Jenna gasped, smashing her hand over her mouth. “Cancer?”
My mom burst into tears.
Cobie’s Gramps asked, “What are they going to do.”
She couldn’t speak. I spoke for her, “Nothing. Cobie and I made the decision against treatment. Treatment meant losing Londyn and that was not an option for us.” I brushed a tear away. “We are going to cherish these next few months and enjoying being a family.”
Carrie wrapped her arms around Cobie’s legs. “Few months?”
Cobie took a few deep breaths and between cries said, “Yes, mom. I have Osteosarcoma. It is a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. I have a year at most but Dr. Emmons said with my pregnancy the cancer would most likely progress faster than normal.”
“How long Cobie?” Larkin asked, his voice weak.
“Dr. Emmons thinks maybe a few months after Londyn is born.”
Larkin wrapped Jenna in his arms as they both cried. Jenna looked up, her eyes meeting mine. For the first time it didn’t hurt to look at her. What hurt was knowing the girl I had my arms wrapped around wouldn’t be here this time next year. I thought my heart was broken when Jenna left. No. That pain was nothing compared to what I’ve been feeling these past few weeks.
Carrie covered her face. “No. I don’t believe it. You’re too damn young. I already lost your father. I can’t lose you too. There has to be something.”
Cobie ran her hand over her mom’s shaking head. “Mom, stop. I don’t want to spend these next few months angry. I have every right to be pissed at the world and turn my back on God. But, then I look at all of you and I feel Londyn moving around and I can’t be upset. I’m surrounded by those I love and I’m going to be a mom. That is something I always wanted and I get it. I’m scared. We all are. That won’t change anything. What’s going to happen will happen weather we are sad, mad, or glad. The fact is- Cobie’s voice shook- I’m going to die, soon. I want the months I do have to be good, happy memories. I don’t want cancer defining my life.”
My dad had been quiet the whole time, slowly rubbing my mom’s back. His deep voice startled me when he said, “Okay then. That is what we will do.” My dad looked at everyone is this room before he went on, “This isn’t about us. And, we would be selfish assholes if we didn’t respect what you’re asking. We all love you and Gage and support whatever decisions you two make.”
Smiling my thank you to my dad I added, “We both understand what we just threw at you. We are still trying to cope with it. We don’t want cancer to be our focus. We want life and Londyn to be are focus.
Cancer.
That one single word destroyed my family, my life. I hated it. It wasn’t fair. No one should have to go through this. Especially a young, healthy, beautiful women who was about to have my baby. I wanted everyone to believe that I was accepting reality. But, truth was, my anger was only growing.
The night was spent discussing what Dr. Emmons had told us and what our plans were.
We were all hurt. We were all pissed. We were all angry. We were all confused.
Fuck Cancer.
10
Cobie
I needed to get away, I needed to think. There was so much going on and it was only going to get worse. After everyone left all my emotions came to the surface. I needed some air. Somehow Gage and I would have to figure this out.
“Cobie, wait up!” I heard Gage yelling.
Stopping I kicked a few rocks with my boots, waiting for him to catch up.
Once he was close he started walking and dug his hand into his jeans pocket. Pulling out a small velvet box. He handed it to me but never said a word.
Taking the box from Gage I slowly opened it and was surprised to find a gorgeous ring inside. Snapping it shut I handed it back to him, shaking my head profusely. “Gage, what the hell are you thinking? We aren’t even dating!”
Gage smiled. “Cobie, relax! I know we are not together, we are friends. This is a promise ring. Not like the usual promise of one day I’ll marry you but a promise that I will always be here.”
Gage opened the box again and slid the ring out. It was a simple platinum band covered in pave setting diamonds with a round garnet that was surrounded by diamonds. “Co, I promise that no matter what we are in this together. I promise to you and our daughter to be the father she deserves. I promise that whatever happens our daughter will come first. Cobie, we may not be in love but we will share a love that no one else ever will. We have the love of our baby and I promise to love you both until they put my old cranky ass in the ground. I promise- Gage’s voice broke- that when you’re gone I will share silly stories with our baby. She will know how beautiful her mom was and what an amazing person he mom was. I promise to never let her go a day without telling her how much you love her.”
Gage lifted my left hand and slipped the ring onto my ring finger. Holding both his hands I said, “Gage, thank you. I don’t know how I would have done this or gone through this without you. You had every chance to run but you stayed. Very easily you can have said screw it and walked away. Knowing I will be leaving our daughter with you makes this journey a little easier. I will always be with you helping you raise her.” Looking at my ring, shining bright in the setting sun I asked, “Why did you get a red stone?”
Gage smiled and said, “It’s a garnet, Londyn’s birthstone.”
Staring at my new ring I couldn’t help the smile that crept across my face. Lifting my left hand I cupped Gage’s face. “You can be such an egotistical ass to the outside world but the real Gage Tucker is one of the sweetest guys I know. Thank you for this, for everything. One things for sure though,”
Tilting his head and letting that shit eating grin take over his face Gage played dumb. “What’s that?”
Running my thumb across his lips I said, “The sex is amazing.”
Gage winked when he said, “Yeah that is very true. But you sure are loud.”
Pouting playfully I said, “I’ve never heard you complain.”
Leaning his head back Gage laughed. “No, no I haven’t.”
Gage lifted me up and put his arm under my legs. Walking back in the direction of our house he said, “Maybe we should start practicing on you being quiet now. I’ve heard practice makes perfect.”
Tilting my head back to see Gage’s eyes I could see how dark and intense they were. They always got that dark stormy sea blue when he was turned on.
Joking I said, “I’ll see what I can do, but I’m not making any promises.”
Nothing else was said until we were in the house. Gage laid me on the couch then slowly lowered himself over me. I grabbed his strong arms and felt them flexing the lower he got, holding himself up. Hearing the deep growl that came from Gage had me squirming, trying to ease the ache between my legs. Reaching between us I felt Gage’s hardness pressed against his jeans. I quickly unbuttoned his jeans and slid my hand inside. Once my hand was wrapped around his erection Gage rested his forehead on mine. “Fuck, Co! Lay down. Now!”
Removing my hand, I did what Gage said. He softly kissed up my leg and up my swollen belly. Stopping just at my belly button and whispering, “Daddy loves you.” He looked through his lashed at me before continuing back down my other leg.
Gage’s hand found its way back up my leg and under my dress. He lightly rubbed over my panties causing me to groan. I had a love/hate relationship with these little games he liked to play. Turning me on then making me wait or teasing me to the point of screaming.
“Is this what you want?” Gage asked in his deep, raspy voice.
Looking up I saw Gage standing. He had his had wrapped around his large dick, rubbing up and down.