Unveil Me (The Jaded Series Book 3) (14 page)

The atmosphere in the room lightens slightly. The news that the cancer is dormant is good. That’s one less fight to deal with at the moment. Now the battle is to overcome the rest.

“Thank you for letting us know, Dr. Adams. When can we see her?”

“Let’s give it until tomorrow morning, once she’s had the dialysis treatment. She needs to get as much rest as she can in order to be strong enough for the transplant. We’ll be sedating her to avoid any trauma due to the line we’ll be putting in her neck.”

After a few more words, Dr. Adams leaves with the promise to let them know if there is any change with Ally. Sandra fusses with fixing Andrew’s pillow, and I can’t help but smile as he grumbles at her. His eyes turn to me and narrow.

“What are you smiling about?” he mutters. “She’s acting like I just had major surgery or some shit. It’s ridiculous.”

“You watch your language, Andrew. And let me be. I’m your mother. If I want to fuss over my baby while he’s in a hospital bed, then I’ll damn well do it, no matter how serious the reasoning is.” I laugh at her word choice, because she just got on to him for cussing. “Besides, if I don’t do this, then I’ll think about…”

She stops midsentence and lets out a sob. I feel like an asshole for laughing. This is definitely not a time to laugh.

Andrew sits up and pulls his mom into his arms. As she cries against his white and green checkered hospital gown, I walk around and rub her back. Watching the emotions these two are going through is hard. I want to comfort them and make everything better.

Only a couple minutes pass before the door opens again and a rush of people file inside the small room. I step to the side as Bailey and Chris hurry over. Andrew releases Sandra and she discreetly wipes her eyes. Jaxon, Mia, Mac, and Trent stay back a few steps. I’m surprised Mia isn’t in the middle of the cry fest Bailey and Chris are having. Her expression is still closed off, and I wonder if she’s upset with Andrew for keeping Ally from her.

“Mia,” Andrew calls, when he realizes she’s still across the room.

She stays put for a couple of moments before slowly walking over to him. Bailey and Chris move away so she can get close. As I get a better look at Mia’s face, I see tears glistening in her eyes and her lips trembling. When Andrew tries to grab her hand, she takes a step back.

“Why?” she whispers raggedly, barely loud enough for us to hear. “Why would you keep this from us? From me?”

“Oh, Mia, I’m so sorry,” Andrew says, brows pulled down into a frown. “When Becky and Brent first came to me about donating sperm, they asked me to not say anything for a while. Becky’s parents were firmly against anything other than a natural child from both married parents. The plan was to ease them into it. For years, I watched them suffer multiple negative pregnancy tests. The devastation each test brought them was destroying them, and I hated seeing them like that. Brent found out later that he’s infertile.”

Andrew again tries to reach out for Mia, but she just shakes her head.

“Why has it taken this long though? You said she’s six, which means it’s been about seven years. I get they wanted to wait, but for seven years?”

A tear streaks down Mia’s face, and I feel Mac stiffen beside me, wanting to go comfort his woman. Mia’s not the type to shed tears. She always seems so strong and stubborn. To see her upset like this must be tearing both him and Andrew up inside. The pain I see on Andrew’s face as he watches the tear trail down her cheek has my own emotions boiling to the surface. I understand her feeling of betrayal, but what Andrew’s been through hasn’t been a walk in the park either, I’m sure. I can’t imagine the internal struggle he’s faced on a daily basis.

“Come here, Mia, please,” Andrew says, his voice tight.

After a few seconds, Mia reaches out and grasps Andrew’s hand and steps toward him. He brings her hand to his mouth and kisses the back. More tears fall silently down her face.

“In the beginning, they were only supposed to wait a few months after Ally was born to tell them. But things became strained between Becky and her mom. I don’t know all the details, but they’ve always had a close relationship and it was hard on her and the rest of the family when their relationship went downhill. They spoke with me first to make sure it was okay that they waited longer to tell them. I told them to do what they felt was best. I didn’t want to be the cause of an even bigger rift between her and her family. That would only hurt Ally.

“Once everything was settled between Becky and her family, I was the one that wasn’t ready. I don’t know why, but I wanted to keep Ally to myself a bit longer. I had gotten into a routine, and I wasn’t ready for it to change. Before I knew it, years had passed by. I know that makes me selfish, and I’m sorry.”

