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There’s nothing I can do aboutanywhere Neither are Stevie and Sutton, who have been long-standing in my life

But Garrett is a bit different He’s new to my life, and while I care for him deeply, as deeply as I’ve ever felt for a etting involved with hihts on h school, and he picked sonaws at me and I feel incredibly selfish And if I’ this way for a while Ever since Garrett wigged out over o of that selfishness, because as shallow as it ht make me feel, Garrett provides er to face each day with joy At tih it ive hiuilt for now

Chapter 25

Garrett

I knock on Olivia’s apart ht in I hear move a quick glance at my watch

The door opens and Olivia’s eyes are round with surprise A s beautiful--and she says, "What are you doing here?"

Stepping in, I reach behind her head and pull her close for a kiss It’s a sweet kiss, because we had a pretty passionate, alet-a-quick-fuck-in kiss not but a half hour ago when I left her apart practice, and Olivia was getting in the shower because she had an appoint one Having finished her third cycle of treatment last week, this was the midway-point evaluation She had a CT scan done yesterday and et the results

And I just couldn’t--not in good conscience--let her go by herself Not that she really needed soet results and ensure they were on the right path In fact, Olivia put everyone off…telling me, Stevie, and Sutton she could handle this one on her own She was bri with confidence and hope that today’s appointood news

I, on the other hand, knew there was a possibility of bad news, so despite her assurances, I felt that Olivia needed soh before I turned around and headed back I put in a quick call to Coach Pretore, told hi and that I wouldn’t make practice It was a complete and utter lie…the first I’ve ever told to him The first time I’ve ever missed a practice inas my illness, because I’ve actually played sick with colds and flu symptoms before, and Pretore would know that it would take a lot to knockout of both ends and no way I could even think about uilt about it either as I headed o with you to see Dr Yoffman," I tell her with a smile

"But you have practice," she says with confusion as she pulls away from me

"Yeah…well, I called in sick for the day," I say with a cheeky grin "This was o"

Olivia’s eyes harden and her lips flatten out in censure "No, Garrett This isn’ta practice That’s your job You just can’t call in sick"

Shrugging, I give her lackadaisical smile "People call in sick all the tirits out "You have obligations"

Reaching out, I placesqueeze "I know But I have an obligation to you as well"

Olivia shrugs, dislodging my hands She steps back and she looks pissed "I don’t want to be an obligation to you, Garrett"

Sighing in frustration, I scrub a hand through my hair "Listen…I didn’t mean it that way I just meant that you are as i maybe more so, and that there are times when you will take priority over it This is one of those times"

"No, it’s not one of those tiround "It’s a freakin’ follow-up appointment It probably won’t last ten minutes I don’t need you or anyone there withpissed Foolish, hardheaded wo her in close to me I lean down and practically touch o anywhere other than in a locked position on mine, I tell her quietly, "Olivia…baby…this is more than just a follow-up It’s where we find out how you are responding to treathter, so I’ood news, puppies, and rainbows But in the off chance it’s not e’re expecting, I want to be there with you You need o soft, lih of resignation "I just don’t like disrupting your career"