“Hi,” he mumbled groggily, then he became startled. “What’s the emergency? You’re actually alive before noon.”
“Thanks Nick,” Mackenzie said sarcastically trying to keep herself cheery. “Like you should talk.”
“I know, I know,” Nick confessed. “At least we’re not touring yet. That always gets interesting.”
“No kidding,” Mackenzie interjected. “You do some strange stuff on sleep deprivation.”
“Do you have a purpose for calling?” Nick said jokingly. “I can get this kind of verbal abuse from AJ just as easily as I can from you, maybe easier.”
“Sorry Nicky. I was just calling to make sure that we are still on for tonight with that thing at Kevin’s…he and Kristen’s anniversary.”
“That’s tonight!” Nick said alarmingly.
“I’ll pick you up at 6 oh-forgetful-one.” Mackenzie laughed. When she got off the phone she leaned her head against her car seat with a sigh. “How am I gonna tell him?” she kept saying over and over in her head.
“And,” Dr. Williamson continued. “You don’t even need to come into the office for your medication. It comes to you regularly from this machine.” The doctor pointed out the small, waistband-attached machine where carefully measured doses of chemicals lay stored in vials ready to be expelled into Mackenzie’s body over the next couple of weeks.
Mackenzie put on a fake smile. “Is this all I need?” she asked.
“That’s it,” Dr. Williamson said, matter-of-factly. “That and a lot of rest. God only knows how much time this will take, but if you have a healthier body, the better chance you have.”
Mackenzie thanked the doctor and left the office. When she got into her car, tears started pouring from her beautiful sea green eyes. It took nearly twenty minutes for Mackenzie to realize that she needed to keep her hopes up, wipe the tears from her eyes, and begin on her way back home.
“I can’t believe you forgot Frack,” Brian scolded as he helped Nick put the finishing touches on his tuxedo, which looked as though it had been stored under Nick’s bed for the past year. “Kevin’s only been talking about this anniversary dinner for like two months.”
“I know Bri. I guess I just have a lot on my mind right now.”
“Like what?” Brian asked, non-believing. “Breathing regularly?”
“That’s funny Bri but no, it’s Mackenzie. It just occurred to me yesterday that she has been to the doctor three times in the past month. Is that normal?”
“Maybe they just need her for testing or something. You know about all the things that the dancers need to take care of as far as health,” Brian said. “Besides, she’d probably tell you if there was something serious.”
“That’s what I thought,” Nick said, sighing a little. He knew that Mackenzie had always been honest with him so he shrugged it off.
“Have you decided how you’re gonna ask Mackenzie yet?” Brian inquired.
“Not yet Bri. Calm down, this stuff takes time.” After a slight pause, Nick continued: “Anyway Bri, are Mac and I supposed to bring anything.”
“Good Lord Nickers,” Brian said as he stared at Nick blankly in the mirror. “I swear, if Mackenzie weren’t there for you to be your brain, you’d forget how to walk.”
“Glad to know that I have your support,” Nick started. He paused for a second. “Oh yeah, I remember. Dessert.”
“Is that your final answer?” Brian teased.
“Shut up Frick.”
Chapter Three
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