Page 95 of The Heartbreak List

“It’s positive,” the doctor says. “It looks like surgery might be a viable option now.”

“Oh my God.” I cover my heart with my hand. It’s started to race. A future with Theo might actually be a possibility.

“We’re going to want to run more scans since the previous one showed no improvement. And we’re going to have to get your anemia under control before we schedule you. There are risks with the surgery that we’ll need to consider.”

“But I could have a future?”

The doctor smiles at me. “This is good news, Indy.”

“I need to tell my parents.”

“I’ll get them.” Theo kisses my cheek and then leaves to find them. He’s back a few minutes later with them and EJ and America all in tow.

I make eye contact with EJ. “Will Gray be okay?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know. It’s going to take time.”

The doctor tells them the same news he told me. That the tumor could be operable. That my risks have changed.

We’ve all broken down by the time he’s finished. Mom and America wipe at their eyes multiple times. Dad and EJ ask the hard questions like what risks come with surgery and what my chances of a full recovery are.

The odds are still a little terrifying. It might not be enough. But there’s a chance that Theo and I could have an entire life in front of us, and I want it more than anything. We could continue the bucket list. Add things like travel and having a family to it.

When the doctor leaves my family takes turns hugging me and whispering encouraging words before they file out too. Until I’m alone with Theo.

He leans in and takes my hand in his. Runs his thumb over my ring finger. “Do you feel like marrying me tomorrow? Or do you want to wait until after the surgery?”

“Tomorrow.” I take a handful of his shirt and pull his lips to mine. I don’t want to wait to marry him. I don’t want to waste a minute. “Although I don’t know if that’s even possible. Can we get a marriage license that fast?”

He smiles at me, his gaze warm and soft. “As soon as we can then?”

“As soon as we can.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Theo

Indy’sparents’backyardispacked with people. Some of them I know, like Harlan and the guys from the tattoo parlor, and Pez and the rest of the crew from the bar. They file into the huge yard and greet each other before finding seats.

Some of them I’ve never met before, but they’re Indy’s friends and family, so that makes them mine too. A few of them stare at me like they’re at the wrong wedding. It probably came as a shock when they found out Indy was marrying a stranger instead of Gray.

Some of them probably think we’re doing the wrong thing and that she should still be marrying him. He certainly did.

No one has seen him since he walked out of the hospital. He didn’t answer EJ’s calls or respond to his text messages about the change in Indy’s prognosis. I don’t fault him for taking off. And honestly, it’s easier that he isn’t here because I don’t know if we could ever work out how to coexist peacefully.

He’ll always see me as the man who stole Indy from him. He’ll always be the guy who is in love with my wife. Well, she’ll be my wife in a few minutes anyway.

She’s upstairs with her mom and America. Getting ready. Sadie is with them too, helping with hair and makeup. Making sure my wife will be her most stunning self. Not that she needs any help.

An older version of how I remember my father is talking to Indy’s dad. He has more gray than black in his hair these days and far more lines on his face. I’m pretty sure I put them there over the years. Mom is with him; she smiles nervously when our gazes meet.

We’re a long way from fixing the relationships that I broke, but Indy asked me if I would regret it if I didn’t invite them and the answer was yes. So I called them and told them about Indy and the wedding and needing them to be here, and they drove down the next day.

Shae came with them. She’s around here somewhere. Probably taking a breather from all the people crowding around.

My heart stops as Indy steps through the doors from inside the house. She’s the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in a simple white dress that floats around her knees as she walks toward me. Her blue hair is adorned with a garland of roses. “You’re so beautiful.”

The chatter hushes. The last stragglers make their way to their seats.

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