Rush

I shouldn’t give a fuck about that, but I do.

I want to be this woman’s type more than I want to be friends with her brother. Maybe it’s time for Drake to find a new best friend because I want Emma more and more with each passing second.

Chapter 31

Emma

“What did you do today, Emma?”

I take that question to mean that our flirting session has come to an abrupt halt. I thought before Elias interrupted us, that Case was going to try and kiss me.

“I spent a few hours at the cupcake shop with Bella Calvetti and a little boy who is a huge fan of Gem Stars.”

My mention of one of Cabbott’s most popular games gets his attention. “Really?”

Why does he seem surprised by that?

At the airport, while I was waiting at the gate for my connecting flight to New York, I could hear the signature music that starts up the game coming from many of the seats surrounding me.

It’s an addictive game. I should know. When Drake sent me a link to download the test version, I finished all twenty levels during a weekend.

I gave it a solid two thumbs up.

“It’s a fun game,” I point out the obvious.

He shoves a hand through his hair. “I’ve never played it.”

“You’ve never played Gem Stars?” I move toward where he’s standing. “Are you serious?”

Chuckling, he shakes his head. “Gem Stars is another pet project of Drake’s. I don’t have time to chase colorful gems around a make believe world, so he took control of it.”

Pursing my lips, I hold back a grin. I did have time to chase gems because I was avoiding a fiancé I didn’t love. “I should be having this discussion with Drake. He’s the one who needs to know how much Mickey Wilts loves his game.”

He narrows his eyes. “That’s the name of the kid you hung out with? Is he part of the Calvetti clan? There’s a lot of them in Manhattan.”

I let out a laugh. “He’s not a Calvetti. His mom is a friend of Bella’s. She had to work so Bella was watching over him.”

A smile inches up the corners of his lips. “It sounds like you’ve made a few friends in the city.”

“I have.” I nod. “I’ll meet up with them another day to go to a bookstore in Brooklyn called Velvet Bay Books. Have you heard of it?”

“Can’t say I have.” His gaze drops to his phone when it buzzes.

While he reads his message, I glance around the office. I freeze when I spot a framed photo of my family on a shelf behind Drake’s desk.

I’ve never seen that picture before.

I move around Case to get a closer look. Picking it up, I realize that it was taken in Hawaii last year.

No one would have known that Beauregard was on the other side of the camera. He tagged along on the trip after Drake invited him. I didn’t realize Beau would be there until I got to the airport and found him standing with my family waiting outside the security checkpoint.

“That’s a great family photo,” Case says from behind me. “It meant a lot to your brother to surprise you with that trip.”

It had meant the world to Drake.

My parents had planned on honeymooning in Hawaii before they realized that my mom was pregnant with Drake. That curtailed all of their travel plans. They took the money that they had saved for their tropical vacation and bought a crib and diapers instead.

I glance back at Case. “It meant a lot to all of us.”

He steps in place beside me. “The beach agrees with you.”

I wore bikinis for most of that vacation. The sun and fresh ocean air were exactly what I needed. “I love the beach.”

“I live on the beach.”

I turn to face him. “You do? The ocean is right there?”

“I hear it when I fall asleep.” His gaze drops to the floor. “It’s a hell of a lot more peaceful than this city.”

I’d laugh, but there’s nothing lighthearted in his words.

When he glances at me, I see the same sadness in his eyes that is always there.

“You miss it,” I say, not questioning it. I can tell that Case wishes he were on the beach in California and not in an office in Manhattan.

Nodding, he drags his top teeth over his bottom lip. “It’s home to me. You must feel the same way about Seattle.”

I used to. When I knew that I could hop in my car and be at my parents’ house in fifteen minutes, I felt safe and grounded.

That’s all about to change.

Soon, I’ll be the only member of my family left in Seattle. Even my cousins, aunts, and uncles have all moved out of state.

Not wanting to burden Case with my self-imposed pity party, I smile. “There’s no place like home.”