Free Love Always, Kate by D.nichole King Page B
Authors: D.nichole King
closed, I took several deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Damian’s chest rose and fell heavily, his heart thudding.
He didn’t look up, he just held me close, every so often kissing my neck. Time passed, and silence filled the room as the fire began to die down.
Chapter 8
November 28
Dear Diary,
My immune system is worthless. Apparently, I’ve caught the Thanksgiving flu everyone at school has. They’ll get over it in a few days. I’ll be stuck with it till May—if I’m lucky.
After my amazing date with Damian last nig ht, I came home and went to bed. I awoke a dozen times in the middle of the night feeling like I’d fallen off a three-story building. It’s been the same routine with every round of chemo. I get sick from the treatment, then I feel better because of all the pill-popping. After my immune system has been destroyed, I catch a virus I can’t kick. You’d think I’d be used to it by now—I wish.
I tossed and turned most of the night, dreaming about Damian and our fire-lit dinner. And , of course, about his lips on mine. I don’t have much experience in that department, but holy cow, he’s an amazing kisser! There’s no way it can get any better than that! It’s easy to get lost in him.
I couldn’t conjure up the nerve to ask about the bra on his bedroom floor. Stupid, I know. Disastrous, maybe. But how was I supposed to ruin the moment?
I’ll ask. I have to, no matter how scared I am of his answer.
I tucked my diary under the pillow. Last night’s date with Damian ran through my mind, making me smile.
If only this stupid flu hadn’t come on !
~*~
It was past noon already. The sun hung high in the sky, peeking through the curtains. My entire body ached. I’d lost everything in my stomach in the middle of the night. A half-drunk glass of water sat on my nightstand, mocking me. My mouth felt full of cotton, but if 5 AM was any indication, I wouldn’t be able to keep down the other half, either.
The irresistible water called my name, though. My throat burned . I snatched the glass and drank the rest in one swig. It felt heavenly going down; the glass emptied too fast. I swung my legs over the side of my bed and wobbled to the bathroom down the hall.
“Hey, h oney,” Mom greeted me. She took the glass from me and placed her palm against my forehead. “You’re warm. Definitely not from the chemo. I’ll get you more water. Go back to bed.”
I nodded, mumbled a “thank you” and turned around. My legs almost gave out, and I had to cling to my bed so I wouldn’t collapse to the floor. When I crawled between the sheets, I felt like I had just run the Boston Marathon. Not like I knew what that would feel like.
I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow, groaning. It wasn’t long before I heard my mom enter and set the glass by the bed. She kissed the top of my head then closed the door behind her. I hated that this was a normal routine in our home.
The glass sat untouched , no longer sweet-talking me. It took too much energy to roll over and reach for it. My eyelids started to fall. Sleep would be blissful, and I wanted nothing more than to drift off. I was almost asleep when my phone rang. Fumbling, I grabbed it off the pillow and squinted at the screen. If the number hadn’t belonged to Damian, I wouldn’t have answered.
“Hey.” I tried to sound chipper.
“Did I wake you?” Oh, how I missed that voice.
Talking hurt my throat. It took effort to push the words out; a few seconds of conversation left me breathless, but I didn’t want him to hang up. His voice was already soothing me.
“I… uh. No, I’m still awake.”
“Still?”
“No. I…I’ve been asleep. And…” My throat scratched.
“ Kate, are you okay?”
I sighed. “I have the flu. No big deal.” I coughed.
“Flu?”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me through the phone. “Yeah. It hit in the middle of the night. It’s okay,
He didn’t look up, he just held me close, every so often kissing my neck. Time passed, and silence filled the room as the fire began to die down.
Chapter 8
November 28
Dear Diary,
My immune system is worthless. Apparently, I’ve caught the Thanksgiving flu everyone at school has. They’ll get over it in a few days. I’ll be stuck with it till May—if I’m lucky.
After my amazing date with Damian last nig ht, I came home and went to bed. I awoke a dozen times in the middle of the night feeling like I’d fallen off a three-story building. It’s been the same routine with every round of chemo. I get sick from the treatment, then I feel better because of all the pill-popping. After my immune system has been destroyed, I catch a virus I can’t kick. You’d think I’d be used to it by now—I wish.
I tossed and turned most of the night, dreaming about Damian and our fire-lit dinner. And , of course, about his lips on mine. I don’t have much experience in that department, but holy cow, he’s an amazing kisser! There’s no way it can get any better than that! It’s easy to get lost in him.
I couldn’t conjure up the nerve to ask about the bra on his bedroom floor. Stupid, I know. Disastrous, maybe. But how was I supposed to ruin the moment?
I’ll ask. I have to, no matter how scared I am of his answer.
I tucked my diary under the pillow. Last night’s date with Damian ran through my mind, making me smile.
If only this stupid flu hadn’t come on !
~*~
It was past noon already. The sun hung high in the sky, peeking through the curtains. My entire body ached. I’d lost everything in my stomach in the middle of the night. A half-drunk glass of water sat on my nightstand, mocking me. My mouth felt full of cotton, but if 5 AM was any indication, I wouldn’t be able to keep down the other half, either.
The irresistible water called my name, though. My throat burned . I snatched the glass and drank the rest in one swig. It felt heavenly going down; the glass emptied too fast. I swung my legs over the side of my bed and wobbled to the bathroom down the hall.
“Hey, h oney,” Mom greeted me. She took the glass from me and placed her palm against my forehead. “You’re warm. Definitely not from the chemo. I’ll get you more water. Go back to bed.”
I nodded, mumbled a “thank you” and turned around. My legs almost gave out, and I had to cling to my bed so I wouldn’t collapse to the floor. When I crawled between the sheets, I felt like I had just run the Boston Marathon. Not like I knew what that would feel like.
I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow, groaning. It wasn’t long before I heard my mom enter and set the glass by the bed. She kissed the top of my head then closed the door behind her. I hated that this was a normal routine in our home.
The glass sat untouched , no longer sweet-talking me. It took too much energy to roll over and reach for it. My eyelids started to fall. Sleep would be blissful, and I wanted nothing more than to drift off. I was almost asleep when my phone rang. Fumbling, I grabbed it off the pillow and squinted at the screen. If the number hadn’t belonged to Damian, I wouldn’t have answered.
“Hey.” I tried to sound chipper.
“Did I wake you?” Oh, how I missed that voice.
Talking hurt my throat. It took effort to push the words out; a few seconds of conversation left me breathless, but I didn’t want him to hang up. His voice was already soothing me.
“I… uh. No, I’m still awake.”
“Still?”
“No. I…I’ve been asleep. And…” My throat scratched.
“ Kate, are you okay?”
I sighed. “I have the flu. No big deal.” I coughed.
“Flu?”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me through the phone. “Yeah. It hit in the middle of the night. It’s okay,