The Exception Read online

  “Actually, I met a woman in Hawaii.”

  “Damn, you work fast.” He winked.

  “She sat next to me on the plane from Seattle to LAX, we had dinner at the airport together, and then I switched seats so I could sit next to her to Hawaii. Coincidentally, she ended up staying at the same hotel.”

  Liam narrowed his eye at me. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”

  “Yep. On my last night there after I broke up with Jess. It wasn’t planned. It just happened. I really like her a lot.”

  “Okay. So where’s she from? Did you get her number?”

  “Life is a little complicated for her right now.”

  “How so?”

  “She comes from a very controlling family and she left her fiancé at the altar on their wedding day to go on a journey of self-discovery. So I have no clue where she went when she left Hawaii.”

  The waitress walked over and cleared our plates from the table.

  “Can I get you anything else?”

  “Another round of scotch for me and my friend.”

  “Coming right up.” She winked at me.

  “I think someone likes you.” Liam smirked.

  I rolled my eyes. “I can’t even explain the connection I felt with Jillian. I don’t know, man. I’ve never felt like this before towards someone. It’s really bothering me.”

  “Sounds to me like you’re in love. Maybe for the first real time in your life.” He smiled.

  “I don’t know. But what I do know is that I want to see her again. I gave her my number before I left in case she ever needed anything.”

  “Maybe that was her who called.”

  “Nah. It didn’t sound like her at all. She’s never going to call and I just need to accept that. She’s doing her own thing and finding herself. I’m sure she hasn’t even given me another thought.”

  “I’m sorry, man, but chin up. There’s plenty of other women in the world who would love to go out with you.”

  “What if I would have said that to you about Avery?” I picked up my drink.

  His narrowed eye continued to stare at me for a moment. “It’s that serious?”

  “It is.”

  ****

  Jillian

  I awoke to my ringing phone, and when I looked at the clock, it was six thirty a.m.

  “Noah, what’s wrong?” I asked.

  “I brought Kristen to the ER a couple of hours ago. She had a fever of 104.9 and she was hallucinating.”

  “I’m on my way. Which hospital are you at?”

  “Mount Sinai. Text me when you get here and I’ll find you. I think they’re getting ready to take her up to a room.”

  “Okay.”

  I quickly jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and ran a brush through my hair. Grabbing my purse, I flew out the door and hailed a cab.

  “Mount Sinai,” I told the cab driver as I climbed inside.

  A nervous feeling ran deep inside me. I was scared for my sister and my nerves were getting the best of me.

  “Can you please step on it!” I yelled.

  “Lady, this is New York traffic. What do you want me to do?”

  “I’m sorry. I just need to get to my sister.”

  Finally, we made it to the hospital and the cab driver dropped me off in front of the ER. I handed him some money, and when I walked through the doors, I sent Noah a text message. After pacing around the lobby for what seemed like forever, the elevator doors opened and Noah stepped out.

  “How is she?”

  “She’s resting and they have her on some strong antibiotics. The doctor said she has a bacterial infection and he’s calling her oncologist.”

  “She was fine yesterday,” I spoke.

  “I know. It was shortly after we got home from your place that she said she was really tired and not feeling well.”

  Hooking my arm around him, we took the elevator up to the third floor where her room was. When I walked in, she slowly opened her eyes and a small smile crossed her lips.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked as I walked over and took hold of her hand.

  “Like shit. But I’m glad you’re here.”

  “There’s nowhere else I’d be.” I gently gave her hand a squeeze.

  After talking with her for a few minutes, she started to close her eyes.

  “You get some rest. I’m going to grab a coffee. Noah, why don’t you go home and get some sleep. You look tired and I’m here. She’s probably going to be out for a while.”

  “I don’t want to leave her, Jill.”

  “Then sleep in the chair for a bit. Okay?”

  “Yeah. Maybe I will. Thanks.”

  Walking down the hallway, I found a waiting room with a coffee machine. After inserting some money, I pushed the button and waited patiently for the cup to drop.

  “Really?” I said out loud as no cup appeared.

  I wasn’t in the mood for this shit, so I banged the machine.

  “Consider yourself lucky. That machine has the worst coffee,” a nurse spoke as she walked up next to me. “You can grab some in the cafeteria. In fact, I’m heading down there now and I can show you the way.”

  “Thank you. I’m sorry for banging on the machine.”

  “Please, honey. Don’t apologize. Those machines deserve to be beat on every once in a while. I’m Andrea. I saw you and Noah walking into Kristen’s room. Are you a friend?”

  “I’m Jillian and I’m her sister.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jillian. Your sister is a wonderful girl.”

  “You know her?” I asked as we stepped into the cafeteria.

  “I’m usually her nurse when she comes in for her chemo treatments. Today was supposed to be my day off, but they had quite a few call ins and asked if I could help out. I never turn down overtime.” She smiled. “I’ve never seen you here with your sister. Are you from out of town?” she asked as she grabbed a bagel.

  I was starving and they did look good, so I grabbed one as well.

  “I lived in Seattle and I just moved to New York last week.”

