I stood and went to him as I spoke into the phone. “Hold on, I’ll get him.”
She continued to sob as I reached out for him. The effects of the concussion still had him off balance.
“It’s your mother. She said your father has passed away.”
His brown eyes filled with tears as he took the phone from my hand. “Mom? What happened?”
I wrapped my arms around him as the sounds of her sobbing and muffled screams filled the quiet night. I couldn’t make out the words.
“I’m coming,” he said, pushing out of my arms. “I have to get a flight, but I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He paused, then said, “I love you, Mom. I’m on the way.”
When he removed the phone away from his ear, I took it from him and tossed it on the chair. I reached for him, but he took a step back and held up his hand.
I put my hands on my hips and looked at the floor. It killed me not to hold him and took every bit of self-control I had not to simply take what I wanted. But this wasn’t about me. He was pushing me away out of self preservation. Even though I knew I needed to give him some space, it still hurt.
“What time is it?” He asked, looking around the room.
“Four-thirty. What can I do?"
His brow was furrowed as he processed the new information. But when he looked at me with those tear-filled eyes, I couldn’t help myself. All my good intentions flew out the window in record time.
Moving to him I took him in my arms. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
Brent let me hold him a minute, then pushed out of my arms. “I’ve got to book a flight.”
“I’m going with you.”
He looked up at me with a confused expression. “Why? You don’t need to come with me. I can do it alone.”
“No, you fucking can’t. I’m going with you and stop trying to push me away.”
I was the world's worst at taking my own advice, but for the second time in less than forty-eight hours, I experienced panic like never before. I was terrified of losing him because he’d become my world in less than a month.
“John…”
“Don’t John me. I’m your husband and I’m not letting you go bury your father alone. So stop this bullshit and let me take care of you.”
I ran my hands through my hair and fisted the ends. Seeing my frustration must have broken through to him, because this time, he came to me.
“Okay,” he whispered, hugging me to him. “You can go with me. Just don’t be alarmed by her behavior.”
I nodded and held him as tightly as I could without hurting him. “Thank you,” I whispered into his hair. “I’ll take care of everything.”
He nodded and pulled away. Picking up his phone, he sat down and watched as the screen lit up. “I’ll check flight times.”
“Okay, but don’t book anything yet. I’ll text GQ and let him know what’s going on.”
I went to the bedroom, got my phone, and called Dare. I hated to wake him up this early, but it couldn’t be helped. And when he picked up the phone on the second ring, he sounded fully awake and very on edge. I knew he was concerned about his best friend.
“Commander? What’s wrong?”
“He’s fine,” I reassured him, rubbing my temples. “But his mother just called. His father died, so we’re going to Colorado Springs.”
I heard Greer in the background mumble something before Dare responded. “Take our plane. It’ll be faster. Greer’s going to call Jason and see how soon you can leave.”
I forgot he was rich as fuck. “Okay, that would be good.”
“How is he?”
