Exposed to You (One Night of Passion 2)

He sat awkwardly in the only other plastic chair in the room. “What did the doctor say?”

“That I have all the symptoms of a viral infection,” Joy replied.

Seth closed his eyes briefly. “Thank God.”

Joy smiled. “I know. I’m relieved, too.”

Seth exhaled. “So what—you just need to rest and take an antibiotic or something?” She nodded. Seth’s expression shifted as he studied her. “What is it? You’re not telling me everything. You didn’t call me back here to tell me you have the flu, did you?”

“The chances are, that’s precisely what I have. I am going to get sick at times, you know. I’m not any different from anyone else,” she said, smiling ruefully. “The thing of it is, though, my glands are swollen.”

Seth stiffened.

“Which is completely normal if I have a viral infection,” Joy assured him quickly. “But given my history, and the fact that I’m having some chest pain and fever—both of which are also consistent with a flu bug in addition to early lymphoma signs—the doctor thinks I should get a biopsy on a lymph gland, just to be sure.”

“Okay,” Seth said quickly. He glanced around the room. “So they’re going to admit you?”

“I’d rather have it done in Chicago. I put a lot of time and research into choosing Dr. Chen,” she said, referring to her oncologist. “It’d make me feel more secure doing it there.”

“We’ll leave first thing in the morning, then?”

“I will.”

Seth flinched. “We both will. Of course we both will.”

“Listen to me,” she said firmly. “The chances are that this is nothing. I want you to understand that. I’m just playing it safe. Rill’s costume designer is flying in tomorrow specifically to consult with you about Razor Pass. Both Rill and she would be disappointed if you weren’t there.”

“I don’t care if Rill’s disappointed,” Seth said, looking insulted.

“I do. This is a wonderful opportunity for Hightower Special Effects. I won’t allow you to compromise anything by leaving Vulture’s Canyon early when there’s no need for it.”

“No, absolutely—”

“Do you have any idea of how guilty I’d feel if you abandoned this job because I have the flu?” Joy interrupted fiercely.

Seth hesitated, seeming torn.

“It’s not a big deal, Seth. Please don’t make any more of it than it is. I really need your cooperation on this.”

“What about Everett?” Seth asked slowly. “Are you planning on telling him why you have to leave early?”

“No,” Joy said, holding Seth’s gaze. “And I’m asking you, as a personal favor, to please not say anything to the Pierces or to Everett. I’ve had a wonderful weekend here so far. I’d rather leave it at that.”

A pained expression crossed Seth’s face. “Joy, I’m not so sure Everett is going to accept that. I think he really cares about you.”

Joy swallowed. She told herself the soreness in her throat was from her swollen glands. “You and I both know this thing between Everett and me was just a blip on the radar. What else could it be, really? Him being who he is. Me being who I am.”

“Does that mean you don’t care about him?”

“It doesn’t matter, does it? In the end?” she asked quietly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Seth demanded. The edge to his tone made anger rise in her, a sort of desperate fury.

“It means that even if my cancer hasn’t returned today, it may tomorrow, or next month, or next year!”

Seth’s mouth fell open in surprise. “That’s what you’re worried about? So what—you think Hughes wouldn’t be able to handle something like that?”

“It means I don’t want him to handle it,” she said so forcefully that Seth blinked. She hadn’t meant for any of this to come out now, but she didn’t seem able to stop the deluge of honesty. Something about these circumstances, about the terrifying possibility—no matter how remote—that her cancer had returned, about the fact that Everett was sitting out in the waiting room, wondering and worrying, seemed to have blown the cap off her restraint. “God, Seth, don’t you get it? I wouldn’t wish what we had to go through with Mom, what you had to go through with me, on my worst enemy.” She shook her head, fighting back unwanted tears. “You and Mom were always so angry at Dad for leaving, but I never was. Don’t you get why?”