What's Left of Me (26 page)

He sets his sub down.
 
Turning, he looks at me with fire in his eyes. “I love a good treasure hunt, Aundrea.”

Bringing my hand up, I cup the side of his face.
 
Touching my lips to his, I give him a chaste kiss.
 
“I’ll try to make it. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

The nurse takes blood samples, then ushers them off to the lab.
 
I’m instructed to wait with my friend—the blue chair—until they get the results and word from Dr. Olson.
 
The nurses are the ones who administer the drugs under the doctor’s order.
 
There are doctors around, but because Dr. Olson mainly works at the university, they call her for orders.

“Are you okay?” Genna asks.

“Yeah.
 
I just want to get this over with.”

We sit in silence.
 
Genna is flipping through a magazine while I spend my time looking around.
 
The place is packed today.
 
Men and women of different ages are seated throughout.
 
Some are alone; some are with people, talking and laughing.
 
It’s always interesting who you can see when people watching, especially in a place like this.
 
There are those who keep to themselves and those who chat away with anyone and everyone.

Across from me is a little girl sitting with a couple that I assume are her parents.
 
She can’t be more than ten.
 
She’s so tiny, but beautiful, even with no hair.
 
Her big brown eyes look up at her mom as she reads to her.
 
Her dad is talking with the nurses and I overhear that it’s her fifth treatment.
 
She looks over at me and flashes the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.
 
It breaks my heart knowing she probably goes through the same things I do, but is so much younger.
 
As I’m returning her smile, the nurse returns.

“Okay, my dear.
 
I’ve spoken with Dr. Olson.
 
Your white cells are better, but they’re still lower than she’d like.
 
She doesn’t want to put chemo off another week, but doesn’t want to do it today.”

“What does that mean?” Genna asks.

“Well, she wants to give Aundrea a little more time for the Neulasta to work and do her next chemo in five days.
 
That should help bring the numbers up.
 
We’ll check again on Monday, and if the numbers are higher, we’ll administer the drugs then.”

“I’m okay with that.”
 
I start to stand up, but Genna pushes me back down.

“Wait,” she says, not looking at me, but at the nurse.
 
“What does this mean for her cancer?
 
Isn’t putting this off further going to set her back?
 
I want her to be healthy enough for treatments, but I’m thinking long term.”

Sighing, I wait for the nurse to answer.
 
I know I should care, but I don’t.
 
Just hearing I get to have the weekend with Parker is all that’s on my mind.

“Her markers are doing really well.
 
She’s responded well with the first two rounds.
 
We’re hopeful the last two will be all she needs, but we need her body to be able to handle it, or else it won’t work.
 
Right now, it’s better for Aundrea’s body to prepare itself for what’s to come.”

What’s to come.
 
I don’t like the sound of that.

I call Jean on the way home to let her know I’m coming to visit.

“You’re going to come here?”
 
Jean’s voice carries through the other line.

“Don’t act so surprised.”

“Sorry, I’m not.
 
Well, just a little.
 
What about chemo?”

“It’s on hold until Monday.
 
Counts were low,
again
.
 
But, on the bright side, I get to go to the Halloween benefit with Parker.”

Genna’s lips curl up slightly when she hears me say his name.

“That’s awesome!
 
Well, not about the treatment, but that you get to go.”

“Yeah!
 
I’m excited.
 
I need your help though.”

I explain about the dress and makeup I need for my costume.
 
She tells me not to worry about buying anything because she’s sure her sorority sisters have exactly what I need.

I pack quickly and send Parker a quick message to let him know I have to go out of town for a couple days, and I’m sorry about the benefit.
 
I want to surprise him, so I make sure that Genna tells Jason not to spill the beans.

He seemed a little upset that I said I couldn’t go.

I’ll just have to make it up to him.

Chapter Fourteen

I make my way through the hotel lobby and down the long hallway leading to the double doors of the ballroom.
 
The lighting fills the hall with an orange glow.
 
The textured tan walls are lined with white and gray cotton spider webs with black plastic spiders, letting me know I’m heading in the right direction.

When I make my way through the double doors, my breath catches.
 
For a Halloween themed event this place is strikingly beautiful.
 
There is a large, sheer white ceiling cover that drapes across the entire ceiling and flows down the walls and doorways.
 
Orange and white lights twinkle throughout the fabric, giving off a dim glow.
 
Black tablecloths cover the high top tables, displaying tall vases filled with different assortments of flowers in whites and oranges. Small round candles circle the vases.

To my left are multiple round tables covered in white linen with black and orange chair covers and the same flower centerpieces, where I assume the dinner will be served.
 
I am amazed at the venue and all that went into this event.

I make my way toward the closest vacant table and set my purple clutch down, trying to find Jason and Genna.
 
Genna insisted she and Jason match, so they went as a God and Goddess; their togas make them easy to spot in the crowd.

From the large centerpiece hang oval jewels and a mixture of plastic spiders, skulls, and ghosts.
 
I can only imagine what this all cost.

Looking around the room, I see various shapes of jack-o-lanterns and gravestones laid out around the floor outlined in lights.
 
There is a DJ in the back corner by a small dance floor, which is filled with a wide range of costumes from bunnies and angels to zombies, pirates, and action heroes.
 

