Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
And just for a couple of hours, I didn’t feel quite so alone.
CHAPTER 8
June
“Ididn’t even think,” Chris said as he and Emma followed me down the hallway. I’d requested sick buckets and water to be brought down to the movie room too.
My stomach turned when I recalled the conversation I’d had with my daddy when I woke this morning. I had thought of Jesse often the past few days—of course I had. In fact, I hadn’t stopped thinking about him since treatment began. He was alone in his room, and I hated that but didn’t want to impose myself on him.
According to my daddy, in his own words, “I sat with Jesse for a few hours yesterday. Killed me to see him all by himself. Y’all are meant to be there for each other. No one going through this should be alone. Jesse is a good kid, kind and friendly. If his family can’t be here for him, then we will be.”
My heart had beat in double time when my daddy had said that, conviction on his face. My daddy liked Jesse, I could tell, and that made my heart sing. So this morning, despite the aches and pains and feeling nauseous, I’d gone to find Chris and Emma to see if they wanted to come with me. Neenee had told us that leaning on others in the same position was beneficial, so that’s what I was doing. We were on a rest period and needed to rally.
Daddy told me he had already seen Jesse in the movie room again a half hour ago, so that’s where I knew I had to be too. As we rounded the corner to the movie room, Gladiator was playing on the big screen. Jesse was laid back on a recliner, his glass of water and nutritional drink beside him. I sat next to him, and Jesse did a double take.
“Junebug?” he said in shock. Then looked up to see Chris and Emma taking their seats too.
“Mind if we join you?” I asked.
Chris held out his fist for Jesse to bump.
Emma waved. “Hey, Jesse.”
“What are you doing here?” Jesse asked. His green eyes scanned me just as thoroughly as the MRI machine Dr. Duncan made us go in. “Are you feeling okay? How are you coping? Do you need to go to bed and rest?”
He was so considerate. And I noticed that as much as he was asking us all, it was mostly directed at me.
Feeling bold, I laid my hand over his. “I’m okay. Being sick, feeling tired, the usual.” I shrugged. “But I—we—wanted to be here with you.”
Jesse tipped his head to the side as he observed me. Understanding lit his eyes. “Your dad told you where I’ve been.”
I squeezed his hand, blushing when he flipped his hand and linked his fingers with mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. I inhaled a stuttered breath. Why did my body feel this way when he touched me? I couldn’t explain the pull. “He mentioned it, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking of you too.” It took be a whole lot of courage to admit that out loud.
My throat thickened as I watched Jesse’s eyes shine with unshed tears. “Thank you, Junebug,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. You’re not alone, I wanted to add, but I didn’t have the courage just yet to express that sentiment. Not with Emma and Chris here too.
“Gladiator,” Chris said excitedly. “Good choice, Jess.”
Jesse smiled. “I figured I’d make use of the movie room until classes start and we’re forced to endure both sickness and math.” He smiled, and it was the cheeky grin I loved on him. “Though I’m not sure what will make me more nauseous, chemo or algebraic equations.”
“Amen to that, brother,” Chris said, and pretended to high five Jesse from a few seats away.
“Hey!” Emma said, like she was offended on math’s behalf. “What did algebraic equations ever do to you?”
“Err…exist,” Chris said, and I burst out laughing. He regarded Emma with incredulity. “Don’t tell me you’re a math nerd, Em?”
Emma straightened her shoulders. “Mathlete regional champion, three years in a row,” she said smugly. I already knew this. Emma had shown me pictures of her and her classmates holding the trophy when I was hanging out in her room.
Chris groaned. “June, tell me math doesn’t have your love too.”
I felt the heat of Jesse’s stare, and he squeezed the hand that was still in his. I didn’t think he planned to let go anytime soon. “Afraid not. Words are my drug of choice.”
Chris groaned again, making us all chuckle. “I’m not sure that’s any better.”
Chris motioned from him to Jesse, then to me and Emma. “Jocks and nerds coexisting in Harmony. Who said adversity couldn’t unite people?”