Tears fill Delaney’s eyes. “I need Case to know that. I let my anger keep me from telling him, but I want Mickey to know his uncle and his future aunt.”
I laugh through my tears. “You’re not talking about me.”
“I am.” She swipes a hand over her cheek. “Case loves you, Emma. I saw it when he was talking about you at Sweet Bluebells. He’s crazy about you.”
“I feel that way too,” I confess. “I love him, Delaney.”
“We’re going to make a family out of the mess I made.” She looks to the left to see her son approaching with an older woman with red hair. “There’s Mickey. Let’s wait to tell him about his uncle until you talk to Case.”
“Agreed,” I nod curtly. “I’ll say hi to Mickey, and then I’ll try the Cabbott offices in San Francisco.”
I’ll find Case. I need to. He has a nephew that he has to meet.
Two hours later,I fall into my brother’s arms when he walks into Case’s apartment.
“Emma.” He runs a hand over my back the way he always has. It offers comfort. I need it more than I thought I did. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”
I step back when I see the woman standing in the foyer. She came in behind Drake, but I was too focused on my brother to notice.
“You must be Jane.” I move around Drake to greet her.
“I’ve only heard the best about you, Emma.” Her hands fist in front of her.
I won’t push for anything more than I think someone will offer, so I give her a smile instead of a hug. “It’s good to meet you, Jane.”
Drake surveys the interior of the apartment. “I hear that there’s an offer on this place.”
I try not to look shocked, even though I am.
“You’ve got sixty days to clear out, sis.” Drake laughs.
I don’t share the same amusement because we have things to talk about that are far more important than where I’m going to live.
“Where’s Case?”
Drake’s gaze volleys from my face to Jane’s. “Remember Case, babe?”
“Yes.” She nods. “I can’t say they’re all good memories.”
“Jane interned at Cabbott eons ago.” Drake keeps his eyes trained on his bride. “Case wasn’t exactly Mr. Friendly to her.”
This seems like a good time to start my confessions, so I jump right in. “I love him.”
A nervous laugh falls out of my brother. “You love who? Beauregard? Did you realize that you two belong together?”
“Case,” I correct him curtly. “I love Case.”
Anger flares over his expression. “What the fuck is going on? What did he do to you?”
I won’t go there. Instead, I toss the question back to him. “What did you do to him?”
“What are you talking about?” He brushes past me to drop his laptop bag on the couch. “Tell me what’s going on between you two.”
Ignoring Jane, I turn my back on her so I can face my brother. “A girl named Delaney asked you to give Case a message seven years ago. You never gave him the message, did you?”
He chuckles. “I don’t know what you’re doing right now, Em, but if you’re trying to cover up the fact that you slept with my best friend, you’re doing a shitty job.”
“I did sleep with him,” I confirm with a nod. “And we fell in love.”