Andrew stops for a minute and looks at Bailey and Jaxon, his eyes softening. “Once I was ready to tell everyone, it got put on hold again. Everybody’s attention was focused on Bailey. And after what happened to Anna, everyone was grieving. It wasn’t the right time.”

When Bailey starts to apologize, Andrew holds up his hand. “No, honey, I’m not blaming you. You were priority at the time. We needed to focus on you. I had already waited years, a few more months wouldn’t hurt. Don’t you dare take any blame for this.”

Bailey comes to the bed and kisses Andrew on his cheek. She pulls back, wipes the tear that’s fallen, and nods.

Looking back at Mia, Andrew continues, “Everything settled down after Amari was born, but that’s when everything went down with you and Mac. Again, it wasn’t the right time.” He looks from one person to the other, ending with his eyes back on Mia. “I’m so sorry I never told any of you. But there was never a good time.”

“Does she know you’re her father?” Mia asks, and I hold my breath, waiting on his answer. Does Ally call him Dad?

“No, she knows me as Uncle Andrew.”

Bringing Andrew’s hand up to her face, Mia places it on her cheek. “We’ve missed so much of her life,” she says tearfully.

“I know,” replies Andrew.

They both stare at each other for a few moments. Everyone’s quiet in the room, giving them their private time. It’s hard to watch these two people who obviously love each other be at odds. Andrew’s told me a little about his and Mia’s relationship. They’ve been best friends since grade school. I feel a pang of jealousy at the closeness they share, but push it away. It’s ridiculous to feel that way.

All of a sudden a beautiful smile comes across Mia’s face, causing her blue eyes to shine brightly.

“You have a daughter, Andrew!” she says excitedly. “I can’t believe it! I know we’re not able to right now, but when can we meet her? Can you tell us about her?”

Andrew laughs at her excitement and the dire atmosphere fades. Everyone relaxes. Although the seriousness of the situation is still there, it’s clear Andrew loves talking about Ally to his friends.

His eyes keep straying to mine and every time they do, I smile at him. We haven’t gotten a chance to talk alone, so I tell him through my smile I’m okay with this. It’ll be strange seeing him with her, but I’m looking forward to it. And I’m especially looking forward to meeting this precious girl who’s irrevocably captured my lover’s heart.

Andrew

I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, back in my own clothes instead of the hospital gown from hell. I grip the back of my neck and bounce my leg in irritation and impatience. I’m waiting on the nurse to come back with my release papers and information on whether or not I can see Ally. She left here with a muttered “I’ll be back soon.” That was—I look down at my watch—thirty-two fucking minutes ago.

Jase is across the room sitting on the windowsill, watching me like a zookeeper watches a rabid animal. I get up from the bed and start pacing the room, feeling a little twinge on my hip, but I ignore it. Being stuck in this room waiting makes me feel like a caged animal. Don’t these fuckers know how important it is I see Ally?

“Andrew, baby, you need to relax and calm down,” Jase says soothingly. I’m sure he’s worried I’ll bite his head off if he talks to me with anything other than a cautious tone. I know I’m on the edge right now and need to take his advice, but my head keeps screaming at me to get to Ally.

“The damn nurse should be back by now. What the hell is taking so long?” I growl.

It’s a rhetorical question. Jase doesn’t know why the nurse is taking her sweet-ass time, but I’m hoping he’ll at least attempt to answer. If he’s talking it helps keep my mind settled. I love the sound of his deep voice.

“I don’t know, but I’m sure she’ll be back soon. And I’m sure Ally is fine as well. You heard the doctor last night. She’ll let you know if something changes.”

I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and let his voice soothe my frayed nerves. He’s right. I know if something changed with Ally, someone would let me know, but it’s still hard to just sit here.

When I open my eyes again, I look over at Jase. He’s still sitting there watching me. Of course, now my body picks the most inconvenient time to become needy. Seeing him sitting there with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing off his tattooed muscles, and his hair in a sexy messy ponytail has my body hardening. My body may have picked a bad time to react, but damn if I won’t take a taste. After all, the last taste I had was last night, and that’s just too damn long.

My strides quickly eat up the distance between us. The closer I get, the darker Jase’s eyes become, and the harder I become.

He hasn’t moved an inch. He’s sitting there on the edge of the windowsill with his hands on either side of his hips. When I make it to him, I rest my hands against the window on both sides of his head and lean in. He still doesn’t move or talk.