I look for Parker, but don’t spot him right away.
 
It’s when I notice Bryn—dressed as a racer in a very short yellow dress with black racing stripes down the side and her cleavage popping out— that I find him.
 
He’s dressed as a prisoner in a bright orange jumpsuit.
 
They’re in the center of the dance floor—together.
 
Her arms are around his neck and his are around her waist.
 
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they were a couple.
 
Pushing my jealous thoughts back, I begin to walk away.
 
Just as I’m turning around, Bryn’s mouth turns up into a small grin, pulling him closer.
 
I want nothing more than to walk over and slap that smile off her face.

Parker knew I wasn’t going to make it, but it still doesn’t feel good knowing that he’s dancing with her.

I walk around the table and make my way through the crowd searching for someone who slightly resembles Shannon.
 
There is nothing I hate more than standing alone at a party.

“Aundrea?”

I turn around and see Shannon standing there.
 
She’s dressed as a sexy referee.

“Hi, I was looking for you!
 
How are you?”

“It
is
you!
 
I saw you walk in, but wasn’t sure.
 
You look amazing!
 
I barely recognized you.”
 
Good.
 
That means Parker probably won’t either.

“I wanted to do something fun.”

“I’ll say you accomplished it.
 
You look really good.”

I give her a smile, then shift my gaze back out onto the dance floor.
 
Her eyes follow.

“Don’t worry, that’s only their first dance, and I think the last.
 
She kept begging him for one earlier until he finally agreed.”

Turning to face her, I shrug.
 
Standing taller and holding my head high, I speak confidently, “I’m not worried.”

“Good.”

She looks over my shoulder and waves enthusiastically to someone.
 
“Hey, I’ll be right back.”

“Sure.
 
See you around.”

I walk around for a while, checking out all the items up for auction, when I hear a laugh I would know anywhere; deep and sexy as hell.
 
Looking over to the bar, my eyes land on a tall woman dressed as Catwoman.
 
Her tight black jumpsuit frames every curve of her body.
 
Next to her is a man dressed as Batman, and next to him is a man in all orange.
 
There is a shackle around his right ankle and handcuffs around his left wrist only. I hadn’t noticed that earlier.

I walk up slowly behind him, brushing my shoulder softly against his as I squeeze my way between him and Batman, breaking them apart.

“Excuse me, beautiful,” Batman says to me.
 
I don’t pay him any attention, flipping my fire-red hair off my right shoulder, and exposing my long neck to Parker.

Someone is clearing his throat.
 
I’m not sure if Parker recognizes me, but if he does he doesn’t indicate it.

Ignoring those around me, and not paying attention to the others trying to get the bartender’s attention, I speak loudly, giving the good-looking gentleman my drink order.
 
“I’ll take a glass of Brut, please.”
 
It’s not your fancy champagne, but it’s cheap, which is all I care about.
 
I can’t drink it, but it helps me get Parker’s attention.
 
I’ll give the drink to Shannon or Genna.

I don’t know if this is an open bar or not, so I open my clutch to grab some cash when I see someone lay a twenty on the bar top.

“Thanks.”

I want to play hard to get with Parker, or at least see how long it takes for him to recognize me.
 
My fire red wig is long and curly and my makeup is extra thick, playing up the cartoon look.
 
I have on purple eyeshadow, multiple layers of mascara and eyeliner, and bright red lipstick.
 
Completing my Jessica Rabbit look is a long, red, strapless sequined dress, slit to mid-thigh, and purple over-the-elbow gloves.
 
It’s sexy, yet classy.

Genna gave me a necklace to help camouflage my chemo port and applied a little makeup to help it blend.
 
No one will notice unless they specifically look for it.

When the bartender gives me my champagne, I rest the flute between my fingers, allowing the bubbles to settle.
 
Looking across the bar, I notice the men on the other side stop their conversation and watch me.
 
I like the power I have over them, and only hope I’m giving Parker the same feeling.

I turn to my right slightly, giving Parker a glimpse of me, and give him a wink. He gives me a slow, sexy grin.
Turning all the way around, I come face to face with him, thanks to my high heels, and lean toward his ear.
 
“It looks as if someone has been a bad boy,” I whisper softly which causes him to groan in response.

I’ve never said those words to anyone before, and I silently thank Jessica for giving me the extra courage.

Parker reaches out to grab my waist, but I move out of his grasp to lean back against the bar.
 
His eyes roam slowly over my body, taking in every inch and curve.
 
When he meets my twinkling eyes, I can see the passion in his own; the consent.

Parker brings his hand back to my waist, gripping tightly, and pulls me roughly back into him.
 
He has no shame about showing those around us that I am his.

His.
 
I like the sound of that.

“You have no idea how bad a boy I’ve been,” he says seductively as he looks at my lips.
 
Not caring who is around us, I bring my mouth up to his, but wait to bring them together.
 
We’ve never kissed in public before, but I don’t care anymore.
 
I’m tired of pretending.
 
I’m tired of being his friend.
 
I want more.

I need more.
 
And I don’t care who knows.
 
Not anymore.

I brush my lips against his and run my tongue along his bottom lip before pulling it between my teeth and biting down gently.
 
All thoughts of people watching us are out of my mind.
 
It’s just us.
 
It has only ever been us.