  “Welcome to New York.” She smiled. “Would you like to join me?”

  “Sure.” I paid for my coffee and bagel and the two of us took a seat at a small table by the window.

  There was something about Andrea that made me feel very comfortable. I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it, but she was one of those people that you could just instantly connect with.

  “Did you move here with someone?” she asked.

  “No. I moved here alone. My life is a little complicated at the moment.”

  Why did I just tell her that?

  “Isn’t everyone’s life a little complicated from time to time?” she smiled.

  “Yeah. Maybe.”

  After talking for a while and finishing our bagel and coffee, we headed back up to the third floor. When I walked into Kristen’s room, she was awake.

  “Hey, you. Where were you?”

  “I was in the cafeteria having breakfast with your nurse, Andrea.”

  “I’m glad you met her. I knew you’d like her.”

  Just as Noah woke up, Kristen’s doctor walked in.

  “So, missy. It looks like you have a bacterial infection, eh?”

  “That’s what they tell me, Dr. Jenkins.”

  “Your immune system is down from the chemo and radiation. I know you have an appointment on Monday for another scan, but since you’re here, we might as well do it now. Are you okay with that?”

  “Do I have a choice?” Kristen smirked.

  “No. Not really. I’ll go order it and someone will be here soon to take you down.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll talk to you later.”

  After he walked out of the room, Andrea walked in with a warm blanket and draped it over Kristen.

  “There you go, honey. We need to keep you nice and warm.”

  “Thanks, Andrea. By the way, how’s your son and girlfriend doing?�
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  “Oh, good news. He finally dumped her. Hearing him say that was music to my ears.” She winked before leaving the room.

  “Sounds like everyone is getting dumped these days.” I laughed.

  “She couldn’t stand that woman. On my chemo days, she’d tell me how much of a bitch she was and that her son could do so much better. She couldn’t understand what he saw in her besides her big fake tits.” She laughed. “Her words, not mine.”

  It wasn’t too long before the transporter walked into the room and took Kristen for her scan. Noah went with her and I stayed back in the room and waited for them. Pulling out my phone, I decided to give Kellan a call to tell him about Kristen and to ask how his mom was doing. But before I could dial him, like an idiot, I opened up my photos and stared at the selfie Drew and I took after we swam with the dolphins. My heart started to ache and I hated the sadness that overtook me every time I looked at that damn picture.

  “You okay, honey?” Andrea asked as she walked into the room.

  Closing out of the picture, I looked up at her, and instead of saying a simple yes, words just came falling out of my mouth.

  “I don’t know. I met this guy when I was on a trip and I can’t stop thinking about him. It’s like he’s in my head twenty-four hours a day.”

  “Where’s he from?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t ask and I didn’t want to know because I’m not in the dating zone, so to speak. I’m rediscovering myself and there’s no room in my life for a man right now.”

  “May I ask why you’re rediscovering yourself?”

  “Long story. My parents are very rich and influential. They molded me into someone I’m not nor do I want to be. I ran away.” I looked down. “And I’m never going back.”

  “Kristen never mentioned that about her parents.”

  “That’s because Kristen and I only share the same father. A father who paid her mother off never to tell anyone who her father is. He’s never acknowledged her and he’s never met her.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’ve only known that I had a sister for a couple of years and that’s only because she found me.”

  Andrea walked over and sat on the edge of the bed next to me.

  “What have you found out so far about yourself?” she asked as she placed her hand on mine.

  “That I love being on my own but also that I have this need to feel safe. The guy I was talking about earlier made me feel that way. Even though I’d only known him for a few days, it felt like I’d known him for years. He made me feel secure, even though I had always thought I felt it. But apparently, I didn’t.”

  “Sounds like you’re in love with this man.” She smiled.

  “How could I be? I barely know him.”

  “Doesn’t matter, honey. You don’t have to know him to feel it. It’s instant chemistry, divine intervention, soul mates. Whatever you want to call it, it’s just there. My thought on the whole thing is if you’re meant to be together, you will be. Maybe not now, or next year, but some time in this life.” She winked. “I have to go check on my patients. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Thanks, Andrea.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

  I stayed with Kristen the rest of the day until she kicked me out and ordered me to go home.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow.” I kissed her forehead.

  “Looking forward to it.” She smiled.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jillian

  The next day, as I was arranging the bouquet of flowers I picked up for Kristen, Dr. Jenkins walked in. I swallowed hard when I saw the look on his face.

  “I have the results of your scan, Kristen,” he softly spoke.

  Noah and I both grabbed hold of her hands while we waited for the doctor to give her the results.

  “How long do I have?” she bravely asked.

  “Anywhere from six to nine months. But nine months is stretching it. The cancer has spread to other areas of the brain.”

  It felt like the air had been knocked out of me and to breathe was nearly impossible. Tears started to stream down Noah’s face, and as I looked at Kristen, she remained composed and calm, as if she already knew what he was going to say.

  “Thank you, Dr. Jenkins,” she spoke. “I know you’ve done everything you could.”

  “Again, I’m sorry. You’re far too young to have to go through this. You can go home tomorrow, but you’ll still need to be on antibiotics for the bacterial infection,” he spoke before walking out of the room.

