The Bucket List

Chapter four

Chapter four

Aaron

My mom visited me the next morning and was shocked when Toby told her how he had found me. She'd disappeared somewhere in the hospital Searching for someone to complain to hours ago, I felt bad for whoever got stuck with her.

Toby was still in my room. He had spent the night and was still cradling me, brushing my hair with a brush. I buried my face in his neck and wondered if this was a relationship. It would check off my list.

A sour filling formed in my belly. Was this even fair to him? To confess I liked him then die three months later?

Toby must've sensed I wasn't into it anymore and set the brush down before placing a hand on my cheek as I pulled away. "What's wrong?"

"I feel guilty." I confess.

Pressing his forehead to mine I felt his breath rush over my face in a minty attack from his tooth paste. "What's wrong?"

I wrapped my arms around my waist and averted my eyes. "I feel like I'm cheating you by dying."

He pinched my cheek playfully, forcing to look into his hardened eyes. "I'm not cheated. I'm doing this because I want to." He cracks a smile as strokes my cheek. "Live each day as if it's your last, pet. Enjoy it."

"Any day could be my last." I huff. "Pet?"

He pinches my cheek again. "Don't be like that. It's like a pet-name you know? Pet, ha, like pet name, but pet. I'm funny you see?"

My heart warms, and I smile. "Does that mean I make one for you?"

"You could try, I'm too manly for a pet name."

"Poofta."

"You're serious?"

"Dead."

He grins. "Pet and poofta. We're an odd couple."

I felt my heart flutter. Gosh, my heart does a lot doesn't it? "We're a couple?"

"Only if you want to, if you don't mind a fatass." He grinned.

"Don't curse." I chided. "You're not fat, I like that your not a hotdog on steroids."

"I like hotdogs." He muses before pressing his nose to mine. "Would you be my boyfriend and help me cross one off the list?"

"I'd love to." I giggle. Toby leaned in and I knew he was going to kiss me. Before he could I covered my mouth so his lips landed on my hand. "I don't want my first kiss to be in a hospital."

He only grins. "Of course not, pet."

"My baby is growing up too fast." A wistful voice sighs from the door.

"Why are you here, Tabya?" Tony hisses.

The woman who I saw the first night at Toby's house now stood at my room's door in tight jeans and a crop shirt that went to her belly button. "I wanted to see where my little brother was." She turns to me and winks. "How ya doing?"

"Better."

She nods and makes her way over, making me feel awkward on Toby's lap. Toby grips my hips firmly but gently when I try to slide off, assuring a safe fall to the mattress. What a scary two inch fall, thank goodness Toby was there to save me!

Tabya takes a seat in my moms waiting chair and playfully pokes around my night stand. Toby and I watch her silently as she gets up and prods around, at least she's harmless.

"I hate hospitals, it reminds me of our mother." Tabya sighs.

Toby doesn't react only shrugs. "Well she did die in one."