Rushed (Adventures in Love 1)

“It’s safe, Cybil, and the most logical way for us to get to Oregon.”

“I watch the news. I—”

“You”—he captures the back of my neck and smooths his thumb up and down my skin—“trust me.”

“I trust you.” I don’t even hesitate to agree, and he places his face close to mine, so close I can see tiny bits of gold in his eyes I didn’t notice before, something that’s ridiculous to notice now.

“This is the fastest way to get you home to your family. I promise you’ll be safe. I’ll be with you the entire time, so you have nothing to be afraid of. Okay?” Swallowing, I nod, and he leans in to kiss the tip of my nose. “You need to grab your cell from the back deck while I make sure the house is shut down.”

“Okay.” I head outside to get my phone while he goes to the kitchen, and when I get back inside, he ushers me to the front door and out, leading me to his truck. While I buckle up, I hear the thud of our bags landing in the truck bed; then, a moment later, he gets in behind the wheel.

“Ready?” he asks, placing two bottled waters in the cup holders and a few of my favorite granola bars in the center console between our seats. The sight of them causes my throat to burn as I nod. “Let’s get you home.” He grabs my hand and pulls it over to rest on his thigh before he starts the engine and backs away from the house. As he flips on the turn signal and turns onto the main road, I look at my phone, hoping it will ring while praying it doesn’t. I don’t know what I’ll do if I get a call saying that—

I bite the inside of my cheek, refusing to finish my thought.

“I’m proud of you, baby.”

“You always say you’re proud of me when I’m not doing anything worthy of that praise.” I smile, but it feels forced.

“You’re doing more than you think you are. I know you’re freaked, but you’re not breaking down on me.” He gives my fingers a squeeze, and I look over at him. “You should send Jade a message to let her know you’re on your way and that you’ll be there in less than four hours.”

“Four hours?” There’s no hiding the surprise in my voice.

“It’s about an hour-and-a-half flight once we’re wheels up, then a forty-minute drive from the airport to the hospital.” He lifts my hand to kiss my fingers. “After you send that text, I want you to eat one of your granola bars.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“I know, but you need to get something in your stomach. It’s going to be a long day,” he says gently, and I nod before quickly sending Jade a message and another to Galvin. Jade doesn’t respond, but Galvin texts back seconds later, saying he’s in the waiting room at the hospital and that he’ll see me when I get there. Which I’m not looking forward to. I don’t text him back.

I grab one of my bars and go through the motions of chewing and swallowing, because Tanner is right. I’ll need something in my stomach if I’m going to face this day.

Chapter 19

TANNER

I grab the parking pass the machine spits out, then wait for the gate to go up before heading up the ramp into the parking garage across the street from the hospital. When we landed an hour ago, Cybil was able to get ahold of Jade. She told her that Maisie had gone in for emergency surgery after the doctors had confirmed she did have a heart attack and that she needed a stent put in.

After getting that news, Cybil assured her that she was on her way before hanging up and breaking into tears that ripped me apart as they soaked my tee. It took me a good ten minutes to get her calm enough to get off the plane. Dave looked about as happy as I felt seeing her cry, which meant she’d won him over just as quickly as she has everyone else in my life.

Finally finding an empty space on the third level, I pull in and park, then give Cybil’s thigh a squeeze.

“You okay, sunshine?” I move my hand to the back of her neck under her ponytail, and she turns my way.

“I hate hospitals,” she says quietly, and my fingers automatically tighten on her nape. Her confession isn’t surprising. I imagine that after her mom was diagnosed with cancer, she probably spent more time in hospitals than she ever wanted to.

“That’s understandable,” I assure her, and her chin trembles. Hating that there’s nothing I can do to ease her fear right now, I pull her close and rest my forehead against hers. “It will be okay, even if it doesn’t feel like it will be.”