Page 102 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends

When I nod, he turns and leaves my apartment, tense silence enveloping me. Josh and Max should be arriving to see Emma any minute now, and I’m still stuck in my apartment, weighed down by the fear of pain and rejection that has haunted me since I was young.

Some cycles are easier to break than others. This is the one that could breakme.

Chapter forty-six

Chapter Forty-Six: Max

Idon’t remember ever feeling as nervous as I do now as Josh and I walk up the steps to the porch of Emma’s childhood home.

“I need this to go well,” I tell Josh as we share a hopeful but still concerned look with each other. It was great getting that text from Andrew, but there’s always still a chance for things to fall apart.

We’re not out of the woods just yet.

Josh nods in agreement before checking his phone and sighing. “Where the hell is Ryan?”

A frown crosses my face as I shake my head. “I don’t know. You don’t think he gave up on this, do you?”

Josh lowers his eyes as he pockets his phone. “I don’t know. He loves her. He wants to be a father to the baby. It doesn’t make any sense why he’s not here right now.”

I hope he gets some sense knocked into him. He can’t keep running away from what scares him, or he’ll miss out on the greatest things that could ever happen to him.

Josh knocks on the door and waits next to me until Andrew answers.

“Come in,” Andrew replies before stepping to the side. “In the guest bedroom down the hallway.”

I nod to him and walk through the foyer, spotting Emma’s parents sitting in the living room together as we pass by. Her mother gives me a small smile with a nod in greeting. At least they don’t seem furious, but I’m not assuming that everything is fine just yet.

Josh takes the lead and heads to the guest bedroom, Andrew’s footsteps fading away behind us as he goes to the living room. “Everything will be fine.”

I don’t know if Josh is talking more to me or to himself.

Josh opens the door to the guest bedroom, revealing Emma as she sits at the bottom of the bed with her hair done in a loose braid.

There isn’t as much of a tired slouch to her posture as before, and her eyes are brighter, no longer harboring such dark circles beneath them any longer. It looks like she got the rest she needed.

“Hey, beautiful,” Josh greets her, coaxing a smile onto her face that leaves me breathless for a moment.

“Hi,” she replies as she turns to face us. A look of guilt quickly shadows the glow of her complexion. “I’m sorry that you haven’t heard from me since the hospital. My phone is still at my place, and I’ve been sleeping a lot.”

I shake my head. “Don’t apologize. You needed the rest. I’m sorry we didn’t see that before.”

Emma scoots closer to the side of the bed closest to us, letting her feet hang off. She pats each side of her, prompting us to sit next to her. “You don’t have to apologize either. I knew that I was exhausted and stressed, and I still didn’t do as I should’ve. I won’t do that again. I won’t jeopardize my health or the baby’s health.”

I gaze at her in silence for a few moments, just taking her in. Appreciating the fact that I get to be so close to her again and see that she’s okay with my own eyes.

“Are you guys okay? I can’t imagine how stressed you were,” Emma says as she looks between both of us, her hands brushing our arms and legs.

“We’re just happy you’re okay,” I tell her as I take her hand and hold it in my lap.

Emma smiles at me and nods. “I had a good talk with my parents. I wore down my brothers at least a little.”

“The fact that they let us through the door is a big step forward,” Josh assures her with a light chuckle.

Emma’s smile wilts a little. “Ryan is kind of late.”

I share a brief frown with Josh before squeezing her hand. “I’m sure he’ll be here. He’s been worried about you and the baby.”

Emma chews on her bottom lip as she nods. “Have you told your parents about us, Max?”