Alex turns to me, something unreadable in his expression. Then, without a word, he pulls me in and kisses me. It’s deep, slow, filled with something unspoken. I feel my knees go weak, literally, and have to grip his arms to keep from swaying or falling to the ground.
“Em?”
I step back, trying to play it off. “Just a little… lightheaded.”
His jaw twitches slightly, but before he can say anything, we hear the front door open and laughter echo throughout the house.
Everyone is here. Leo, Mia, Cam, Frankie, Liv and Sophia all pile inside, shaking off the cold, voices overlapping in a mess of bodies and chaos. It’s exactly what I wanted: everyone togetherunder one roof, undermyroof. Mom used to host people all the time—every holiday, birthdays for everyone she loved, even random dinners for people in town she thought could use a hot, home-cooked meal.
I always wanted to do that, too. After leaving Windhaven, that never was an option for me anymore. Life in the city is very lonely, despite the constant rush of people you meet and talk to on the daily.
It makes me happy to finally be able to do it now, with the people that mean the most to me.
Alex leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. “I forgot to lock up the bar last night. I’m gonna run back real quick before dinner.”
I frown, knowing that the timing is off but not wanting to say anything in fear of causing him to worry more than he already is.
“Now?”
“I’ll only be five minutes.”
I hesitate, but finally nod. “Okay. Hurry back.”
He presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Always.”
I watch him leave, my stomach twisting with unease. Something about this moment feels wrong. I just don't know why.
35
ALEX
My mind is somewhere else entirely as I pull up to the bar. The town is eerily quiet, wrapped in the hush of Christmas evening. Storefronts are dark and streets are empty. There is a blanket of peace settled over everything. This is usually my favorite time of year, when the world slows down, when people pause to be with the ones they love. But all I can think about is Emma.
I want to tell her today.
I’ve been wanting to tell her for weeks, but I kept waiting for the right moment. But I finally realize that there is no ‘right moment’. There’s onlynow. And if the past few months have taught me anything, it’s that time is never guaranteed.
I step inside the bar, boots echoing against the floor. A quick check confirms everything is in order and nothing out of place. I look up the doors, quickly running back to my truck.
It should’ve taken me two minutes, but when I sit down and glance at my phone, my stomach drops.
Ten missed calls from Cam.
Panic surges through me so fast the phone nearly dropsfrom my hand. My fingers shake as I hit redial. He answers immediately.
“Alex, go straight to the hospital.”
The world tilts. “What? What happened?”
“Em…” His voice cracks. “She collapsed again. The doctors are trying to stabilize her now.”
I can’t breathe. My chest caves in, pulse hammering so loud I can’t hear anything else he says.
She was fine when I left. She was tired, but she said she was fine.
I don’t remember hanging up. I don’t remember pulling out of the parking lot or how many red lights I blew through to get to the hospital. All I know is the second I see the building, my entire body goes cold. I didn’t think we would be here again so soon.
As I bust through the doors, the nurse recognizes me and immediately tells me what room to go to. The sight in front of me makes my stomach drop even further. Liv and Sophia are sitting outside the room, their eyes red-rimmed, cheeks streaked with tears. Cam, Frankie and Leo stand nearby—silent, hollowed out versions of themselves. Even Mia, too young to understand what’s happening, clings to Leo with wide, sad eyes.
