Hold the Forevers

27

Savannah

June 15, 2013

“Is there anything else that you need me to pick up for the party tonight?” Ash asked through the phone.

“No, just the list I gave you and your cute self.”

I was sitting on my mom’s couch, blowing up balloons with the helium tank and looking in dismay at everything else I had to do before the party. I’d been in PT school in Savannah for a year, dating Ash for six months, and despite the sheer amount of work I had to do, I was relieved. It certainly helped that my mother had gotten a donor match and was recovering wonderfully. Hence the call for a celebration!

“I will be there. Bow tie and all.”

“Good.” I bit my lip before asking, “Have you heard from your parents about today?”

Ash was silent for a second before sighing softly. “I don’t think they’re coming.”

Of course not. Why would they do that?

“Sure. Okay. No problem.”

“It’s not that they don’t like you,” Ash insisted. A mantra he’d been continuing with for the last six months but that I wasn’t entirely sure was true. “They’re busy. And they’re … you know …”

“Stuffy?” I volunteered.

He chuckled. “Yes. They’d ruin the party anyway.”

Probably.

“All right,” I said with a sigh. It was easier to let him think that they weren’t coming because they were stuffy rather than because they didn’t like me and never had.

“Don’t worry about it. The party is going to be great.”

“It will be.”

“I got to the party store. I’ll text you if I can’t find anything.”

“Sounds good.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too,” I said and then hung up.

My mom strode out of the kitchen. “Was that Ash?”

I nodded. “He’s picking up the last-minute supplies.”

“I didn’t know we needed more supplies, but you’re in charge.”

I pointed my finger at the chair. “You should be resting. The transplant was only a few weeks ago.”

“I’m fine. Don’t nag,” my mom said, but she sat gratefully in the chair I’d indicated.

My mom had gotten lucky. A donor came forward after just over a year on the transplant list. I’d matched with Mom, but she’d outright refused to even listen to me. I’d been kind of pushy about it. We’d fought, but the whole thing ended up being unnecessary. But I would have given her my kidney if nothing had come through. Watching her suffer had been horrible.

The doorbell rang, and I glared at it. Just when I was in the middle of balloons.

“The party isn’t until six. Who did you invite early?” I asked my mom.

“No one. It could be Elle or Steph. Eve isn’t in from Chicago yet. She’s going to be cutting it close.”

I huffed and abandoned my balloon. I dusted off my short-shorts and pulled down my tank before reaching for the door. I swung it open, and then my jaw hit the floor.

“Cole?” I asked in a strangled voice.

“Hey, Lila,” he said. His charming smile in place. Those blue eyes as wide and bright as the summer sky. “Surprise!”

“Um … wow. What are you doing in Savannah?”

“I was in Atlanta, visiting my family.”

“Atlanta is four hours away.”

“Hence the surprise.” He grinned. “I thought I’d have to wrangle where you live now out of your mom, but you’re here?”

“No, I’m not living at home. I’m just helping my mom today.”

“Dee, who’s at the door?” my mom called.

“No one.”

“Hello, Mrs. Greer.”

“Is that Cole?” my mom asked, rising from her seat. “Oh my goodness, it has been too long. Why don’t you come in?”

“Mom,” I hissed.

“Oh, let the poor boy in.”

I breathed out heavily and then held the door all the way open. “Come on in.”

Cole stepped over the threshold with a smile and went to embrace my mom. My eyes darted behind him, wondering how long I had to get him out of here before Ash showed up. I shut the door and retreated back into the living room. This was going to be a disaster. Fuck me.

“Dee didn’t tell me that you were going to be here for the party,” my mom said.

“He’s not here for the party, Mom.”

“What party?” Cole asked.

“Oh, she didn’t tell you?”

“She got her kidney transplant,” I told him. Not that I would have had an opportunity to tell him because, again … we weren’t talking, and I’d had no idea he’d be here.

“Congratulations!” he gushed. “I’m so happy for you. I know Lila was so worried about your health.”

My mom actually rolled her eyes. “She worries too much. She wanted to give me her kidney.”

Cole’s eyes swept to mine. A look of pain crossed his face. I flushed and looked away. It was one thing to try to convince my mom to let me save her life. It was another thing altogether for her to casually drop it to my ex-boyfriend when he knew how much it meant to me.

“That sounds just like Lila.”