Page 81 of A Million Times, Yes

I couldn’t stop smiling. “When you’re out of here, and if you’re feeling up to it, Emily and I are going to take you out.”

She fluffed out her flat curls. “You know something? I would love that.”

“What would you love?” Emily asked from the doorway.

“If we took Bettie out,” I replied.

Emily sat in the chair next to Bettie’s bed. “Can we please make that happen? Sooner than later?”

“Once I’m feeling up to it, I’m bringing you gals out. We’ll go to my favorite restaurant and then end the evening by going to a hockey game. How does that sound?”

I exhaled loud enough so Bettie could hear me. “Like the perfect night.”

“I’m ready, Bettie. You just say when,” Emily said.

I marked the last number in her chart and waited for the two of them to quiet as they planned our upcoming evening together, then finally asked, “Is there anything you need before I leave?”

There was suddenly an even bigger smile on her face, but it wasn’t at me.

I followed her line of sight, which took me to the doorway, where Jordan was standing with a little boy, the two of them holding hands.

A little boy I assumed was his nephew, since he had the same large, oval-shaped eyes as Jordan, similar long, messy strands of hair, and lips that were almost identical.

Maybe it was the sight of Jordan with a kid.

Or maybe it was the sight of him in general.

Or maybe it was that the room was now filling with his scent and presence, and I could feel him in every part of me.

Whatever the reason, I found it extremely difficult to breathe.

“I know your ovaries are exploding right now,” Emily whispered beside me. “Because mine are, and I don’t even look at Jordan that way and ...oh my God.”

Just as I glanced at her to confirm her suspicion, Jordan said, “How are my favorite women doing?” His shoulder leaned in to the frame, that nonchalant posture looking so incredibly sexy on him.

“We’re doing much better now that you’re here,” Bettie said. “How’s my best little boy in the whole wide world?”

“Lovie!” He released Jordan’s hand and rushed inside the room. He climbed on top of Bettie’s bed, knowing exactly where he could touch her, as though he’d visited her before and had already been warned.

“We detestGreat-Grandma,” Bettie said to Emily and me as she held her great-grandson. “That’s for an ancient person, and I refuse to accept that I’m that age. So I chose Lovie. I think it fits me perfectly.”

“It does,” I agreed. “And I love it.”

She patted the back of his head and kissed the top of it. “I’ve missed you, my little one.”

“Ben, you need to introduce yourself to the beautiful ladies in the room,” Jordan said.

“Lovie knows I’m Ben.” He giggled, causing his big bright-blue eyes to squint. He then fixed his position and held out his small hand toward Emily. “I’m Benjamin. Sometimes I go by Ben.”

“Aren’t you just the cutest. I’m Emily. Which name do you prefer?”

He shrugged. “IhaaateBenny.”

“Well, then, we won’t call you Benny, Ben,” Emily said.

I held my hand out to him. “I’m Maya.”

“I know.” He squeezed my fingers. “Uncle J said you have long, brown hair. He was hoping we’d see you.” He pulled back his hand and placed both around his mouth. “He talked about you the whole way here,” he said in an attempted whisper.