Page 67 of Toxic Hope
I let her cry in my arms a few more minutes before she seems to calm herself down. Her breathing evens out, and her body stops shaking. Easton is still rubbing circles over her back when I peel her away from me so I can look into her face when I ask the next question.
“What did the doctor really tell you?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, Emma squeezes her eyes shut, and more tears spill down her cheeks. And I know I was right. She lied to us about receiving good news.
My heart sinks and an overwhelming ache forms in my chest. I don’t know what to say or do, so I just sit there, holding Emma at arm’s length.
Easton catches on quickly. Shock is written all over his face when he speaks. “You didn’t go to treatment today because the doctor told you they are not working?”
Emma nods, and I feel like someone sucker punched me in the gut. Why didn’t we put one and two together before? Why did we waste time we could have spent with her?
“No more lying, pearls,” I demand. “Tell us what the doctor said.”
“He said… my labs didn’t come back as he hoped… and that if the new treatment doesn’t work, I have six months to a year left.”
Fuck. My mind goes blank for a moment. I glance over at my twin, hoping for some direction. But he looks just as lost as I feel.
“But there is another treatment option?” I question when I find my voice again.
Which means there is hope. There has to be hope.
“Yes, I start it next week.”
“Does your grandma know?” Easton asks.
Emma shakes her head. “I can’t bring myself to tell her.”
“All right, we’ll figure it out, okay?” I say because that’s all I can think of.
She nods, but when her tearful gaze connects with mine, I know she isn’t convinced. Part of her still wants to push us away, but I won’t let that happen again, and she has to know it.
“No more lying,” I repeat, keeping my tone stern, “and no more pushing us away. Easton and I want to be with you, Emma. Especially when you are going through something. We want to be here for you, no matter what.”
“And we will be from now on. No matter what you do or say. We won’t leave you again,” Easton adds, as if he was reading my mind.
“But what if…” Emma starts, but I don’t let her finish her thought.
“No ifs or buts,” I state. “This is happening. You, me, and my brother are meant to be together… however long that might be, I don’t care. While we can, we will be together.”
“We love you, Emma,” Easton declares for both of us. I nod in agreement.
Emma hiccups before she wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. “I love you too.”
Fuck, it feels good hearing that.
“So, what now?” Emma hiccups again.
“Now, we’re going to spend every minute we can together.” I want all the minutes I can get. “Also. You will be our official girlfriend, and you will let us take care of you—without complaining about it.”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know if I can promise not to complain about it, but I’ll try to keep it to a minimum.” She smiles and all I care about is making her smile more.
“We can handle that as long as you know it’s going to happen, anyway,” Easton tells her with a grin.
“Yeah, I got that part down.”
Good.Because she is ours now, and we’ll never let her go.
“What about what I want?” Emma asks.
“We’ll give you whatever it is,” I promise. “What is it you want?”
