Rush

Chapter 36

Emma

“Miss Owens. It’s good to see you.” Lester tugs on the handle of one of the lobby doors. “How was your day?”

Long and emotionally draining.

“Memorable,” I answer honestly. “What about you? How has your day been?”

He purses his lips together. “Mrs. Fields in 3A has a new dog. Suffice it to say we are not friends yet.”

He holds out his hand. I spot a faint red spot near the base of his thumb.

“Did the dog bite you?”

“Nip.” He opens his mouth to bare his teeth. “It was a nip, but Mrs. Fields felt terrible about it. I’ll be dining on a juicy steak tonight at my favorite establishment uptown courtesy of her.”

None of this is my business, but Lester doesn’t seem to care about that.

“How is Mr. Owens?” He tilts his head. “Any word on the wedding?”

I slide my phone into my bag. I promised Lester that I’d show him any pictures Drake sent me of his wedding, but guilt is getting in the way of that.

How can I show this man the beautiful photo of my brother and Jane if my parents haven’t even seen it?

Silently cursing Drake for putting me in this position, I sigh. “They were married earlier today. Drake couldn’t be happier.”

“No one deserves happiness more than him.” Reaching into the front pocket of his pants, he tugs out his phone. “I’ll send him a congratulatory text.”

This is my cue to run, so that’s what I do.

“Have a good night, Lester,” I call over my shoulder as I hurry toward an open elevator door.

“You as well, Miss Owens,” he sounds back just as I step inside and press the button for the twelfth floor.

***

Wrestling with disappointment, I stand in the foyer of Case’s apartment, taking in the silence.

He’s not here.

I haven’t heard anything from him since I rushed out of his office earlier.

After spending more than two hours having coffee with Ruth, I walked with her to her apartment on Park Avenue.

We shared a brief hug before we said goodbye.

Our time together taught me a lot about the history of New York and the kindness of strangers.

She relived her youth in this city after I bought her a second cup of coffee. I sat mesmerized by the stories of what Manhattan was like decades ago.

I doubt that I’ll ever see her again, but I’ll never forget this afternoon.

I’ll never forget this day.

I kissed Case.

Tossing my keys in my bag, I start toward the guestroom. I need a bubble bath and some soothing music to help me wind down.

My phone starts up on a ring in my purse. Part of me wants to ignore it, but I fish it out.

Sandy’s name flashes across the screen.

I could let the call go to voicemail, but that’s not something she’d do to me. Sucking in a deep breath, I answer the call. “Hey, sweetie. I’m sorry I had to go so abruptly earlier, but a …”

“I’m pregnant!”

My bag slides down my shoulder and hits the floor as my body goes numb.

“Emma, are you there?” Her voice vibrates with excitement. “I’m having a baby!”

I grip my free hand on the corner of the wall for balance. “What? With who?”

“Kylan,” she spits out the name of her most current ex. “It’s our baby.”

“But…I thought you two…how?” I fumble through a series of questions, not able to get one coherent one out.

“We spent the night together before he left for Michigan two months ago,” she confesses. “We’ve been chatting since, Em. Things are better. No. Things are amazing. I’m moving in with him, and we’re having a baby.”

“You’re moving to Michigan?” Tears prick the corners of my eyes.

Sandy was the last thread that kept me tied to Seattle. The only thing left for me there is a job if I even have that to go back to.

“Not for a few months.” She sighs. “I have to finish out my contracts here, and then I’ll make the move before the baby arrives.”

I’m suddenly grateful to all of her current interior design clients.

“We’ll celebrate as soon as you’re back.” Her voice takes on a lighter tone. “Sparkling apple juice and pickle sandwiches.”

An unexpected laugh bubbles out of me. “I’ll pass on the pickle sandwiches.”

“Whatever works, Auntie Emma.”

My hand leaps to my mouth to hold back a sob. Sandy has always wanted a baby. Her dreams are coming true. Everyone I love is creating the life they’ve always wanted.

Maybe it’s time I did the same.

Chapter 37

Case

“A man can’t live on…” Gavin drops a white paper bag on my desk. “Whatever the fuck you’ve been eating.”

I glance up and nod a silent thank you to him. “Nothing. I haven’t eaten all day.”

My appetite up and left when Emma ran out of my office with regret storming inside of her.

I should be at my apartment talking to her, but instead, I’m still at the office, trying to find someone who can pinpoint the issue with Letter Leap.