Maddie stood for a while with her arms folded, tapping her finger against her elbow. Then she sat down opposite Rebecca at the dining table.
“Listen to me, sweetheart. You took a big step heading off to New York to chase your dreams. It was a risk, and I was proud of you for it.” Maddie paused and squeezed her shoulder, the left one, right above that old nagging scar. “I’m still proud of you. So you got some egg thrown in your face, and it was embarrassing. OK. But the shameful part wasn’t any of your doing. Lambasting someone for ratings, that’s shameful.” She placed her hand on top of Rebecca’s, and it was warm and gentle there, squeezing just enough. “Sweetie, you’ve done nothing wrong. What goes on behind your bedroom door is your business, not mine, not Olivia Hunter’s, not your boss’s.” She tucked her finger under Rebecca’s cheek. “I raised you to have good common sense. I didn’t raise you to be a quitter, did I?”
Rebecca managed a weak smile. “No, you didn’t.”
“Well, I packed your bag already. Go back there and keep them from stealing your happiness.”
“I’m scared.”
“Good. That just means you’ve got something worthwhile waiting for you.” Maddie smiled and cupped her cheek.
Somewhere deep down Rebecca hoped that was true. For the first time, her career wasn’t tops on the list.
* * *
Gotham Heli-Transport had started to feel like a second home for Manny, especially since his current residence suddenly lacked the good vibes he’d once come to look forward to each day. Return flights were more common than departures in the afternoon, and they usually consisted of executives heading out to a lunch meeting or the occasional high roller hopping a flight to Atlantic City. But the two women waiting in the reception area were neither of these things. Through the glass window, Manny judged them to be about his mother’s age. They dressed like they were twenty years younger and they were passing a flask between them.
Manny checked the manifest. Sofia and Deborah, scheduled for a tour of the skyline. It was a quick enough trip, and afterward he’d kick up his feet in the back office and hope the sports pages gave him a good enough distraction.
“Welcome,” he said with a dutiful smile. “We’ll be getting up in the air in just a few minutes. Are either of you first-time passengers in a helicopter?”
“Oh wow, are you our pilot?” one of the ladies said with a breathless giggle.
The other turned to her and raised the flask. “Cheers to us!”
Manny swallowed his disdain. He was in no mood. “My name is Manny. The tour runs about twenty minutes. If you are ready, I’ll review the safety protocols.”
They were in the air in little time, their chatter and revelry heard in his headset.
“Deborah is cancer free, Manny. We’re celebrating.”
This got his attention. “Congratulations, Deborah. That’s wonderful.”
“Today I’m not looking back. We’re going to get drunk, get silly, and live life. You have no idea what I’ve been through.”
Manny caught sight of her over his shoulder for just a moment. Her smile was soft and genuine, her eyes full of determination. She reminded him so much of his mother in that moment. “Actually, I kind of do. My mother had breast cancer.”
“Had? Is she cancer free also?”
“She wasn’t as lucky.”
“Oh, that’s so horrible. I’m sorry, Manny.”
“No, I’m sorry to put a damper on your celebration.”
“Don’t be silly. What was her name?”
“Carla.”
“Here’s to Carla,” Sophia said.
Deborah finished her swig. “Manny, are you single? He’d be great for Gretchen, wouldn’t he? My daughter. Second year nursing student. Cute as a button.”
“Thanks, but I’m not really on the market.”
“Girlfriend?”
He shook his head. “It’s complicated.” Boy, wasn’t that the understatement of the year?
“Since when is that a relationship status?” Deborah asked.
“Since they put it on Facebook,” Sophia snickered.
Deborah’s tone turned serious. “Listen to me, Manny, life is too short. Uncomplicate it, and don’t wait.”
He shook his head. “Deborah, you make it sound so easy.”
“You want hard? Try radiation every other day and puking out your guts all the other time. Following your heart shouldn’t be hard.”
Manny considered that for a moment and how great it would be if they could just have the space to see where the future took them. If they could shut out the rest of the world and explore the possibilities. The times they all spent together were some of the happiest times he’d ever had.
