The door opens and closes downstairs as Chance walks out.
Shit.
“I’ll try to stop him.” Avery bolts down the stairs with Alyssa right behind him.
Stephen’s eyes widen as he listens to Aarya. “Oh, my God.”
I grab his arm. “What? What is it?”
He drops his arm, and lets his phone fall to the floor. “He’s awake.”
My feet falterwhen I get to Alexander’s room.
Aarya said he hasn’t been able to speak yet, but he recognized her, so that’s good news.
I have to lighten the mood. Make him laugh. It’s been so heavy this last week without him, and it can’t be easy waking up to find out all that’s gone on in his absence. Knowing him, he’s sick to his stomach about Giuliana going through this.
I take a moment to breathe in deep, and then I head into the room.
Aarya clutches his hand, and Giuliana sits on his lap, talking a mile a minute. She smiles wide when she spots me. “Uncle Mac, look! Daddy’s awake!”
My eyes meet his, and my heart seizes in my chest. “It’s about fucking time, man. If you needed some time to rest, you could’ve just taken a vacation like a normal person.”
A slow smile spreads across his face, and he lifts his free hand to flip me off behind Giuliana’s back.
Tears burn my eyes and blur my vision.
He’s back.
He’s okay.
Aarya rises from the bed and takes Giuliana with her. “Come on, kid. Let’s go get an Irish hot chocolate for your Uncle Mac. I think he could use one.”
“What does Irish mean?”
Alexander arches a brow at his wife, and she shoots him a wink. “I’ll explain it on the way.”
She kicks her feet as she beams. “Bye, Daddy. See you soon.”
He presses his hand to his mouth, and blows her a kiss. She catches it, and her sweet laughter floats into the hallway.
Hot tears spill out of my eyes as soon as she’s out the door. “Thank fuck. I was not going to be able to hold it together much longer.”
Alexander opens his arms as wide as the wires will allow him, and I take long strides toward the bed so I can hug him.
“I’m so happy you’re okay,” I whisper, holding him tightly. “I never want to go through anything like that ever again.”
His body shakes as he hugs me with as much force as he can muster. “Thank you,” he whispers.
Aarya said the nurse told her that his throat will be sore for a little while from the feeding tube, and not talking all week.
I pull back and wipe my eyes with the backs of my hands. “Damn, I’m fucking glad you remember who I am. It would’ve been exhausting to force you to be my friend all over again.”
His shoulders shake with silent laughter as he shakes his head. He sputters, so I hand him the cup of water sitting on the tray beside his bed.
“Aarya is a trooper. She was here every day, and kept Giuliana in good spirits.” I squeeze his hand. “I hope you know how much that woman loves you.”
His eyes water again and he nods. “I know.”