Healing Over Time

Chapter Thirty-Six

Thirty-five weeks after Lee's death.

"How are you feeling?" Lance asked Alex.

"Tight?" Alex shrugged. "Heavy..."

"Any more sickness?" Lance took a bite of his sandwich.

"Not as often," Alex shook her head. "Still comes though...mostly when I'm stressed."

"I'm sure that never happens," Lance smirked at her.

"Think I might be doomed always to have that in my life to some degree," Alex leaned her head against her fist.

"And Kayce?" Lance asked.

"What about him?" Alex said.

"How is it?" Lance paused his eating. "With him? How is he?"

"He's fine," Alex nodded. "Doing much better than me."

"What do you mean?" Lance laughed.

"I tend to focus on the negative," Alex mumbled. "I freak out on him a lot."

"You did that before him," Lance pointed out.

"I did not," Alex defended.

"Yes, you did," Lance smirked. "You are a pessimist, Alex. You don't like focusing on the good in life because you always think something is around the corner to take it away."

"Have you seen my life?" Alex joked. "You're right though."

"You need to focus on the now," Lance said. "And I know that's easier said than done."

"I just feel like something will go wrong," Alex admitted. "I'll mess something up or worse."

"Are you excited at least?" Lance asked.

"About what?" Alex asked.

Lance raised an eyebrow and then looked down toward Alex's stomach hidden by the table. Alex swallowed harshly as she leaned back from him.

"Weird thing to ask, don't you think?" She asked softly.

"Not with you," Lance took another bite of his sandwich. "You look happy."

Alex was surprised.

"I mean," Lance swallowed his bite. "You look like your normal self, but when you think no one is looking at you...you look happier than I've ever seen you."

Alex let a small smile grace her lips.

"It's okay to be happy, Alex," Lance said. "Even if something terrible is around the corner...you can't live your life that way."

"I know," Alex sighed.

"It'll eat you alive," Lance finished his sandwich. "You and Kayce have the talk yet?"

"The talk?" Alex asked. "Like...the sex talk? Think it's a little later for that."

Lance chuckled as he took a sip of his water.

"No, I mean...the next step talk," Lance said.

Alex felt slightly nervous.

"Next step?" Alex asked. 

"Mmhmm," Lance nodded. "You in white and all that?"

"I think I'm going to be sick," Alex rolled her eyes.

"Come on!" Lance said.

"One, that's personal," Alex glared at him. "And two...he might have mentioned wanting to marry me."

"Shit," Lance looked back at her. "That's...that's a good thing right?"

Alex took a deep breath.

"It's a big thing," Alex said.