“Time to go Jeremiah.” My voice barely shakes and I want a trophy for keeping it together as well as I am. “I don’t have anything more to say to you.”
Jeremiah looks over his shoulder and then back at me rolling his eyes. “Seriously? This guy.”
“You heard her. You’re not welcome here.” Emmett walks past him and comes to stand at my side.
Not in front of me.
Beside me.
“She assaulted me.” The accusation squeaks out of him.
I laugh at the fucking audacity. “And what are you going to tell the police when they ask why you were here?”
His jaw clenches, sweat already beading along his hairline.
Emmett towers over him, calm and deliberate. He doesn’t touch him, just waits until Jeremiah’s eyes flick up.
When he does, Emmett grins.
It isn’t friendly, it’s a threat.
He reaches out, gripping Jeremiah’s shoulder, and hauls him out of the garage with ease.
Emmett’s voice is quiet when he speaks. “You’re done here.”
Jeremiah scoffs, but it lacks conviction.
Emmett doesn’t raise his voice, though, and somehow, that’s more intimidating.
“Leave. Don’t come back,” Emmett adds. “You don’t call—don’t find reasons to be near her. Keep Aspen’s name out of your mouth. Whatever happens next is between you and the hospital, but Aspen is done being part of it.”
Jeremiah swallows. His bravado fractures, fear flickering behind his eyes.
He jerks his arm free and backs away, hobbling toward his Range Rover. He glares through the window and then backs down the driveway.
The silence he leaves behind feels enormous and for a moment, neither Emmett or I move.
Then Emmett exhales.
“Hey.”
One word shouldn't be enough to crack me open.
But this is Emmett, and I’ve spent five days wondering if I’d ever hear his voice like this again.
“Give me your hand.”
I try to flex the hand cradled to my chest only for it to scream in protest. “What are you doing here?”
“Your hand, Aspen.”
Oh, that. It’s still tucked protectively against my chest. I nod and he reaches out, his large hand eclipsing mine.
“Emmett, seriously, it’s fine.”
His eyebrow lifts. “Did you just punch someone and think I wasn’t going to check your hand?”
“He deserved it.”
