Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
A delivery driver stands at the curb, struggling to get control of his drone, a single pink tulip dangling below it.
My heart swells. Every single day I was in the treatment center during my second round of chemo, Noah brought me a tulip, knowing they’re my favorite. When I finished my treatment and was discharged, I figured he would stop, but he didn’t. And every day, he’s been having to find new and creative ways to have my tulip delivered. It’s the sweetest and most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen. Though I have no idea where he’s getting all of these tulips from. My home is overflowing with them, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the way Noah loves me. It’s everything I’ve ever needed.
Yesterday, my tulip was delivered via paper airplane. It was a complete disaster, but it was hilarious. Today though, this is a whole new level of insanity.
“Oh my god, Noah,” I laugh, reaching up to unlock the window before the delivery guy accidentally flies his drone right into it.
I get it open just in time for the drone to storm into my room, terrifying the absolute life out of Allie. The tulip is dropped a little too soon and crashes to the ground, but I quickly scoop it up, needing to brace against my desk to keep me from tumbling over.
The drone is gone in seconds, and by the time I have the tulip in my hand and I’m straightening up, the delivery driver has the drone on the ground and is walking to pick it up. He offers me a quick salute before turning his back and making his way to his car. “Thank you,” I call after him before clutching my window and pulling it closed again.
“You got it?” Noah asks.
“Yes,” I laugh. “You know you’re absolutely insane, right?”
“Insane?” he questions as I hear the sound of his engine revving, sending him sailing back toward campus for his exam today. “I call it being a genius.”
Rolling my eyes, I move across my bedroom and add the tulip to the ever-growing bunch I have in the vase on my bedside table before dropping my ass back to the edge of my bed. “Thank you,” I tell him. “I love it, but I love you more.”
“I know,” he says with a smile in his tone. “It’s because I’m so fucking irresistible.”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “And not egotistical at all.”
Noah laughs, and the sound brings me the sweetest kind of peace. “You wouldn’t have it any other way,” he tells me before a short silence lingers between us. “Are you still planning on going to school?”
“Are you going to give me another lecture if I say yes?”
“Would I be me if I didn’t?”
I groan and scoot back down into my bed, pulling my blankets up to my chin as Allie makes herself comfortable, but it won’t be for long. She’ll be demanding her breakfast any minute now. “I thought I explained all of this last night,” I say. “I don’t want to be the cancer girl on my birthday. I just want to have a normal day and be just like everyone else who has to suffer through a shitty day at school.”
“Babe,” he groans.
“It’s not like I’m going to be participating in PE and volunteering for the debate team. I just want to sit in class with the other assholes and pretend that I’m normal,” I tell him. “Besides, I know my limits. If it’s too much, I’ll get Hope to drive me home.”
“You know I’m going to be worrying about you all day.”
“I know, but you don’t need to,” I say, pulling the phone away for just a moment to check the time, making sure I’m not already running late for what’s probably going to be one of my last days of school . . . ever. “I’m still seeing you after, right?”
“I wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else.”
A soft blush creeps over my cheeks, and the smile that accompanies it is the one I reserve for only him. “Can’t wait.”
I can practically hear his smile through the phone. “Alright, Zozo, I have to go,” he tells me. “And so do you if you plan on getting to school on time.”
I groan and throw my blankets back, already regretting my decision to try and have a normal day. “Fine,” I grumble. “I suppose I could get up.”
“I’ll keep my phone on if you need me, okay? And Zo,” he says, pausing for just a moment, his voice lowering. “Happy birthday.”
I don’t know what it is about his tone, but those two words make my cheeks flush the brightest shade of pink. “Thank you,” I whisper, knowing damn well he knows what he does to me.
“Love you, Zo. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
“Okay,” I say. “I love you, too.”