Greedy for a taste, I lean down and run my tongue along the seam of his lips, waiting for him to open up. He doesn’t disappoint, and I immediately slip inside. He tastes so fucking good.

I slant my head and deepen the kiss, tangling my tongue with his. My body vibrates with pleasure and it takes everything in me to not flip him around and sink my dick in his tight hole. If we were anywhere else and if the situation was anything but what it is, I would.

Jase groans and grips my hips, bringing me closer to him, which spurs me on more. I grab a handful of hair and yank his head to the side. He has scruff on his cheeks and neck from not shaving today and it feels fucking amazing against my lips.

“Jesus, I’ve missed your taste,” I murmur against his ear, before taking a bite.

Reaching around, Jase grabs my ass and starts to knead. My ass cheeks tighten in response.

“It’s only been since last night. That’s not enough time to miss it.” Jase moans.

I pull back from him and tilt his head so we’re looking at each other. He really has no idea what he does to me. It’s about time I enlighten him.

“Jase, as soon as your lips leave mine, I miss your taste. As soon as your touch leaves me, I miss the sensation. If we’re not in the same room together, I miss your presence. I crave you all the time, baby. There’s not a second that goes by that I don’t want you, that I don’t want your scent on me, your touch on me, or your eyes on me. There’s never a time that I
don’t
miss you.”

I watch Jase, gauging his reaction to my confession. Every word I just told him is true. He has become such a pivotal part of me that, if I were to ever lose him, I’d lose parts of myself as well. He’s burrowed himself so deep in my heart that he’d pull big pieces out with him if he left. And nothing or no one would be able to fill those gaps left behind.

As I stand there and watch Jase, his lips all of a sudden form a huge smile, showcasing his dimple. I’m just about to lean down and run my tongue along it when he says teasingly, “So, you like me, huh?”

I laugh at his ridiculous question and grip his hair tighter. “I’d say I more than like you,” I tell him, and do what I wanted to do a minute ago and lick his dimple.

I pull back a minute later and rest my forehead against him. “Thank you for understanding about Ally. I know it’s fucked that I didn’t tell you or the others, but I just couldn’t find the right time.”

“I get it, Andrew. I know why you couldn’t and it’s okay. But you don’t have to go through that shit alone anymore. Let us be there for you. I don’t have any experience with this, but I know it had to be tough holding it all in when you were around us. No more of that.”

His words hit home, because he’s right, it has been tough not going to my friends when things started going downhill with Ally. Not being able to depend on them for support was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I may be a man and men are supposed to be able to handle hard situations, but I don’t care how strong you are, no one can handle something like this by themselves. I had my mom, Becky, and Brent, but most times they weren’t physically there.

“Mr. Donovan, are you ready?” the nurse says, as she comes back into the room.

I pull back from Jase and turn to face her. As she’s standing there holding a clipboard, an orderly comes in behind her with a wheelchair.

I don’t fucking think so.

“You can take that back, I don’t need it,” I say, gesturing to the wheelchair.

“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s policy. I can’t let—”

“I’m sorry too, but I’m not getting in that fucking thing. I can walk just fine on my own.”

The good mood I had a moment ago because of Jase is quickly being replaced with irritation. First she took her sweet-ass time and now she expects me to be wheeled around in that thing?
Not fucking likely
. I narrow my eyes at the nurse and watch as she swallows.

“Please, sir—”

“It’s okay, Janet, let him be. He’ll be fine,” Dr. Adams says as she steps into the room.

With a thank you and a smile, Dr. Adams takes the clipboard from the nurse and dismisses her. Walking over to me, she hands me the clipboard. I sign my release forms and hand it back.

“How is she? Do you know if the dialysis worked?” I know I probably sound frantic, but I don’t give a shit. This keeping me in the dark is driving me fucking bonkers. I spoke with Becky late last night, but haven’t this morning.

“She’s doing much better,” Dr. Adams reassures me, and I sag in relief. “And the dialysis did work. Her kidney function has improved. We’re giving her one more day just to be sure and to let her body recover some before starting the bone marrow transplant.”

“Thank God,” I mutter, and briefly close my eyes.

I feel Jase step up to me and rest his hand on my back. His touch gives me comfort.

