“Which is why you need to take the job with ESPN. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, you can have both.”

“Not when Myla wants to live here. I’m not going to let there be space between us. She’ll let me go if I allow there to be separation.”

“Which is why I am posing an idea.” Nichole shifts and reaches for her water. I reach out and hand it to her. She takes a few sips and then says, “I would like to move to California.”

“What?” I ask. “Seriously?”

“Yes, I would. I’ve always loved the beach. My job has offered me medical leave for as long as I need it, and Myla will be able to help with appointments. I’m not super attached to my doctor, so finding someone in California won’t bother me, especially if I have Banner’s help. Myla keeps saying she wants to live in Chicago again, but we both know she just wants to live in a place where she has good memories, memories shared with you, Ryot. Being here in Chicago without you won’t be what she wants. She needs to realize that it’s okay to form new memories in a new place. So here is what I’m thinking.” She smiles. “Are you two going to take notes?”

Banner and I glance at each other and then fish out our phones from our pockets. Seems like we’re going to be told exactly what to do.

* * *

MYLA

I enter the room with five apple juices in hand, a shirt that says F*ck Cancer—they were selling them in the gift shop—and two word searches with accompanying pens. “I didn’t know how many juices you wanted.”

Nichole chuckles and says, “The more, the better.” I hand one to her and then set the rest down on the table next to Nichole’s bed as well as the word searches and pens. “Why don’t you sit on your husband’s lap?”

“Am I still her husband?” Ryot asks. When I glance at him, I still see some insecurity, and that’s natural, given everything we’ve been through in the past few weeks.

I walk up to him and sit on his lap. “I never signed the papers, so yeah, you are.” He smirks as he wraps his arms around me and holds on to me tightly as he kisses the back of my neck.

“I love you,” he whispers, only for me to turn toward him and kiss him on the lips.

“I love you,” I whisper back. Saying those words out loud is something I’ve truly missed, and I’ve missed the joy it brings him. Those words are like fuel to the flame, igniting me from the inside out.

Nichole clears her throat, so we turn toward her as she says, “I would like to start this conversation by first saying, there will be no protesting. The decisions have been made per my request. Therefore, you must all go along with it. Please nod your heads so I know that you agree.”