"I know this disease is serious. But as your best friend, I would never abandon you." His grip tightened, warm and reassuring. "I'll be right there with you through treatment. Every step of the way."
His palm pressed against the back of my hand.
A chill crawled up my spine.
I had a small cut on my hand.
And his medical report had barely shown a single normal reading.
Kate's eyes lingered on Cedric.
"Irvin, your buddy's a real man."
"Right? I noticed him the moment he walked in—tall, long legs, ridiculously good-looking."
"Handsome and noble."
"Meanwhile, who knows how this ugly one caught that kind of disease. Are there really women out there with a fetish for hideous men? I mean, look at that scarred-up face."
My teeth ground together.
"Cedric." My voice came out low, controlled. "You're sure you want to go to the hospital right now? Get the report? With everyone watching?"
"Absolutely!"
One of the guests couldn't contain himself. "You'd better pray you're clean. If you're not, every single one of us will sue you into the ground!"
I ignored him.
My eyes stayed locked on Cedric.
"You're sure?"
Cedric glanced at Kate.
"Irvin, I really am doing this for your own good."
I nodded slowly.
"Then don't regret it."
On the way to the hospital, I couldn't shake the unease coiling in my chest.
I didn't understand.
Why had Cedric always been so good to me, only to transform into a completely different person at the wedding?
Announcing to everyone that I had some filthy disease.
Demanding to get to the bottom of it.
A terrible thought flickered through my mind—
Every single one of Cedric's friends was plain-looking at best.
Could it really be true, what people said online? That some people deliberately surrounded themselves with less attractive friends just to make themselves shine brighter?
I shook my head hard.
I refused to believe it.
Our little procession swept into the hospital, and I was pushed to the front of the department office.
"Excuse me—did he pick up a report here recently?"
Cedric asked the doctor.
The doctor studied my face for a moment, then nodded.
Cedric's eyes went wide.
"Irvin, you really did...
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you come get it alone? I told you I'd come with you!"
"What?"
Kate stared at me in disbelief.
"You came to pick up the report by yourself?"
I kept my expression flat. Said nothing.
She grabbed my arm.
"Irvin Dickerson! You are hiding something from me!"
"I'm not!"