Page 85 of Saving His Heart

Forever yours,

Preston

“Geez, you’re the worst, Preston,” I sniffle. “I’ll do as you ask because I love you, but I’m doing it my way. You promised you would tell your family, and we ran out of time. I asked Ben to bring all the journals here, so they’ll read them and have a chance to respond before you go. It’s only fair.

“I wish I had told you so many things. I wish I hadn’t let my hang-ups ruin the time I could have truly been yours. I’m sorry I never told you I loved you when you could respond. I promise to do everything I can to make your wishes come true. I will carry your heart with me always, Preston. Never will I ever love anyone more than you. I’m yours, remember? I’ll always be yours.”

A knock at the door has me scrambling, but everything happens in slow motion in my emotional state. I’m still lying with Preston as East and Dexter walk in behind Sylvie. I attempt to move, but Sylvie places a hand on mine.

“Stay there, Emory. That’s where he would want you,” she tells me, kissing the side of my head, causing tears to start anew.

“This isn’t going to work,” Easton says, and I shrink further into Preston.

Does he mean I’m not going to work?

I watch in horror as he pulls out his phone.

“No, please don’t have me removed. I-I can’t leave Preston. I just promised him I’d do as he asked.”

Easton raises his head. His standard grumpy exterior softens, making him look more like Preston than I’ve ever realized.

“Emory, no one will ever make you leave. You’re family. I’m sorry if my attitude would ever make you think differently. We may all be different, but family is not something we fuck around with. You’re stuck with us forever.”

I stare at Easton, slack-jawed.He’s not the asshole he portrays.The admission has me babbling, “Preston wanted to make it to Christmas for your wedding, Dex. I’m so sorry we hid this from you all. H-He—”

“Emory?” Dex cuts in. “We have known Preston our entire lives. None of us will hold this against you, ever. We just have to make a few adjustments so we can all be here with you.”

“Adjustments? I-I don’t understand,” I admit.

Dexter smiles. “You will, Ems. In this group, family is chosen, and we don’t mess around when it comes to family. Preston may have been an asshole for keeping this from us, but I hope he had a damn good reason. He lived with this for too long alone. We won’t let him die that way, too.” The single tear that falls from his eye tells me we’re all experiencing a torturous pain. Some, I recognize, are just better at hiding it.

Chapter 36

Emory

The next twelve hours are like watching a movie. A flurry of activity, threats, phone calls, and more threats happen around me as I lay by Preston’s side.

“Emory?” Dex asks softly. I must have dozed off.

“What’s the matter?” I ask, feeling Preston’s heartbeat under my palm where it has been permanently affixed.

“I’m sorry I startled you. Easton has made progress with hospital administrators,” he says with a grin. “They are going to move Preston to the sixth floor where we’ll have more room,” he continues vaguely.

“More room for what?”

“The family. It’s amazing what threatening the loss of funding from Westbrook Enterprises will do for you. We’ll all have room to stay with you and Preston down there, together.”

“Dex—”

“You okay?” he asks, cutting me off.

“Yeah, I-I just want you to know how hard Preston fought to make it to Christmas. It’s all he really wanted. He begged me to help him make it so he could see you and Lanie become a family.”

Dexter’s strong arms wrap around me, so suddenly, he knocks the wind out of me.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make it all happen for him,” he promises cryptically. “Lanie and I are already a family. The ceremony can happen anytime, Ems. You’ve been amazing. Preston is so lucky to have found you.”

Within the hour, the hospital is processing the transfer to move Preston downstairs. When the nurse comes to bathe him, I tell her no. Begrudgingly, I climb out of his bed. Ushering everyone out of the room, I strip Preston down and give him a sponge bath while the orderly helps change his sheets.