept twenty hours straight? I don’t think I ever have.”

“I haven’t, either.”

“We need this break, babe, or we’re going to break. And we can’t afford that. Are you with me on this?”

“Yeah. As much as I want to rush back there, we do need to refuel. Our moms are right. Let’s take a leisurely lunch and then go back. Violet probably isn’t even aware we’re not there.”

“You’re right. I’m sure they are spoiling her to pieces.”

No sooner do the words leave my mouth than both our phones buzz. Fuck!

I grab mine as she grabs hers.

“What?” I scream.

“Calm down, Chase. It’s just me letting you know all is fine.”

I exhale a tank full of air. “Sorry, Mom. It’s just that every call …”

“You don’t have to explain, son, but stop thinking so negatively. We hadn’t heard anything from you two so I figured I’d give you a call.”

“We didn’t wake up until noon.”

“Honey, that’s wonderful.”

“And we’re going to go out and eat a nice lunch for a change before we head back up there, if that’s okay.”

“That’s a great idea. Your daughter is having a great time. She’s with her grandfathers now and they are spoiling her. She had ice cream for lunch.”

“Mom, will you see if they can at least feed her something nutritious?”

“You mean ice cream isn’t nutritious?”

“You’re so funny.”

“Chase, take your time and come back when you’re ready. We’re all fine here.”

“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”

“Love you too, son.”

Andi is shaking her head when I look over at her.

“What is it?”

“That was Mark. He wanted to crash our lunch.”

“He did? What did you tell him?”

“I told him no way. That I wanted time with my sexy boyfriend because I hadn’t had enough of that lately.”

“You did?”

“Damn right, I did.”

“What did he say?”

“He laughed and said go for it and that it took me long enough.”

“Then why are you shaking your head?”

“Because then the jerk wanted to know when we’re getting married. He said we had a daughter and it was time you did right by me. I told him I was the holdout, so he cussed me out.”

I throw back my head and laugh.

“It’s not funny.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“You only think so because he’s Team Chase.”

I reach over my shoulder and pat myself on the back. Andi scowls at me. I can’t have that so I make a mad dash for her and toss her on the bed as she screeches.

“He might be Team Chase, but I’m Team Andi.” Then my mouth doesn’t waste any time as my lips home in on hers and make sure she knows she’s mine.

Her purrs of delight tell me everything I need to hear, and I follow through as I untie her robe. Then I slip it off her shoulders. Her thong comes next and my tongue finds her hot and silky slit as she moans my name. Her taste is sweet and salty as I tunnel inside of her and then circle around and around on her little nub. She moans and arches into me, begging for more.

“I need you inside. Now.”

That won’t do. Not until she gives me an orgasm. So I add one finger, then two, and find that spot that makes her go crazy for me. Her hands grab my head and I know she’s close. But when her legs clamp against my head and I feel her inner muscles quiver against my hand, it’s all over.

I quickly drop my pants and spread her legs. Then I’m pressing my cock into her opening as though it calls my name. She looks more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen as she waits for me.

With one long thrust, I’m home, in deep, my mouth on hers, and we find the rhythm that we both love. Hard and fast strokes that hit her deepest places, she wraps her legs tightly around me until we’re locked together.

“I love you, Andi James. Never forget I’m always Team Andi.”

“I love you, Chase Wilde. Never forget we’re Team Wilde.”

I can’t tear myself away from her eyes. I pull her up until she sits on my lap and we make love slowly this way until we both climax deliriously in each other’s arms. It’s strange really, but I sense something different this time, something new between us blossoming. A deeper love, maybe. I’m not quite sure what it is. I only know I never want to be without this woman again.

“I don’t care what tomorrow brings. I only know I can face anything as long as I have you by my side. You are my strength, my world, Andi. Without you and Violet, my life isn’t worth a thing.”