I didn’t know how to fix everything, but I would give it all I had to try.
I’d made it to the station just in time to hop on the train to Penn. I’d debated flying, but with getting to the airport and security checks, this seemed like the quickest way. My nerves made it seem like the train inched all the way to New York, but to get to the other side of what Rachel and I were going through, I needed some patience.
I stepped out of the subway station near Rachel’s house and took off my baseball cap, refusing to put on any kind of bullshit disguise to visit my girlfriend. It was almost midnight and dark, but I didn’t care. Things were going to be different now—or, at least, I hoped so.
I climbed her outside steps and rang the bell. I hadn’t spoken to her at all since I’d put her into a cab this morning, and it was surreal how different life was from a few short hours ago.
But now, I could take my girl on a date, she could sit behind the dugout at games, and she could come visit me on any road stop she wanted. I could claim her to the whole fucking world with no repercussions when she claimed me right back.
I had five missed calls from Rachel, but I’d wanted to wait to talk to her in person and honestly didn’t know who was around to listen to and twist our conversation.
I wanted this to be a beginning for us, but I was afraid everything that had happened today could make it an end.
I wouldn’t accept it and would fight like hell to get her back, but I was scared to lose her at all.
The locks clicked as Taylor peeked her head out from behind the door.
“Sorry it’s later than I thought, kiddo.”
I’d texted Taylor to let her know that I was on my way here but had asked her not to say anything to her sister. If I’d told Rachel that I was leaving the team to come to her, she’d insist that she was fine but after the day she’d had, I wasn’t going to leave her alone like this.
And I needed to be with her right now, too.
“It’s okay. We’re both too wired to sleep anyway. Come in,” she said, waving me in and shutting the door. “I haven’t been outside all day. I keep looking for people with cameras in the bushes. I guess this is the closest we’ll get to famous, right?”
“Until they get distracted by the next thing, which I’m hoping happens tomorrow.” I nodded up the stairs. “How is she?”
“She’s okay, I think. Worried about you. I don’t think she’s let go of her phone since the press conference.”
I smiled. “She doesn’t have anything to worry about. And neither do you, okay?”
“I know that. That press conference was pretty cool. Like a movie.” She peered up at me, a slow smile coasting across her mouth. “Rachel deserves that. She deserves you.”
“I will promise you one thing,” I said, grabbing her hand, “I will fight every single day to be the man your sister deserves.”
“I don’t think you have to fight that hard,” she whispered and squeezed back. “You’re pretty awesome. I’m glad she found you.”
“What’s going on? Ah, Silas,” Mrs. Ruiz said, beaming at me as she padded out of her apartment. “I couldn’t sleep, so I was up baking. Everything okay?”
“It is, or it will be. Nice to see you, Alba,” I said, praying I remembered her first name correctly.
“He came here to surprise Rachel,” Taylor told her, still looking at me.
“Ah. You know, Taylor, I could use some help with cleaning up, if you wouldn’t mind coming inside with me.”
I had to look away to hide my laugh when she jerked her head toward her front door.
“Sure,” Taylor said, smirking at me. “I’ll see you later.”
I nodded as Mrs. Ruiz took her by the hand and pulled her through her open apartment door.
I laughed and climbed the stairs, taking them two at a time when I lost patience. I tiptoed through the open door and slipped inside, closing it with a gentle push.
“Taylor,” Rachel called out, her voice raspy and raw, rubbing her eyes as she trudged toward the hallway. Her hair was in a messy bun, strands falling over her face. She wore the same tank and shorts from this morning, and she was so damn beautiful I almost forgot how to speak.
“Why were you downstairs— What are you doing here?”
Her eyes, red and swollen as if she’d been crying for a good part of the day, grew wide when they met mine.
