Rush

I take the phone from him and press the call icon next to Gavin’s number. I can only hope that he’ll help me get in touch with the man I love.

Chapter 67

Case

Five long hours on a flight next to my grandfather is not how I thought today would play out.

I wanted to sit quietly with my thoughts. He wanted to replay his championship run when he pitched for Fordham University decades ago.

By the time I was old enough to throw a ball, I knew how the season had ended.

His team placed second, and he met my grandmother after the final game when she came onto the field.

She was a California girl with blue eyes and golden blonde hair. They married a year after they met, and the rest is a history filled with more laughter than pain. The smiled every day until she passed away.

“You need to slow down, Rush,” he calls from behind me as we make our way through the terminal at LaGuardia. “My old legs take twice as long to get anywhere these days.”

“Hop on my back.” I pat my shoulder. “I’ll give you a ride.”

He tosses me the same look he always has when I overstep.

Pushing my luck, I keep at it. “There’s a car waiting for us if you can make your way out of here before the crack of dawn.”

“You should be wearing a suit.” He lands a hand on my forearm. “Men always travel in suits.”

He’s wearing the same tan-colored three-piece number that he’s worn for every special occasion for the last decade. He had it on when we took Apollo’s ashes out to the ocean to lay him to rest.

My brother didn’t want a formal service. He told us that when he was fifteen. He made us both promise that if anything ever happened to him that we’d skip the pomp and circumstance and take him to his favorite place on earth. He was a kid of the ocean.

“A T-shirt and jeans is a lazy man’s suit,” he scoffs as he drags his feet behind me.

I glance at him. “It’s a rich man’s suit. Do you know how much I’m worth?”

“I read Forbes.” He laughs.

I hold onto his hand as we step on an escalator to take us down to the ground level. I didn’t bother calling Drake’s driver. Gavin arranged for a car for us when I gave him a heads-up that we were headed to Manhattan.

I can’t stay with Emma, so I followed my call with Gavin with one to Julian, Maya’s husband.

He owns a chain of luxury hotels, so my grandpa and I are set with two suites.

Cadby balked about it. He wanted to share a room, but I need space. It’s the reason he lives next door to me, and not with me.

As we reach the bottom of the escalator, my eyes land on a beautiful woman standing near the baggage carousels.

I stop mid-step and stare.

“Rush.” My grandfather yanks on my hand. “Move it.”

I let him drag me forward as I keep my gaze pinned on Emma.

How the fuck am I looking at her right now?

It’s almost midnight. I’m dead tired. I’m emotionally spent, but I feel like the world just handed me a gift.

“That’s her, isn’t it?”

I glance at my grandfather for a split second.

He pats my cheek with his hand. “No words. That tells me that beautiful brunette in the killer blue dress is Emma.”

I brush past him, drop my bag, and race to her. I don’t fucking care that tears are streaming down my face. I run, full speed until she’s in my arms.

I kiss her as I twirl her in a full circle.

Her hands land in my hair. A small moan escapes her when the kiss breaks.

“I love you,” I whisper against her mouth. “I love you, Emma.”

“Me too, Rush. I love you so much.”

***

I finally turn the lock on the deadbolt of the hotel room door. After seeing Emma at the airport, I thought we’d skip the hotel and head back to my apartment.

It turns out Drake and Jane picked today to fly to Manhattan.

They can have the apartment to themselves tonight. I got my grandfather settled in his room after sending Emma to the suite we’re in now.

“I have so much to say.” Emma jumps to her feet from where she’s been sitting on the corner of the bed.

I tug my T-shirt over my head. “Just let me look at you, Freckles.”

Her gaze falls to my bare chest. “Let me look at you. I’ve missed this view.”

I huff out a laugh. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you at the airport.”

She shakes her head slightly. “I had to come. I need to tell you something.”

I take two steps toward her before I fall on both knees. Wrapping my arms around her, I beg for forgiveness. “I’m so sorry, Emma. I was an asshole to you. I should never have left, but something happened. I saw someone.”