Leave The City (Book 8 of Adopted by the Josephs)

66. Samantha

I had an MRI later in the afternoon when I woke up in the hospital. Considering how shitty everything had been, I fully expected the worst. What else could it be? 

Dylan was awesome though. He was by my side the whole time. Well, except in the MRI. Obviously.

When I was back in my room, I curled up on my bed and just tried not to cry. Dad, Mom, and Dylan tried to keep my spirits up. I couldn't fault them, but I wasn't in any mood to be anywhere close to happy.

Uncle Brendon and Aunt Sarah brought Junie and Rosie to visit. I tried to be more upbeat for them, but it was hard.

"Mama sayed you had a sick," Junie said to me from my side.

"Yeah," I said. Rosie frowned at me.

"Sammy, don't be sad," she said. "You are okay.  You're not sick now."

"We'll see," I muttered.

"Sam," Dylan said. "I'm gonna run home, grab a shower and come back, okay?"

"Sure," I said. He'd leave and not come back. The sick girlfriend isn't the girlfriend every guy looks forward to. He'll use it as an excuse to break up with me. No one wants a complicated relationship with an unknown outcome. And besides. We're only 18. He can find someone else when I'm gone.

He kissed my cheek and hugged my head.

"I swear, shower and back. Want me to grab you a coffee or anything?" Dylan said to me.

"I'm fine," I said.

"Hey," Dylan said, trying to make me look at him. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," I said, my voice shaking and tears coming to my eyes. I didn't want to hear it. I'd pretend everything was fine until it was obvious he wasn't coming back. Arms wrapped around me.

"Hey, yeah there is," he whispered in my ear. "I don't have to go home right now. I can stay. I just thought you'd like a less stinky version of me."

"Go. It's fine," I said. As much as I wanted to prolong it, I didn't want to wait unnecessarily. Tears slipped from my eyes and I tried to hide the sob that was building. I tried to pass it off as a cough.

"Sam?" Dylan sat up straight. Mom was in my face, looking worried. Dad was behind her.

"Sweetheart!" Mom exclaimed. "What's the matter? Sam? Come on, honey. Talk to us."

I shook my head. I didn't want to say it out loud. It would make it real. He'd have to confirm it. And I don't know if I have the strength to handle both cancer and Dylan breaking up with me.

"Sam," Dad said. "Honey, it's okay, you can tell us. We're right here. What's the matter. Are you in pain?"

Yes. I'm in pain. My heart is breaking. But if I don't tell you, Dylan can't confirm it and I can pretend. Just for a little while longer.

Even if I wanted to tell you, I can't. I'm sobbing too hard. Mom was holding my hands with one of hers and running her fingers through my hair.

"Okay," she was saying. "You get this out. Take your time. Then, if you want, you can tell us what's going on, okay?"

Dad was sitting just behind Mom. Someone was curled into my back. I turned my head and saw Dylan laying beside me, his head in his hand, held up by his elbow. He was smiling at me. I turned onto my back.

"Hi there," he grinned at me.

"You stayed?" I asked, tears threatening again.

"Of course I did. Sam, you were so upset when I said I was going to go home and shower, I couldn't leave you feeling miserable. I won't go home until you are okay with it," he kissed my forehead. "Ew. Sweaty."