“Yeah,” he says, excited. “You passed, dude. You passed your boards.”
“Are you serious?” I rasp.
“Yes! I wouldn’t lie about this.” I can hear the smile in his voice, the pride he must feel, the satisfaction of helping a client, a best friend, regain enough memory and study enough to pass his medical boards without going back to school.
“When are you going back?” Liam asks, referring to work.
“I, um…” My gaze travels to our booth, my wife gazing back, waiting for me. Not in a rushed, impatient kind of waiting, but the longing kind that some never get. The kind that makes my heart race, my blood pump faster, everything inside me work harder to hold onto the image.
“I don’t know,” I admit. Because I don’t. I don’t know if or when I’ll go back, and for the first time, I feel okay with that.
“Well, take your time, Jones,” he says. “Belo confirmed your memories are intact, and she cleared you for practice.”
He sighs knowingly, aware that my silence means I’m not as eager to jump back into everything like I might’ve been before. “It will be there if and when you’re ready,” he adds.
“Thanks, man,” I say.
“I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t get all soft on me,” I tease.
“Shut up,” he laughs, and I hear the sniffle in his voice.
“Are you…crying?”
“I said shut up, dude.” He lets out a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Me too,” I whisper, rubbing my neck and the top of my head, the tangible reminder that Iamokay. I’m still here.
“Thank goodness you got them all back, huh?” Liam says, referring to my memories.
My eyes well up as I watch Emma do a happy dance when the waffles arrive. Her dazzling green eyes stay on me as she tears off a piece and slowly, teasingly, shoves it in her mouth. She licks her fingers dramatically, letting me know I better hurry or I get nothing. Ellie throws a napkin at her, and the entire table laughs as they all wave me back inside.
“I think I would’ve been okay,” I tell him, fully believing it.
We end the call, and I make it back to the table to find one untouched waffle awaiting me. I arch a surprised brow at Emma, and her endearing shrug sends a flutter of affection through me.
“What’s mine is yours.” She smiles, handing me a fork.
“And mine, yours,” I tell her, cutting off a piece and holding it out for her. She smirks, taking the bite without question. I laugh, brushing whipped cream from her lips. Her mouth slackens around my thumb, and I watch her swallow. I can practically taste the syrup on her tongue as she lets out a slow breath.
“So…” Ellie says, already rolling her eyes. “What did Liam want?”
“Was it your test?” Benny asks.
They all look at me, waiting for the big news, but Emma shifts closer. This night isn’t about that.
“He was just checking in,” I say, my gaze flicking to Emma, a quiet smile pulling at her lips, knowing I’m lying but just as grateful.
After our second round of waffles, Malcolm checks his watch and asks, “We have an hour. Any ideas?”
Everyone shrugs, but I turn to Emma, my eyes holding hers.
“What about karaoke?”
Chapter forty-four
Steven
