Rush

He takes me into his arms in a shaky embrace. “I want to tell that girl that I’m sorry that she lost Pol.”

I step back and cup his cheek in my hand. “She believes Pol loved her.”

“He did.” He nods. “In his own way, he loved her. She doesn’t need to know about the others.”

Silence is a weapon in itself, but sometimes it’s a gift.

Delaney needs to heal, and we have to help in any way we can.

“Does Emma know you love her?” He taps my bare chest.

Shaking my head, I hold back a rush of emotion. “You should have seen her face. I swear I could see her heart breaking in two in front of me.”

“You’re going to fix that.”

I stare at him. Wisdom has always shone from my grandfather’s eyes. It’s there now.

“What if it’s too late?” I ask on a whisper.

“Then you get your ass in gear and show her that you’re the man for her.” He pats my cheek. “Go pack. We’re leaving in two hours.”

“Two hours.” I huff out a laugh. “You were sure you’d get me to say yes to this trip.”

“I’m sure you love Emma,” he says matter-of-factly. “If you want her back, you get on the plane. It’s as simple as that.”

Chapter 64

Emma

“That’s my newest creation.” Delaney slides a plate with two cupcakes into the middle of the table. “The cupcake is lavender, and it’s a honey cream frosting.”

Bella eyes the plate. “Unless you get your hand on one of those now, Emma, I’m eating them both.”

I tilt my head back in laughter. “I want one.”

“There’s more.” Delaney motions to one of the display cases. “It’s our flavor of the day.”

Bella takes a hearty bite. Her head nods as she chews. “I need to take two to go. Barrett is going to love this.”

Delaney looks to me, so I pick up mine and take a bite. My eyes almost roll back in my head because it’s that good.

“My brother and his wife are coming back tonight.” I point at the cupcake. “I’ll take two as well for them.”

“I’ll pack them up.” Delaney turns to walk away.

“Wait.” Bella reaches out her hand. “Emma wants to help Mickey with his schoolwork.”

That drops Delaney onto the empty chair at our table. “It’s his reading comprehension. He gets stuck on certain letters.”

“I’d love to help.” I take another bite of the cupcake. “Maybe we can meet up tomorrow morning? I’m going back to Seattle the day after tomorrow to sort out some stuff there.”

“But you’re coming back, right?” Bella’s eyebrow edges up. “You’re taking the job at Cabbott.”

It’s a statement not a question, but I don’t want to mislead her. “I’m still thinking about it.”

Delaney’s gaze volleys from Bella to me. “Am I missing something?”

Bella takes the lead before I can say anything. “Emma was offered a job in Manhattan.”

“You should take it.”

I turn to Delaney. “It’s a big step.”

“It doesn’t have to be forever.” She glances at the windows of the bakery. “I love living here, but I don’t think Mickey and I will stay here forever.”

“Where would you go if you left here?” Bella asks before she takes the final bite of her cupcake.

“California.” Delaney’s gaze drops to her lap. “I want Mickey to see the ocean one day. His dad loved the ocean.”

Case loves the ocean.

The bite of pain I feel whenever I think of him gnaws at my heart.

With a deep breath, she smiles. “Apollo loved to surf. Mickey wants to learn how someday.”

Time stops for a brief second as I try and absorb those words.

Apollo?

Her Apollo can’t be Case’s Apollo.

With a lump in my throat, I turn toward her. “What was Apollo’s last name?”

Her eyes search mine. “It’s the same as Mickey’s middle name. Easton.”

I can’t stop the flood of emotion that hits me. I drop my head into my hands and let out a sob.

“Emma?” Delaney reaches to grab my shoulder. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

I try and focus my gaze on her, but it’s blurring with tears. “I love his brother. I love Apollo’s brother.”

That sets Delaney up on her feet so fast that the chair she was sitting in tumbles to the ground.

Bella stands too. Her expression is clouded with confusion as she tries to make sense of what I just said.

Delaney shakes her head. “Rush? You’re not talking about Rush, are you?”

“Who is Rush?” Bella glances at me. “What’s going on, Emma?”

I push to stand, even though my knees are shaking. I look to Delaney, but all I see is sadness so profound that it takes my breath away.

“He was here,” she shouts at me with her finger pointing at the display case. “He came in here last week to get cupcakes for the woman he loves.”

It’s me. He loves me.

I don’t say it, but Delaney connects the dots as she looks at me. Her hand darts to her mouth. “Oh my God, Emma. That’s you. Rush loves you.”