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“Let’s talk tomorrow at the wedding.”
“Okay.” The line went silent again, and he closed his eyes. “I love you, Darcy.”
“I love you too, Carter. Get some sleep now. Good night.”
“Good night.” He set his phone on his nightstand before dropping back on his pillow. He tried to relax as he stared up at the ceiling again. Darcy still loved him and was giving him a second chance. Maybe, just maybe, they would be okay.
He rested his forearm over his eyes, trying to convince himself to go to sleep. But their conversation in his truck echoed through his mind. He could hear Darcy’s voice as she said:
I had a kidney transplant on April 3, two years ago. Jace was my paired donor, and he gave for me through a swap.
“April3, two years ago,” Carter whispered. “April3...”
The realization hit him like a speeding train, and he sat up straight. His own transplant had also taken place on April3, two years earlier. His swap had involved three donors and three recipients.
Shauna had given to a teenage girl. The girl’s father had given to a young woman. And a young man—the woman’s boyfriend or fiancé—had given to Carter.
Carter’s breath came in short bursts. Jace had been Darcy’s paired donor, which meant he’d given to someone else in exchange for a kidney for Darcy.
And Jace was Darcy’s fiancé.
From what Darcy had told Carter, Jace had been the same age he was.
His mouth dropped open as the pieces came together in his mind.
His eyes stung as he realized the truth.
Jace had given him a kidney.
“No,” he groaned. “No, no, no, no, no... This can’t be true.”
For more than two years, Carter had wondered who his donor was. He’d wanted to thank the man for generously giving him the gift of life.
Now Jace was dead. Carter could never properly thank him.
And Carter had fallen in love with his donor’s fiancée.
Popping out of bed, Carter started to pace his room. It was hard to believe that Carter was walking around with Jace’s kidney functioning in his body. The only piece left of Jace, the man whom Darcy still missed, still grieved.
And Carter would always be a reminder of Darcy’s heartbreak.
He had to tell her. He had promised not to keep any more secrets from her, and he intended to keep that promise.
He halted, looked at his clock radio, and realized it was almost midnight. Too late to text her or call her. Besides, this was a conversation he needed to have with her in person.
Dropping back onto his bed, he imagined how painful the conversation with Darcy would be tomorrow. The news that Jace was his donor might destroy her.
And this time, Carter might lose her forever.
His eyes stung and his thoughts spun as he imagined how it all might end. It was going to be a long night.
***
The following morning, Darcy checked her phone and frowned. No messages. She had hoped to hear from Carter, but maybe he was getting ready for the wedding.
Now she stood in the church’s parlor with Haven, Kaylen, and Lola. She tried to keep her thoughts focused on her best friend as they made last-minute preparations. After all, this was Haven’s day, and it was Darcy’s job to be the best maid of honor possible.
Still, her heart seized whenever she recalled her emotional conversation with Carter on the phone last night. She’d been shocked to see his name appear on her phone screen. After all, she had convinced herself that he no longer loved her and their relationship was over.