  Tears started to pour from my eyes. I knew I needed to be strong for her, but I couldn’t be. This was too much of a shock. Noah buried his head into her arm and sobbed. The only one in the room who wasn’t crying was Kristen and I couldn’t understand why. Maybe it hadn’t hit her yet.

  “I’m so sorry.” I bawled like a baby.

  “The two of you have about five minutes left of crying time and then it stops. I was prepared for this. I knew deep down that I wasn’t going to get better. I made peace with it already and I need you both to do the same. I’m not afraid to die.”

  After drying my eyes, I stepped out of the room to give her and Noah time alone. Walking out of the hospital, I put on my sunglasses and took a seat on a bench underneath a large tree. The tears wouldn’t stop falling and I had never felt so alone. She was my sister, she was dying, and I had no one to talk to, right here, right now. I tried to call Kellan and he didn’t answer, so I pulled up Drew’s number. He said if I ever needed anything to call him. But what did I actually need? To hear his voice? Maybe. No. I wasn’t going to burden him with my problems. I had never even mentioned Kristen to him. Anyway, I was sure he’d already forgotten about me and the fact that he even gave me his number. I needed to grow the hell up and push my feelings about this aside for now and be there for my sister. I couldn’t let her see me crumble into a million pieces.

  As I approached her room, I stood in the doorway and stared at her.

  “Where have you been?” she softly spoke.

  “Outside, sitting on a bench under a large tree.” I gently grinned.

  “Okay. I get it. You needed your time to absorb what Dr. Jenkins said.”

  “Where’s Noah?” I asked as I sat down on the edge of her bed.

  “He’s calling his family.” She grabbed my hand. “Listen, I’m going to make the most of the time I have left and that doesn’t include watching the people I love being upset. Jill, you have to understand that I was prepared for this, so it’s not news to me.”

  “How the fuck are you so strong?” I pouted.

  “I get it from my mom. She wasn’t afraid to die and neither am I. I know it’s hard on you and Noah. If the situation was reversed, I’d be devastated, but I need you to just go on. Live your life as if I wasn’t dying. I intend to and I’m going to make each day worth it. Would you like to take a painting class with me?” She smiled.

  “A painting class?” I cocked my head.

  “Yes. I’ve always wanted to take one and, damn it, I’m going to do it before it’s too late.”

  “I’d love to take a painting class with you. Would you like me to set it up?”

  “Nope. I’ll do it and I’ll let you know when it is.”

  I leaned over and hugged her. “You are so brave, my dear sister.”

  “It runs in our family.” She smiled. “You’re the brave one for leaving your family behind and starting a new life. Not many people can do that.”

  “I didn’t leave my family behind. You’re my family and all the family I need.”

  Noah walked back into the room with his parents and, immediately, his mother started to cry.

  “Go home now. There’s no reason for you to stay and witness this. I’m fine and I’ll call you later.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Very sure.” She gave a small smile. “You better go fix your eyes. They’re a mess.”

  “I know.” I put my sunglasses back on.
r />   I gave her a kiss and hugged Noah goodbye. As I stepped out of the hospital, the once bright blue sunny sky had turned gray and now it was raining. I wasn’t ready to go home yet. Walking back into the hospital, I stopped at the gift shop and picked up an umbrella. I decided to leave my sunglasses on to hide the fact that I’d been crying. If I was going to walk around the streets of New York City, I didn’t need people staring at me.

  Walking down Madison Ave, I stared straight ahead as I held the umbrella over my head. My shoes sloshed on the wet pavement as the rain poured down. Kristen told me not to be sad, but how could I not be? She was the only person I had left in this world and now she was being taken away from me. The rain suddenly stopped and the sun appeared from amongst the clouds. As I was closing my umbrella, I pulled my ringing phone from my pocket. When I looked down at it, I saw Kellan was calling.

  “Oh, excuse me,” a man’s voice spoke and his hand lightly touched my arm as he walked by.

  “I’m sor—” I turned around and gasped. “Drew?” I shouted.

  He stopped dead in his tracks and stood there for a second before turning around.

  “Jillian?”

  “Yes!” My heart started pounding.

  He walked towards me and stopped as he stood there and stared at me.

  “What—I can’t believe—oh my God.” He wrapped his arms around me.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “I live here. What are you doing here?” He broke our embrace and stared at me through my sunglasses.

  “I live here too. This is where I came right from Hawaii.”

  His lips curved up into a small smile while he removed my sunglasses from my face. Our eyes locked onto each other and his smile drifted away.

  “You’ve been crying,” he spoke as he took his thumbs and tried to wipe away the stains under my eyes. “What happened?”

  “Long story.” I looked down.

  “I’ve got all the time in the world. Do you want to grab a bite to eat? Or we can go somewhere and talk.”

  “I am starving. I haven’t eaten all day.”

  “Then let’s go get something to eat.” He smiled as he held his arm out and I hooked mine around his. “There’s Serafina’s right across the street if you like pizza or pasta.”

  “That’s fine. I really need a drink.”