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I couldn’t believe how in less than twelve hours, my entire life plan got sidelined, elbowed, and stepped on by some crap from high school.
This morning felt so amazing. I knew I was about to confess to the woman I was falling for that I wanted to try something more with her.
And before the night was through, an ex who’d colored my view of women jumped into the picture and screwed up the entire night.
But I was a glutton for punishment.
I needed to see Emily again. Besides, she needed to eat.
As I texted James on the way to my car, I thought about how crazy it was that my high school girlfriend showed up on the very night I needed things to go right.
I didn’t ask for much in life.
But why, tonight, did things go sideways?
I found my car and drove through the busy Seattle streets, turning onto the hill that housed several medical clinics and hospitals, and turned into a parking garage.
It was as if the world decided to give me a break as I spotted a parking spot right next to the elevator. Turning off the ignition, I grabbed her dinner and nearly hopped out of the car.
Maybe all wasn’t lost.
James had texted me the floor Mimi was on, and I made my way onto the parking garage elevator. The faint smells of grease and someone’s leftover perfume filled my nostrils. It was a sickly sweet, mechanical smell, and for some reason, it brought back the thought of Clara.
Great.
A woman I hadn’t thought about in a decade was suddenly being forced into my mind. I rolled my eyes at the annoyance ofit all as the elevator doors opened, and I quickly spotted the next bank of elevators leading to patients’ rooms.
The old perfume and grease smells traded for the sterile air of the hospital. I rushed into the gift shop, found a pretty bouquet, and paid quickly before making my way to the elevators. Several people stepped into the carriage with me, and one of the women turned around and smiled.
“That smells heavenly. I love garlic.” She smiled.
I shook my head when she glanced at my takeout box, not the flowers. Laughing, I nodded. “I forgot I had food with me. Sorry. It’s been a day.”
“Aren’t they all like that?” She chuckled as the doors opened, and we all spilled onto the hospital floor. The group went to the left, and I spotted the room number signs leading to Mimi’s.
I heard my cousin’s laughter and knew I was headed in the right direction. It was crazy to me. Even in a hospital room, they could sound like one big, happy family. More laughter rang into the hallway as I looked at the nurses’ station across from Mimi’s room. I could see why James felt like he'd won the lottery with Amelia. Her family was incredible.
It was different from mine but in a good way.
The nurses saw me as I pointed at the hospital room with all the ruckus, and they nodded.
The moment I stepped inside, I felt the love oozing from every part of the room. Emily’s grandpa held Mimi’s hand as she smiled, looking lovingly at her daughter-in-law, while James and Amelia sat in the corner with Henry and Mae. Their eyes met mine, and James smiled, but I didn’t see Emily anywhere.
“I’m sorry to hear about your accident,” I told Mimi as she brought her gaze to the flowers. I set them on the rolling table next to her.
“Lucas, you’re too sweet. Do you realize you’re the only one who brought me flowers?” Mimi eyed the rest of them, and I chuckled. “You’d make an excellent grandson-in-law.”
Emily’s mom laughed and shook her head. “It’s the meds. You’re doing just fine as an almost son-in-law.”
I waggled my brows at my cousin, and he laughed as Mimi breathed in the scent of the flowers.
“Hey, stranger,” Emily’s sweet voice sang behind me.
I spun around to see Emily standing with a bag of chips.
“I brought you dinner,” I said, feeling every part of my body pull to her.
Her smile lit up, and she swept a quick kiss on my cheek. “You’re the best. I was literally swimming in regret over leaving the prawns behind. These chips just weren’t cutting it.”
