Page 27 of Saved By A Dark Billionaire
"I am so sorry," I said again, sounding like a broken record, but what else is there to say? He squeezed me for a moment before letting me go. I let him go too, but neither of us stepped back, keeping the space between us small.
"Is your mom okay?" he asked, and I wasn't sure how to answer. I didn't want to tell him she had cancer. He has his own problems to worry about today.
"Leo, it's time." I heard a familiar voice call from the silver double doors. I turned to see Lucas in the doorway, looking at his phone.
"I'm coming." Leo told him, making Lucas look up. Confusion, worry, and guilt crossed his features quickly.
"Rose, are you okay? Are you still dizzy?" He took a step towards me, stopping himself as he saw Leo.
"I'm fine, not here for me. Don't worry," I assured him, turning my attention back on Leo. "I'm sorry, Leo. I'm here if you need to talk."
He nodded with a sad smile. He wrapped his arms around me again, hugging me one last time before leaving. Lucas hung at the door for a second longer, watching me for a moment before he followed Leo. I picked my things up, heading back up to mom. Leo stayed in my mind. I'll be in his shoes soon. Mom doesn't have much time left. When I arrived, they told me her condition was declining, and we would be lucky if she made it through the week.
Every free moment I have I’ll be spending here with her. I will only leave her side to go to class. I may even skip a couple this week. Like my English class and perhaps the easier math class I have. A heavy sigh left me as I wondered how anyone deals with losing a parent. I'll have to check in on Leo tomorrow. I am glad he had Lucas there for him. It's important to have people around you when you're going through something major.
"Ew, mom, no!" I laughed as she tried to tell me the story of my conception. "No, child shouldeverhear how they were made."
She laughed with me, causing her to cough hard. I poured her a glass of water, and she took it with shaky hands. I went to my morning classes today, but my mind had stayed on mom, and then on Leo. Honestly, I was so distracted. It was like I hadn't attended class at all. I emailed my professors and let them know what was going on. They were all very understanding and compassionate, giving me my assignments ahead of time. I was working on one as mom and I spoke.
"What about you, sweetheart? Do you have a special boy in your life?" She raised a brow.
"Not exactly." I blushed, thinking of Lucas. How would I describe him to mom?
"Oh? Who did you just think of?"
"His name is Lucas," I admitted. "But he isn't interested in a relationship, at least not a serious one."
"Are you? Wanting a serious relationship?" she asked, curiously. I just nodded my head.
"Yeah, I do, but not yet."
Mom and I spoke for a while, where I told her all about Julius and what had happened. We spoke about how he took my virginity to me, catching him cheating on me. Mom joined me in trash talking him until we were laughing again. She coughed every time we laughed. It was breaking my heart to see her this way. She rested her eyes after our talk, feeling exhausted. I hated seeing cancer eat away at her body. I finally got her back to only get maybe a week with her. There's too much to talk about, to fit it all into one week.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, snapping me from my depressing thoughts. The name flashing on my screen made my chest hurt.
Chapter 10
Olive's P.O.V.
Dad had called, but I ignored it. I didn't want to talk to him right now, especially not by mom. It's his fault I missed all these years with her. It's his fault she had to run away. How could he ever hurt her like that? I watched mom sleep, wondering how she endured him for 10 years. She was strong in her own way.
I used this time to call my doctor and get myself checked. She placed an order with the hospital I was at to take my blood and have it tested. I would have the results in two weeks, and we'd talk about options once she had them. She then scheduled me for a breast screening at the end of the month. I checked in on mom again, seeing she was still asleep.
"Sorry to bother you, Nancy." I spoke to the nurse at the round desk. "Can you please let my mother know I went to get my blood drawn if she wakes up wondering where I went?"
"Of course, darling. No problem." She answered in her sweet southern accent. I'd only ever heard it in movies, having lived in the north all my life. It was adorable to listen to.
"I am glad you got it going," Mom told me the next day.
She had slept for the rest of my visit Monday, but I had stayed by her side anyway, only going home once it had gotten dark. Neither Lucas nor Leo had texted me yesterday or today, which was fine. I know Leo is going through a lot, and I'm sure Lucas is by his side. I didn't text them myself, feeling like I would be a nuisance right now.
"She told me I would get my results in a couple of weeks."
You might not be here to hear them.
The thought had my chest squeezing in pain. A depressed and overwhelmed feeling clutched at my heart. I wanted to cure her cancer. I wished there was something I could do for her, but there's nothing. My phone vibrated once, letting me know I had a text.
Leo:How's your mom?