The tour ended with Manny still lost in his thoughts. As he set the helicopter down, his phone vibrated in his pocket. A quick look brought him a glimmer of hope. Normally he wouldn’t dare answer his phone with passengers around, but the screen read
Mystery Girl
, and there wasn’t any confusion about how much he wanted to hear her voice.
Somehow he thought these passengers would give him a pass. “Part of complicated is calling.”
“Well answer it!” Deborah said with both hands thrashing the air for effect.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
* * *
The ride back to Manhattan stretched four hours in front of her. Rebecca would have liked to say that the word
late
wasn’t in her vocabulary, but three attempts at a humidity-proof hairstyle and one wardrobe meltdown later, she was afraid she’d miss the entire first hour of the exhibit opening. She chose the lesser-used county road to get to the interstate, hoping to avoid any traffic from the outlet stores. The thunderstorm that had been threatening all afternoon finally let loose a torrent from the sky, and the crappy windshield wipers on her secondhand sedan tried their best to keep up. She told her iPhone to dial Manny again, praying this time that he’d answer.
“Hey there, Rebecca.”
Just the sound of his voice filling her car made her feel better. She took a big breath and let her heart spill out on the exhale. “I know I’ve been off under a rock, but I really want to talk to you. I freaked out, but I’m finished with all of that now, and I really need to tell you how much I—”
The impact sounded like a sonic boom and felt more like she’d been sucker punched in the face. White. All she could see was white. Somewhere under the haze of surprise, Rebecca realized she’d hit something big with her shit can of a car. If she could only get the airbag out of her face, then maybe she could figure out what the hell had just happened.
She heard her name being called over and over again, though it sounded far off under the thundering pulse in her ears.
Focus returned slowly as though she were emerging from a tunnel.
“Rebecca!”
Rebecca pulled on the door release and was thankful it gave way with a hefty shove. She slid out into the pouring rain, then reached back in headfirst to fish out her phone from where it had skittered.
“Rebecca!” She followed Manny’s voice and found it on the passenger side floor.
“I’m here. I’m…OK.”
“What happened?”
Rebecca rounded the front of her car, the rain pounding on her bare shoulders and soaking through her halter-top. “Oh God! I think I hit a deer.” The poor creature lay halfway under the car, completely still in the gathering puddle surrounding it. “Oh Manny, I think I killed it.” Her eyes welled up with the realization.
“Where are you?”
“I didn’t even see it. She must have darted out from the woods.”
Rebecca suddenly felt sick. She reached up to cover her mouth and felt the sting of split flesh there. Rain continued to pour as a few cars rushed past on the two-lane road.
“Baby, please tell me where you are. Are you hurt?”
“No, I don’t think I’m hurt, not badly at least. I was headed back to Manhattan from my parents’ house in Aurora.” She paused, getting her bearings. “I’m on Route 305 outside of Hiram.”
“Listen to me. There’s an airfield in Hiram. I want you to call a tow truck and ask to be dropped off there. I’m coming to get you right now.”
“Manny, I’m fine. You don’t have to do that.” She tried to sound strong, but her car was totaled on top of everything else. No apartment, no job, and now no car. She had nothing left and yet she clung to the phone as if all that mattered was attached to the other end.
Manny called her bluff. “The hell I don’t. You are not missing that opening.” Manny paused a moment, and his voice turned softer. “And I am not going to stand for waiting six hours until I can see you.”
The words rushed out of her mouth. “Manny, I’m sorry I left like I did.” Her voice sank lower. “Like I didn’t owe you anything.”
Manny was silent, and Rebecca knew it was her fault.
“I was freaked out over that horrible interview…but I don’t want you to think I’m ashamed of us.” She leaned on her car door, somehow not caring that her makeup ran in streams down her cheeks under the pouring rain. “And I miss you and Kyle so much. The past few weeks were amazing.”
Manny remained silent, and Rebecca started to wonder if she’d said too much.
“Manny?”
“I’m here.”
