Page 64 of I Wish I Would've Warned You

“Yes.” I swallow. “I just heard something weird while I was out there writing.”

Matt walks behind the officer, as if he’s not convinced, and he looks between the balcony and the bed, mentally calculating the distance.

His eyes slide from the door to the hem of my borrowed shirt. He doesn’t say a word, but the silence stretches between us like a thread pulled too tight.

His hand brushes mine when he returns my phone, and his fingers hesitate for just a second too long. His jaw ticks slightly, like he’s swallowing something he doesn’t want to say.

“You’ve got some supersonic hearing.” The officer smiles. “Glad you heard him.”

“Me too…” Matt says, narrowing his eyes. “Quick question, though. It’s raining outside. You have waterproof paper?”

Silence.

“It’s the weirdest thing.” My mom hugs me from behind again. “This girl will literally sit outside in any weather until she finishes an idea.”

“Interesting.” Matt hands me my phone, and the officer taps his tablet a few times to finish the report.

“You’ve got five minutes to get dressed,” Aidan says to everyone. “I’ll be in the car.”

21A

EMILY

In 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.”

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