I open my eyes and ask the doctor, “Can I see her now?”

She smiles and says, “Yes, I’ll take you to her.”

“I have family and friends here. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Ally, but they’re anxious to see her as well. When can she receive outside visitors?”

“As long as you keep it calm, she should be fine to see them now. Just don’t overdo it.”

I nod and Jase and I walk out hand in hand behind Dr. Adams. I need to call my mom and let her know she can come see Ally. I know she’s been worried sick as well. I made her go home last night with the promise I would call her this morning with an update. After I speak with Becky and Brent and make sure it’s okay, I’ll call everyone back home and let them know they can come meet Ally for the first time. I’m a little nervous at the thought of them meeting her. Anyone would be nervous when they introduce their friends to a child they’ve kept a secret for years. However, the thought of knitting the two together has me excited and impatient.

We come to a stop at one of the doors, and Dr. Adams pushes it open for us to enter. I take a deep breath and pull Jase in behind me.

The first thing I see is Brent hunched over in a chair in the corner, asleep. When he hears movement, he jerks awake, looking first at Jase, then at me. I don’t really pay him any mind because my eyes have moved to the bed. Becky is lying on the edge of the small mattress, her hair hanging off the side. I can’t see her face or Ally because her back is blocking our view.

With my heart in my throat and fear at what I’ll see, I slowly walk around the bed and get my first glimpse of Ally.

My breath whooshes out at the frail body I see lying in bed. It’s only been a couple of days since I saw her, but she seems even smaller now. Ally’s always been big for her age, courtesy of my genes, but now she looks underweight and so fragile, like the smallest of movements will break her. Her arms are thin and her face gaunt. The beanie she’s wearing doesn’t hide the fact that her hair is gone. She has dark shadows under her beautiful eyes. There’s a bandage on the lower portion of her neck with a tube sticking out and she has several catheters in her hands and arms.

It breaks my fucking heart to see her like this. I want to fix everything that’s wrong, but I can’t. Being helpless is one of the worst feelings in the world.

Ally is reclining against a couple of pillows, playing a handheld video game. When she sees me, a gorgeous smile crosses her face and it nearly brings me to my knees.

“Uncle Andy,” she says happily, her eyes lighting up. Her voice doesn’t sound as strong and cheerful as normal.

Becky jerks awake. “What’s wrong?” she asks, looking disoriented. It only takes her a second to realize everything is okay and see me standing by the bed. Her eyes flick to Jase standing behind me before returning to mine.

“Sorry, Mom,” Ally says with a frown.

“It’s okay, baby,” Becky leans downs and kisses the top of Ally’s head. “Hey, you two.”

Grabbing Jase’s hand, I step closer to the bed. “Hey, skittles. How’re you doing?”

She puckers her lips into a pout and says, “I’m okay. I feel better today.”

“That’s great, precious,” I sit on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle her any. “I came to see how you’re doing and introduce you to someone.”

She looks behind me at Jase and then back to me, brows pulled down. “Is it him? Is that Jase?”

I turn to Jase and see surprise on his face. I may not have told my friends about Ally, Becky, and Brent, but they know all about my friends. It was only a couple of days ago that I told Ally about Jase. She was excited about meeting him.

I pull him closer. Once he’s standing beside me, I tell Ally, “Yeah, this is my good friend, Jase. Jase, this beautiful girl is Ally.”

Ally watches him for a moment, before smiling and saying shyly, “Hello.”

I fall a little more for Jase as he lowers himself to his knees beside the bed, so he and Ally are face-to-face.

He gently grabs her hand and brings the back of it to his lips, placing a light kiss there. “Hey, sweetie. It’s an honor to meet you.”

She giggles her little girl laugh at his noble gesture.

I look over at Becky. She has her hand at her mouth, but I can see the corners tipping up into a smile. She has tears in her eyes.

“Do you like Skittles, Jase?” Ally asks, and I have to stifle a laugh. I know exactly where this is going.

“I do,” he responds, eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Do you think you can talk Uncle Andy into getting me some?”

Releasing Ally’s hand, Jase brings the tip of one finger up to his lips and gives it a tap.

“Hmm… I don’t know if I can do that,” he says, causing a frown to appear on Ally’s face. “But you can have this bag if you want.”

Surprising us all, Jase brings out a sharable-size bag of Skittles from the pocket of his cargo pants.