Page 31 of I Wish I Would’ve Warned You (Forbidden Wishes #3)

EMILY

I n the waiting room, Matt paces the other side of the room while he talks on the phone. I can hear Taylor’s distinctive voice on the line.

My mom is sipping coffee, and Aidan is the only person allowed back to see Cole.

For now.

“Give me a distraction,” my mom whispers to me. “Tell me anything.”

“I think I might be in love.”

“Oh?” She smiles. “Who is he and what’s he like?”

“He’s…” currently down the hall from us . “He has a way of reading my mind when we’re having conversations, and he’s an artist like me.”

“He writes, too?”

“More like creates,” I say. “He can draw the most beautiful imagery with just a pencil, and when he paints?—”

“He’s going to be fine.” Aidan steps into the doorway, and my mom rushes toward him, abandoning our conversation.

“Come here, Matt and Emily.” He motions for us to move nearer.

I oblige, expecting him to lead the way to Cole’s room so I can see him for myself, but he merely clears his throat.

“Life is too short to hold on to big moments,” Aidan says, and I can’t tell if he’s talking to us or testing out a podcast special for his fans. “If you’ll have me, Heather… I’d like to have a wedding this summer after all.”

“I would love nothing more.” She smiles, hugging him.

No, no, no. “Wait,” I say, a lump rising in my throat. “What about giving us time to gel? Isn’t that what you said before?”

“What gels a family faster than a close call?” He offers a small smile. “I mean, someone will probably slip this incident to the media, and I have to show strength in my reaction, right?”

I stare at him, mouth dry. There’s still the echo of Cole’s voice in my ears—“ No, Dad… please” —and now we’re celebrating? Proposing? My skin crawls at the whiplash.

“I’m glad you were there for him tonight, Emily,” he says. “Shows you care for him a lot.”

If only you knew…