Page 132 of Alexander: Alexander's Story

“We should get going, I didn’t mean to take you from the hospital…” I release her chin but grab her hand, leading her to the car.

“New car?” she asks.

“It’s Matt’s.” I hold her door open for her, watching her ass as she climbs up. She appears to be back to normal. Her curves look muscular, her hips look wider.

“The infamous Matthias? He let you take his car?” she asks while we get buckled.

“Yeah, we sort of live together at Connie’s. It’s-we just have an understanding that the past is the past, and we’re both over it.”

“That’s great, I can’t wait to meet him,” she says, adding a smile. I fight the urge to reach for her hand and hold it. I fight against the need to wrap my hand around her thigh as I drive, like if I keep holding on to her, she’ll never leave.

The car is silent, aside from Emma humming beside me, so I turn on the music. She looks at me, shocked.

“It’s okay, this doesn’t need to be on.” She reaches over to press the power button, but I stop her, holding her hand.

“But you like it, right?” She doesn’t respond, letting her hand fall. Mine goes with it. And this time, I do hold on.

Matt’s radio is tuned to country music, so that’s what we listen to while we drive. We actually pass her old condo building on the way to the hospital downtown. I watch her look at it almost longingly.Missing who we were back then?I know I am.

We park in the underground garage, and I tell her to sit tight while I come around to open her door. She almost looks embarrassed. I’m the one who should be embarrassed for not treating her like this at the wedding.

She almost forgets her phone but grabs it at the last minute, stuffing it into the side of her leggings.

“Is everyone still here?” She asks, pulling her sweatshirt down over her butt, and bringing her hands into the cuffs of the sleeves.

“I think.” I want to reach for her hand, but she’s hiding them now, maybe for that exact reason.

We take the elevator to level two and then walk down a long hallway to the surgery waiting room.

“Emma, I–” I start, but she shakes her head and then turns to me.

“I’m just here to focus on Connie and to make sure you’re okay. Just let me do that, please?” She pinches her eyes closed, like if she blocks the visual of me, it will make this easier.

“Of course,” I say. Because I would do anything she wants, act any way she tells me to. If she said I only want to talk about beet salad and overrated karate moves for the next 72 hours, I’d say, ‘Yes, ma’am.’

The first person to make eye contact with her is Jess. I watch as Emma doesn’t even so much as flinch. She goes to Brit first, giving her a warm hug. I watch from the corner of my eye as Jess watches, too.

And then she’s giving Niko a hug. And Max. And Silas, too.

She stands in front of Jess’ chair, and I hold my breath, but Jess stands, and they embrace?

It’s not overly warm, but it’s a friendly enough greeting.

I move over, slipping my hand in hers just as she finishes.

“We’ll talk later,” Jess says in a hushed tone.They would?

“Matt, this is my–”wifedies on my tongue as Emma interrupts me.

“Emma,” she says, holding out a hand to him. “It’s nice to meet you. Connie’s told me so much.”

“Same to you,” Matt shakes her hand right back.

“What did I miss?” I ask for an update.

“They’re moving him to a room, and then we can visit, taking turns. You missed lunch, though.” I shrug. Don’t care about that. But Emma’s stomach growls.

“Sorry. God, embarrassing.” She runs a hand across her stomach. The motion sends heat to my groin for some reason. “Um, flying makes me nervous, so I didn’t eat…” I picture her clutching onto the armrest in lieu of anyone to hold her hand, and I feel like I could cry.