Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Neil knew that Emerson had lost his parents and stepped up to raise his family in lieu of going to college for his nursing degree. And Emerson knew Neil had a nasty breakup with his last boyfriend and had essentially given up on relationships for a while. Neil was also in the middle of getting his degree as a pharmacy tech, and Emerson still had to squash down his envy.
“It’ll do you good,” Neil replied. “You’ve been distracted lately.”
“I have a lot going on,” Emerson countered in a frustrated tone. Sometimes he thought Neil was too pushy, but he also knew if he weren’t, Emerson would likely never leave the building or have any real conversations with friends.
“C’mon, you can tell me all about it over the best lobster rolls in town.”
He looked so earnest that Emerson relented. “Fine.”
He followed Neil to the bank of elevators, down two flights, then out the door. The weather was perfect for the beginning of fall, a balmy seventy degrees. After a two-block walk, they waited in line at the deli, ordered their food, and found a park bench to sit on close to the hospital campus. He thought of that other hospital across town where Rhys was probably in an occupational-therapy session and preparing for his discharge tomorrow.
He’d gotten strict orders to rest for the next several days, and not to operate heavy machinery or perform strenuous activity for at least six weeks. Emerson had expected Rhys to balk at those directions, so when he’d remained quiet during the doctor’s visit, Emerson could tell he still wasn’t feeling like himself. His ribs ached as well as his head, and there were times he’d stare off into space as if trying to organize his thoughts. It was so unusual for Rhys, that it had given him pause and made him redouble his promise to nurse him back to health.
“So, what’s up?” Neil asked around a bite of his sandwich.
Emerson wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I told you about my best friend who was in a rock climbing accident.”
“Rhys, right?”
“Yep. And he’s slowly recovering. Still in pain, but the prognosis is good, so he’ll get there.”
“That’s good news.” He took a long sip of his soda. “What about his memory?”
“No change.” He sighed. He’d forgotten he’d told Neil about it last week after he’d talked with Rhys’s mom. He’d been shell-shocked by the information, and it had felt good at the time to share it with someone. “Still missing the last year of his life.”
“God, that’s got to be tough.”
He was right. He’d seen the struggle in Rhys, who was normally pretty chill about everything. But when he couldn’t remember stuff, he balled his fists and clenched his teeth. It was true what the doctor had said about letting it unfold naturally. Pushing someone to remember would never be useful.
He’d sat the kids down and told them not to force any information on Rhys, looking intentionally at Audrey. At this point—and maybe forever—Rhys didn’t know their relationship had wandered into new territory. But it was always on Emerson’s mind. What would’ve happened had he not gotten in the accident? Would they have felt that same tension in the air once they saw each other again, or had he placed too much stock in it? Emerson would get over it and move on, eventually. He had to for his friend—and for his own sanity.
“Will his memory come back?” Neil asked after chewing his last bite.
“There’s no way to tell.”
Fuck, Emerson hoped so, but he couldn’t bank on it. He couldn’t force back the magic that had happened between them that night. It needed to materialize naturally, not because Emerson told Rhys it’d happened. He could just imagine how confused Rhys would be. He wouldn’t understand the tension, the buildup, the desire to explore what was between them. Rhys was currently stuck in a time gap. He thought Emerson was straight, and that was how it had to remain, at least for the time being. So for now, he needed to focus on helping Rhys recover.
“I’m sorry,” Neil said, and Emerson felt his warm hand on his knee. When their eyes met, Neil’s gaze darted away. He’d seen that look once before, when Neil had been bold enough to tell Emerson he was a handsome guy. Neil was too, but up to this point, Emerson had never even considered the possibility of exploring anything beyond what he’d come to feel for Rhys.
The idea made him flush and feel sick at the same time. But unless he gave Neil some sort of inkling, he didn’t think Neil would ever cross the line. He stood up suddenly and threw out his empty wrapper, offering to take Neil’s too.
“Thanks. Sorry I’ve been so distracted.” He was being too jumpy. Neil was a friend. Someone he could confide in. He didn’t have many friends anymore. Everyone he’d graduated with had gone on to college, some well into their careers by now.