For Now (Broken Promises #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

about.
    “Oh,” he says, glancing over at me. “Um… nah, it’s fine. Thanks, Al… you’re the best.”
    Silently nodding, I watch him leave the car and wait until he’s inside to let the tears flow.
    The man I love… the man I’m in love with and doesn’t even know it… possibly has cancer but there’s nothing I can do about it because he won’t talk to me about it. I mean, what else do people typically have biopsies for? I realize I’m crying over nothing right now, since he hasn’t told me anything, but I’m positive that a biopsy means cancer.
    Right?
    On my way home I call Braydon. It’s typical for us to text throughout the day about randomness so it’s not abnormal that I’m contacting him just to shoot the shit, but typically I don’t call him in tears.
    “What’s wrong?” he says as soon as I speak, obviously able to tell that something’s not right.
    “Are you at the bar?” I ask, trying to sniffle out my tears quietly. Everything hurts and I feel like my life is crumbling just because I’m being shut out by one of my best friends.
    “No, not tonight. I’m free… what’s wrong? Why’re you crying, Al?”
    Al. The nickname the boys gave me after only knowing me for a month has stuck all these years. When I was growing up I hated that nickname because it made me feel like a boy, but with them it makes me feel loved. Strange how that works.
    “Um.. no just have the sniffles.” I lie. “Lane just had me take him to the bar. I’m just checking in on him… he’s been distant today and I can’t figure it out. I was hoping you were up there to hang out with him. I know he responds better to you anyway when he’s upset.”
    “Shit,” Braydon mumbles something and I hear a door slam. “I’m on my way up there. Don’t worry about this, Al… he’ll talk to you. I’ll text you later and let you know how he’s doing. Just go home and rest… I’m on my way.”
    “Thanks Bray,” I say, sighing. “I’m worried about him, that’s all. He got a phone call today from an oncologist… about a biopsy… and he’s not talking to me about it.” Parking the car in front of my apartment, I start to cry again and have to cover my mouth so he doesn’t hear me.
    “Fuck,” he groans. “Listen, just go home and get your mind off of it okay, Al? Can you do that? I promise you he’ll talk to you about it. I’m almost to the bar… I’ll text you.”
    “Promise?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “You’re amazing sometimes, Bray.”
    “I know, Al. All the fucking time. One day you’ll realize this.”
    Then he hangs up and leaves me crying in my parking spot.
    Perfect.

Lane
    “Mr. Sheridan, this is Dr. Stanley’s office. We’re calling about your biopsy results.”
    “And?” I want to scream at them for not getting to the point, but I did just steal the phone from my assistant. Too late, apparently, by the look that she’s giving me.
    “Mr. Sheridan-”
    “Call me Lane,” I sigh, just wanting them to tell me the results. They can do that over the phone, right?
    The nurse sighs and goes on, “Lane, the doctor would like to meet with you in person regarding your results.”
    “So you can’t tell me anything today? Were the results positive? Am I dying?”
    “Lane, I’m just a messenger. Dr. Stanley really wants to meet with you in person to go over every option.”
    “Option? As in treatment options? So I’m not dying but I do have cancer?”
    “Lane,” she sighs. “Can you please just clear up some space in your schedule to come in?”
    “Tomorrow morning. What time do you open?”
    “The first opening we have in the morning is nine a.m.,” she says after a moment of checking.
    “I’ll be there,” I grunt, then hang up before she hears the emotions in my voice.
    Fuck.
    I can’t have cancer. Why else would they want to meet with me unless the tests came back bad? They know I’m busy. They know I don’t have a lot of free time, so why would they ask to see me just