All I Need: Rod & Daisy (All Of Me Duet Book 2) by A.D. Justice (books to read to improve english TXT) 📗

already revealed the truth? What will everyone think? What will Rod say? So many questions fly through my mind at lightning speed, I’m not sure how I’m still breathing.

As soon as I step into the room, my arms loaded with boxes, Rod jumps to his feet and takes the presents.

“Here, let me help you with those, love.” The same smile that makes my stomach turn flips and my heart race is still intact.

When I glance over at Tracy and Kevin, she gives me an almost imperceptible nod and wink, letting me know everything’s okay. When my eyes wander over to Kevin, I realize nothing is okay. The North Pole itself isn’t as cold as the glare he’s giving me. Now I have no doubt she explained the situation to him and asked him to go along on my behalf. He’s caught between supporting his girlfriend and lying to his best friend.

I’ve put him in an impossible situation.

Then my gaze moves to Juliana, and I realize this is the first time I’ve seen her today. She’s visibly paler than she was yesterday. Her movements are sluggish, as if it takes all her energy simply to sit upright and carry on a conversation. There’s no way she’s as well as she claims. She’s getting worse right before my eyes, and with the way Rod keeps glancing over at her, he knows it too.

I sit next to Juliana, hoping to gain more insight into her condition and her state of mind.

“How are you today? I didn’t get to see you before Tracy dragged me out on a shopping excursion with her.”

“I feel pretty good today. I’ve taken a couple of naps to recharge my energy. You know, I’m really enjoying the time with your family. Your parents are the absolute best, and they’ve both adopted me. I’m not at all opposed to changing my last name to Nash.” Her voice is soft, but her smile is still as warm as ever.

“They’re both crazy about you. They’d take you to the courthouse and sign the papers to officially adopt you today. Seriously, you should consider them as family, because they’re not kidding when they say that. Along those same lines, I should’ve asked if you wanted to go shopping with us this morning. I’m sorry we didn’t. That was rude and insensitive.” I was so focused on getting the test which has now caused nothing but trouble, I didn’t even consider Jules would want to go with us.

“Don’t even go there, Daisy. That wasn’t rude of you at all. You’re allowed to go shopping with your best friend without worrying about me. To be fair, I wouldn’t have been able to go anyway, then I would’ve felt bad for saying no.”

“Jules, what can I do to help?” She says she’s fine, but I know better. Pretending for my benefit doesn’t help either of us.

She hesitates for a moment, but she knows her charade isn’t fooling me.

“Rod doesn’t want to face it, but I’m getting worse, Daisy, and I don’t expect my health to improve suddenly. He’ll have to accept it sooner or later. Promise me you’ll be there for him. That’s the best help you can give.”

“You have my word. But this doesn’t mean you’re giving up, does it?”

“He already made me promise not to give up yet.” She chuckles lightly and shakes her head. “No, I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel, but it’s not always up to me. I’ll fight to stay with Isa as long as I have breath left in me. But when the time comes, we all have to accept the inevitable.”

Knowing I hold the ultimate solution, how am I supposed to live with myself while she’s dying?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Daisy

Rod is still sound asleep beside me when I wake early Christmas Eve. I slip out of bed to shower and dress quietly in the bathroom so I won’t disturb his rest. He had so much fun playing with the kids last night. They roasted marshmallows and hot dogs by the pool, then he played with them in their camping room and let them pile on top of him while eating popcorn and watching movies until they passed out.

Kevin never spoke to me last night unless it was to answer a direct question. Tracy noticed, but no one else said anything if it was overtly obvious to them. It was to me, though, and I want to make this right. Or at least make him understand the reasons behind the lies. As I step out of the bathroom, I stop to watch Rod sleep for a minute. He looks content and stress-free in his dream world, so I silently leave the room.

When I walk into the kitchen, I find Kevin at the table, sipping a cup of coffee and enjoying the early morning quiet time before the rest of the house starts moving about. I slide into the chair beside him, fidget with my fingers for an awkward minute, then sigh loudly.

“We need to talk, Kevin.” I start my unprepared speech, but immediately stop talking when he cuts his eyes over to me.

“So you can officially recruit me as an accomplice against my best friend? What, putting me in the middle, making me choose between Tracy and Rod, isn’t enough for you?” His words cut me to the bone, but I don’t know if Tracy has had the opportunity to tell him everything yet. “I’m already in a no-win situation, so I’d appreciate if you didn’t make it worse.”

“I never meant for this to happen, Kevin. I’m only waiting until after the holidays to give Rod and Juliana what they’ve never had. They’re so happy right now, and I don’t want to be the one to take that away. It’s not as if I’m never telling him. All I’m asking is for you not to say anything about this for a week. Then he, Juliana, and I will have to decide what to do next.”

His eyebrows