Chapter 8: Falling Faster
924 Words
For the first time in a long time, Emma woke up smiling.
The memory of the previous evening lingered in her mind as she got ready for work.
The dinner.
The walk by the lake.
The fireworks.
Alexander.
Especially Alexander.
She caught herself smiling at the thought and immediately shook her head.
This was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
She had spent years building a stable life.
A predictable life.
Falling for someone like Alexander Kingston was anything but predictable.
"You're glowing."
Emma looked up from a patient chart.
Sarah stood across the nurses' station with her arms folded.
"No, I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
Emma groaned.
"Can we please stop talking about my face?"
"No."
Sarah leaned forward.
"How was the date?"
"It wasn't a date."
The look Sarah gave her could have melted steel.
"Emma."
"What?"
"He drove three hours."
Emma stayed silent.
"He brought flowers."
Still silent.
"He spent the entire evening with you."
Emma sighed.
"Okay."
Sarah smiled triumphantly.
"It was a date."
Emma couldn't even argue.
Because deep down, she knew Sarah was right.
And somehow, that realization made her happier than it should have.
Across the city, Alexander was having a much different morning.
He sat inside a boardroom surrounded by executives.
Charts covered the large screen.
Discussions about profits filled the room.
Normally, Alexander would have been focused.
Today, he wasn't listening at all.
Because his thoughts kept drifting back to Willow Creek.
To Emma.
To the way she laughed.
To how easy everything felt around her.
To how he never wanted the evening to end.
"Alexander."
His father's voice pulled him back.
Everyone was staring at him.
Wonderful.
"Sorry."
Richard Kingston frowned.
"You seem distracted lately."
Several executives exchanged glances.
Alexander immediately recognized where this conversation was heading.
"I'm fine."
His father wasn't convinced.
After the meeting ended, Richard followed him into his office.
The door closed behind them.
Neither spoke for a moment.
Then Richard sat down.
"Tell me about her."
Alexander blinked.
"What?"
"The nurse."
Of course.
Alexander should have known.
Nothing escaped his father for long.
"There's nothing to tell."
Richard raised an eyebrow.
"You drove three hours to visit a small town."
Alexander said nothing.
"You hate driving."
Still nothing.
His father smiled slightly.
"Must be serious."
Alexander dropped into his chair.
"I don't know what it is."
For the first time, he was being completely honest.
Richard studied him.
Then nodded.
"Maybe that's a good thing."
Alexander looked surprised.
He had expected criticism.
Warnings.
Disapproval.
Not this.
"You don't mind?"
His father leaned back.
"Do you know what your grandfather used to tell me?"
Alexander shook his head.
"He said the right person makes life easier."
Silence settled between them.
Richard stood.
"Just don't let fear make your decisions."
Then he left.
Leaving Alexander alone with his thoughts.
And those thoughts were becoming increasingly centered around Emma Brooks.
That evening, Emma sat on her porch as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon.
Her phone buzzed.
A smile immediately appeared.
Alexander
She opened the message.
I think Willow Creek spoiled me.
Emma laughed.
How?
His response came seconds later.
Nobody here knows how to make coffee properly.
She shook her head.
That's a terrible excuse.
It's true.
Another message appeared.
I may need to visit again.
Emma's heart skipped.
Just once.
But it was enough.
For the coffee?
A few seconds passed.
Then:
Mostly for the company.
Emma stared at the screen.
A warmth spread through her chest.
The kind that couldn't be explained away anymore.
Not as friendship.
Not as curiosity.
Not as coincidence.
Something was happening.
Something real.
And she wasn't sure how to stop it.
The scary part?
She wasn't sure she wanted to.
The following Saturday, Emma worked a double shift.
By the time she finally left the hospital, she was exhausted.
All she wanted was a hot shower and sleep.
Instead, she found a familiar black SUV parked outside her house.
Her heart instantly accelerated.
No.
Way.
Alexander stepped out of the driver's seat.
Wearing jeans.
A dark sweater.
And a smile that made her completely forget how tired she was.
"What are you doing here?"
His grin widened.
"I was in the neighborhood."
Emma laughed.
"You live three hours away."
"Details."
Before she knew what she was doing, she walked toward him.
Alexander did the same.
Neither stopped.
For a brief moment, they stood closer than ever before.
Close enough to notice details.
The color of his eyes.
The faint scent of his cologne.
The way his smile softened when he looked at her.
The world seemed to fade around them.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
Then Lily opened the front door.
"OH MY GOD."
Both jumped apart.
Emma covered her face.
Alexander burst out laughing.
Lily looked delighted.
"This is better than television."
Emma wanted to disappear.
Immediately.
Alexander, unfortunately, seemed to find the situation hilarious.
And somehow, seeing him laugh made her laugh too.
Even though her face was completely red.
Later that night, after Alexander finally left, Emma lay awake staring at the ceiling.
Sleep was impossible.
Because one thought kept repeating itself.
She was falling for him.
Not a little.
Not maybe.
Not possibly.
She was genuinely, undeniably falling for Alexander Kingston.
And judging by the way he looked at her...
He might be falling too.
But neither of them realized that while their feelings were growing stronger, trouble was quietly approaching.
Because not everyone in Alexander's world was happy about the nurse from Willow Creek.
And someone was about to make that very clear.
- Writer
