Page 116 of Until the Last Star Fades

“You’ll be fine! It will hurt for, like, a second. Just think of the lollipop they’ll give you afterward.” He kissed the top of her head and they started walking again. “Do you want me to come with?”

“No, you can’t afford to take time off.”

“Will Maggie’s insurance pick up the cost?”

“Retroactively, yeah. They’ll pay for all my tests and hers, but we’ll be out of luck on living expenses, rent, my lost wages…”

“Bollocks, yeah…you’ll be off work for a bit. Well, what about that crowdfunding thing? Could you pull money from there?”

She shook her head. “I hoped it might pay for the bills Mom already has, but it won’t even do that. We’ve only raised two thousand of the fifteen-thousand-dollar goal.”

“That’s better than nothing.”

“Yeah, but it barely makes a dent, especially now that she needs a transplant. I kinda wish we hadn’t done it; I haven’t told Mom about it yet…”

“She still doesn’t know?”

“No. It’s depressing, seeing such little interest.” She smiled tightly. “So, I have to take all the Sephora shifts I can get and keep saving like Scrooge. It’s not like I have a choice.”

“Isn’t there anyone else in your family who could do this? I worry about you. Call me selfish, but I don’t want anything to happen to my girlfriend—”

“Girlfriend?” She stopped, jerking Ben to a halt.

Well, that just slipped out. “Um…” Still holding her hand, he moved closer. There’s no sense denying it—not anymore. I’m ready for a commitment. I can’t lose her—to anyone or anything. “I know we haven’t talked about being exclusive, but…I think you know I have been, and I want to…with you. So, yeah…I want to be your boyfriend.” Agh! Ben held his breath. Did I do that right? I feel like I’m fourteen! First time for everything…

Her smile grew. “You like me, huh?”

“Yeah.” His gaze fell to her lips. “Quite a lot, actually.”

Grin widening, Riley cupped his face and kissed him softly as Ben slipped his arms around her waist. He settled in, the need to go deeper reserved for another day when hospitals and organ donations weren’t at the forefront of their minds.

A passing car laid on its horn…several times.

Gotta love New York. Ben laughed against her lips and broke away, reclaiming Riley’s hand as they moved forward.

“So, boyfriend”—she giggled, ducking under a low-hanging tree branch—“don’t worry, I’ll be fine, and so will Mom. I can feel it.”

“There’s no talking you out of this?” Ben gripped a dangling leaf, pulling it with him.

“Nope.”

He let go and the leaf snapped back. “You’re amazing. You’re also scaring the bejesus out of me, but I get it.”

“Good.” She swung his hand, walking in silence for a few steps. “So, how did the audition go?”

“Eh…all right.”

“Just all right?”

“I don’t think I’m what they’re looking for.”

“Really? But you read for them three times.”

“Yeah, but all the callbacks today were blond, captain-of-the-football-team types. I felt like the brown-haired runt of the high school litter.”

“But runts are more interesting. They’re stupid if they don’t pick you.”

“Riles, if only you were the casting director.” Ben wrapped his arm around her.