Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Mom blinked a few times. “She told you about her condition?”
“It was kinda hard not to after that jerk Gleason ripped her hat off. Her hair is all patchy.”
Mom’s hand covered her heart. “Oh, that’s terrible. Miriam, Bailey’s mom, said Bailey didn’t want anyone to know. Apparently, at her last school, the kids treated her different, and it made Bailey upset. So she’d planned on keeping things quiet here. New school, new start. Kind of like us last year.”
“They treated her different because of her hair?”
“Well, I guess because of her illness in general. She was out of school a lot.”
“Out of school? I thought the only symptom was hair loss.”
Mom shook her head. “No, it can get pretty bad. Vomiting, weakness, exhaustion. The treatment destroys the bad cells, but it can damage the good ones at the same time, leaving you sick as a dog. Miriam said once she was out for such a long stretch that she had to start homeschooling her.”
“Wow. I had no idea. There’s a girl on TikTok with that. She’s bald, but she’s always dancing like she feels fine.”
“I’m sure everyone handles it differently, but maybe that person has finished with her treatments and her energy is back.”
I gulped more coconut milk and grabbed another Oreo. “What treatment do they give you for that?”
“Well, it could be a number of things—radiation, stem cells, immunotherapy… But I think it’s usually the chemo that makes your hair fall out.”
“Chemo? They treat alopecia with chemo?”
Mom’s forehead creased. “Alopecia? Bailey doesn’t have alopecia. She has cancer.”
Chapter 13
* * *
NAOMI
Friday morning, Dawson had a deposition, so it was quiet around the office. I had work to do, though, lots of it. This was just the end of my first week, but it hadn’t taken him long to figure out that he could hand me a task with minimal instructions, and I could run with it.
I stood at the copier, printing the attachments for a motion, when a deep voice came from behind me.
“Those are some heels.”
I startled and tossed the stack of papers in my hands up in the air. They floated to the floor as I turned with a hammering heart. “Will you ever learn to not sneak up on people?”
“I didn’t sneak up on you the night you belted me. I had no idea you were there.” Dawson smirked. “Besides, I said it from ten feet away so I wouldn’t have to duck.”
“Maybe next time you can just not scare the crap out of me.” I bent and swept the papers together.
Dawson squatted and joined me, grabbing the ones I couldn’t reach. “You have more makeup on than usual.” His eyes went from my face to my gaping shirt. “Pretty red lace bra, too.”
I pulled the papers against my chest and stood. “You’re an HR nightmare.”
“I know. That’s why I don’t have an HR department.” He winked. “They’d ruin all the fun.”
I chuckled. “You’re really an ass.”
“Speaking of asses…you look really nice. Got a hot date or something?”
“No. I’m meeting a friend. I told you about it before.”
“A male friend?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. A male friend.”
Dawson’s eyes narrowed. “Wait. Is this your ex?”
“Simon, yes. He’s in India for a while, but he’s from New York. He’s home for his sister’s wedding.”
“You looking to rekindle that?”
“No.”
“Doesn’t look that way to me.”
“Excuse me?”
He shrugged. “You’re all dolled up. It looks like you’re going on a date. Could give the guy the wrong impression.”
I put my free hand on my hip. “First of all, all dolled up? What are you, ninety? That’s something my grandfather would’ve said. And second of all, how is putting on a little makeup and wearing a nice outfit giving a guy the wrong impression?”
“Just telling you what I see.”
“What exactly do you see?”
Dawson’s eyes dropped to my toes and worked a slow path up my body. I could practically feel him on my skin. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry.
“You look beautiful.” His jaw clenched. “Enjoy your date.”
“It’s not a date.”
“Whatever.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you were jealous.”
I’d said it because I thought I did know better, but Dawson’s face turned red. Oh my God. Is he really jealous?
He turned and walked away, without looking back. “I got shit to do. I’ll be in my office.”
Dawson’s door stayed shut the rest of the afternoon. It was just as well. The man was distracting, and I had a ton of work too. When five o’clock rolled around, I got ready to leave on time, something I hadn’t managed yet. I was meeting Simon at five thirty for an early dinner since he hadn’t adjusted to the time change and was trying not to since he was only home a short time.
I knocked on the door to let Dawson know I was going to take off.