Chapter 8
In the black Tesla.
Blake had his head buried in the steering wheel for forever before finally looking up and calling his chief.
“Chief, you mentioned your brother’s some big shot cancer doctor, right? Think you could get me his info?”
The chief sounded confused. “Blake, what’s up? Is your family okay?”
Blake’s knuckles went white gripping the phone. “Not family. Just… someone who matters.”
When his chief asked that, Blake realized he had no clue what his ex from five years ago even was to him anymore.
light after he hung up, Sophia called.
Blake, where the hell are you? The wedding’s starting and everyone’s already here!”
he sounded freaked. Blake went quiet, looking totally wiped out. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
n the bridal suite.
ophia was fully done up in this gorgeous champagne mermaid dress with a killer train, makeup on point.
When Blake walked in, she immediately grabbed his suit and scolded him: “Blake, what could possibly be more important than our wedding? Hurry up and get hanged or we’re gonna be late!”
lake just stood there like a statue. Out of nowhere, Stella’s face popped into his head.
What would she have looked like in white?
e froze and didn’t take the suit.
Sophia, we need to talk.”
ophia’s stomach dropped. She started pushing him toward the changing area. “Nope, get dressed first. Whatever this is can wait till after we’re married.”
er gut was telling her that if he said what she thought he was gonna say, this whole thing was about to go to shit.
lake’s voice was rough. “I’m sorry, Sophia. I can’t marry you.”
he tuxedo slipped from Sophia’s hands and hit the floor. Her voice cracked. “Why?”
ead silence.
lake looked down and took a step back. “Sophia, Stella has terminal cancer. She’s dying. I can’t just ignore that.”
he room went ice cold.
When she spoke again, her voice was shaking. “What… what is she to you?”
She’s my first love.”
ophia stumbled backward, totally stunned. “So that first love you never got over-that’s her?”
A bitter smile crossed her lips as she pressed her hand to her chest, practically begging. “Blake, it’s okay. Go handle this and then we can get married after, ight?”
But all she got back was another “I’m sorry.”
Just as he turned to leave, Mrs. Reed stepped in front of him, absolutely furious.
“Blake Morrison, if you walk out that door today, I’ll fucking destroy you!”
Blake stared her down. Is this the same shit you pulled on Stella when you kicked her out?”
His chest suddenly felt tight thinking about what she went through back then-dying, losing the only parents she’d ever known, getting shipped off to another
country.
How broken she must have been.
He paused, then said: “I get why you did what you did back then. Now respect my choice.”
Mrs. Reed was about to lose it, but Sophia grabbed her arm. “Mom, stop. Just let him go.”
She stepped between them, voice cracking. “It’s okay, Blake. Go do what you have to do. I’ll be here when you get back…”
Blake’s voice was barely audible. “Don’t wait up.”
And he was gone.
Hospice room.
When Blake pushed the door open, Riley and I were playing Connect Four.
could barely hold my head up, my shaky hand hovering over the board.
lake came over. “I brought in some cancer specialists. Top of their field.”
They’ve got this clinical trial going specifically for leukemia. If you qualify, you could get in and maybe actually beat this thing.”
ly game piece dropped and bounced across the floor.
eeing Blake totally caught me off guard. “Wait, isn’t today your wedding? What the hell are you doing here?”
lake paused for a beat, then brushed it off. “Weather’s shit. We pushed it back.”
e nodded to the medical team. “They’re all yours.”
he doctors looked at my scans and ran a bunch of tests, then walked out looking pretty fucking grim with this huge stack of files.
i stopped hoping a long time ago. The moment I checked into hospice, I knew my body couldn’t handle any more treatments.
ifteen minutes later, Blake came back looking wrecked-dark circles under his eyes, which were all red.
e didn’t mention the specialists.
iley packed up the game. “I’m gonna grab some water. You two talk.”
1st me and Blake left in the room.
omplete silence.
lake stayed quiet for a while, then looked at me. “Stella, do you think you’re some kind of hero?”
is voice was bitter. “You figured you were dying so you dumped me. What, you think you’re saving the world or some shit?”
licked my cracked lips, my bony fingers clenched under the blanket until they went white.
My throat felt raw. “Blake, you’re overthinking this.”
I broke up with you just because I… didn’t love you anymore.”
