Page 106 of Rescue

He grins, and a weight seems to lift from my chest. If he can still smile like that…

“Because I have a lifetime’s worth of experience to back me up.” He leans in closer, his lips inches from mine. “Everything got better when I met you. You made me happier than I think I’ve ever been.”

“Lennon.”

His phone rings, and he swears. “I would normally ignore this, but Cash made me pinky swear I would never be impossible to reach again.”

“Cash made youpinky swear?”

Lennon rolls his eyes. “He’s trying to be the new and improved, more fluffy and caring Cash Ransome. Which is all my fault, and I apologize to the world for unleashing this, believe me.”

I’m laughing, which seemed completely impossible a few hours ago. By the time he pulls out his phone, the ringing has stopped. “Damn,” he mutters. “It was him too. I better try—”

Before he can finish his sentence the phone buzzes in his hand. He looks down at the screen, his eyes widening. “Haylee,” he says in a strange voice. “I have to go.”

“Right now? What’s wrong?”

He looks up from the text he’s reading, and the smile on his face takes my breath away. “Daisy’s having the baby.”

“Oh my God!”

“I know!”

“You have to go!”

“I do!”

He types out a quick reply and shoves his phone back in his pocket. “I can’t believe this! She’s not due for a few weeks and—” He pauses. “I hope everything’s okay.”

“Sometimes babies are early. Cash would have told you if something was wrong.”

He nods, taking a deep breath. “Okay. So I should go.” He looks suddenly shy. “Do you, uh, maybe want to come?”

I do. More than anything. The thought of letting him leave without me makes my chest hurt. But something stops me. Something that feels like fear.

“We have promo all afternoon,” I say, trying not to wince when his face falls. “And I… I’m just not sure yet, Lennon. I’m not sure I’m ready. I think… I think I’m just too messed up right now.”

His face tightens. “I think you’re wrong. But I understand if you need some time to think about it. Will you do something for me?”

“Sure,” I reply without a second thought.

“Will you promise to call me this time? I don’t… I don’t want this to be goodbye. No matter what else happens.”

I’m crying again. Goodbye sounds impossible. “I promise.”

He looks relieved. “Thank you.” Then, before I can say another word, he leans forward and kisses me, his lips soft on mine. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He kisses me once more and then releases me, striding to the door. “Hey,” I call after him as a thought occurs to me. “What are you guys doing in New York? I thought Daisy couldn’t fly after last week.”

“They’re not in New York. They’re in Nashville.”

“You’re here alone?”

He gives me a strange look. “I flew up. To see you.”

A sudden warmth spreads through my chest, but before I can thank him, before I can throw myself at him and tell him that I’m not letting him out of my sight, he gives me a last wave, and then he’s gone.