“Close it yourself,” Drake drawled.
“Cousin, don’t come visiting at Thanksgiving,” Greer said, closing the door himself.
“Rachel already invited me.”
“Consider it rescinded.”
Drake shrugged. “Cash won’t let her.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you back.”
Dustin rested his head back on the pillow, starting to close his sleepy eyes. “Am I in Hell?”
“Don’t fucking joke about dying!” Greer snarled. “You’re fucking lucky I swore on Ma’s headstone, or I’d be kicking your ass for this stunt.”
“It’s not a stunt, Greer.”
“What is it, then? Because, baby brother, I’m not going to fucking let you die on me.”
“Neither of us have a choice. Do you think I want to die? Until last month, I thought you would have had enough strength to heal me. Look in the mirror in the bathroom over there and swear on Ma’s headstone that you’re strong enough to heal me without killing yourself.”
“I ain’t swearing on Ma’s headstone twice.”
“Because you know it wouldn’t be the truth.”
Greer’s expression tore him apart.
“It’s not your fault. Greer, if you and Rachel didn’t have your gifts, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. You and the family would have to accept that I’m dying, like everyone else. We’re not immortal. Surely, you had to know that sooner or later, you couldn’t prevent one of us from dying.”
“I can accept that. I can’t keep all of you alive. But not being given the chance is what I can’t stomach. If you would just listen to me … I can go slow. Just a little of my strength to give you more time so the chemo will work and I’ll regain my strength.”
“You’re not going to be able to regain your full strength if you’re trying to keep me alive. Eventually, it’s going to make you weaker and weaker. What if something happens to Rosie, Logan, or Ema? It’s going to take more time than I have for you to regain your full strength, and we both know it.”
“I’m not going to let you die.”
“I’ve accepted it. You’ll have to, too.”
“I’m not going to accept shit!” Greer’s head bobbed again. “When has accepting shit ever gotten you a damn thing? You accepted that Jessie wouldn’t want anything to do with you, and you blew years away instead of fighting for her. You accepted that Sam had a miscarriage and damn near didn’t find out you had a son because of that evil bitch. The only time you got in a fight in your whole life was when you were protecting one of us. I don’t fucking need you protecting me!”
Shade moved slightly aside so that Greer could get a better look at Dustin without hopping up and down. Dustin wished he hadn’t. The sight of Greer crying was more than he could bear.
“You’re my baby brother. I’m the one who’s supposed to be protecting you, not the other way around. If you’re waiting for me to accept that you’re dying, then Knox must have fried your fucking brains when he shocked your heart back to life. I ain’t accepting shit!”
Like a raging bull, Greer threw himself through the small space between Knox and Shade. Dustin felt Greer graze his leg before Knox and Shade caught him and hauled him out while he fought and struggled against their hold.
Dustin was finally able to give in to his own tears when Greer could no longer see him.
Greer’s voice grew fainter as they carried him away, yet Dustin could make out every word.
“You hear me, Dustin? I’m not going to accept it! Motherfucker, let me go! Dustin! I’m not going to let you die! I ain’t accepting it! You hear me, Dus—”
36
Rachel was the first to reach the door of the bridal salon. “Are you ready?” she asked as she held the door open for the group of women to enter.
“Rachel, I don’t need a dress. Holly offered me hers.”
“There isn’t enough time to get alterations done, and unless you want to get married to Dustin with a box of Kleenex in your bra cup, it’ll be easier to buy you a new dress. All of us are kicking in. We have three thousand dollars—”
Jessie shook her at the sum of money. “I’m not spending three thousand dollars for a dress I’m only going to wear for ten minutes.”
“We’ll see,” Rachel said, unperturbed at Jessie’s reluctance to spend the money that Holly, Sutton, and Rachel had pitched in for her wedding dress, despite Jessie telling them she had several dresses she could wear.
Jessie let Sutton go into the salon first, already regretting letting them talk her into going to Jamestown to go to the salon.
“You all don’t take too long,” Greer groused, holding Rosie on his hip.
“Aren’t you coming in?” Holly asked him.
“Hell no. Rosie and I are going to Subway. Text me when you’re ready to go.”
“There’s isn’t anything Rosie can eat there.”