“Say something.”
“I’d rather we spoke in person.”
Oh, that didn’t sound good. “OK.”
“See you soon. And Rebecca?”
“Yeah.”
“You couldn’t have possibly missed me as much as I missed you.”
Chapter Twenty
Manny ended the call and turned to find two grinning faces staring at him expectantly.
“So…” Deborah said.
Manny smirked. “So I’m on my way to try to uncomplicate things.”
He opened the hatch for them, and Deborah grabbed his hand to steady herself on the way out. She gave him a good squeeze. “Good luck.”
He squeezed her hand back. “You too, Deborah.” Then he was back in his pilot’s chair, checking his fuel and powering the rotors back up. If Gotham had any problem with him taking the bird for an unscheduled flight, they could dock him for the fuel.
Ninety minutes tops; that’s how long he had to figure out what the hell he was doing before he landed in Hiram. He’d contacted the airfield so they’d know to expect him, but what would Rebecca expect? Did she know what Kyle had planned? No way could Manny sit back while the two of them played perfect couple for the cameras. Just the thought of it made him want to growl. So did that mean he wanted Kyle out of the picture?
From the moment he found Rebecca on his doorstep, practically twerking in desperation to pee, he’d wanted her. He had never meant to forgive Kyle, never meant to risk another letdown, another loss. And now Rebecca was caught up in the Hunter family political circus and all the beady-eyed scrutiny that came with the package. Kyle Hunter was bad for both of them.
Manny swallowed hard. His gut twisted with that last thought. It hurt to say it, but just because something hurt didn’t mean it wasn’t true. He had to walk away from Kyle once and for all. If Rebecca could too, then maybe they’d have a chance.
He found her shivering on a faded vinyl chair, her hair a plastered mess and her eyeliner so smudged she might pass for Goth. He smiled, amused with himself at the way his heart leaped. She was a beautiful sight, even though she looked like a drowned raccoon.
Rebecca stood the moment she saw him, and he had her wrapped in his arms almost as fast.
“Are you OK?” He had to ask, though she’d already assured him that she was. Her bottom lip was slightly puffy, but he still kissed her, because he needed to. Her lips seemed to have magic powers, managing to ease him into a place of calm in only a few moments. She felt right, so freaking right.
“I fucking love kissing you,” he said.
God help him, Rebecca licked her lips like she could taste how sweet that kiss had been. “You’re the greatest kisser. Even Kyle says so.”
He stiffened. “Yeah, about Kyle…It’s over between us.”
Rebecca’s expression twisted. “What does that mean?”
“I’m done with that whole thing…with him. I just can’t do it anymore.”
Rebecca pushed Manny back with a firm press to his chest. It smarted, but not physically. “Oh, no! Why? Not because of me, I hope.”
Manny was confused. “Why would you think that?” He hugged her close again. “No, Kyle just doesn’t have any balls.”
Rebecca snickered. “Oh, he has balls, Manny, nice big ones.”
He shook his head. “I think you’ve been hanging out with us too long.”
She touched his face. “Seriously, I hope you’re not for real about cutting things off with him. Manny, come on. He loves you.”
“Nah, he only loves himself.”
“I really don’t think that’s true. I think you know it’s not true.”
Manny huffed and rolled his eyes. “You don’t even know him.”
Her eyes deadened with his words. She dropped her hand from his cheek. “I know how he feels about you, and I think you’re being really hard on him.”
Manny rubbed his nose. This wasn’t exactly the reaction he’d hoped for. “You ready to go?”
She nodded, and Manny was finished with trying to reason with her about the whole Kyle thing. She’d see for herself soon enough when she found out about his plan. Then a horrible thought crossed his mind. Maybe she’d like the idea of being his girlfriend. Maybe she’d even be happier with Kyle than with him.
Rebecca spoke softly. “You two should work out your differences. I’d like to help you.”
Manny paused mid-turn. Why did that sound so appealing and appalling at the same time? “You can’t fix fucked, honey. That thing between us was doomed from the start.”
She pressed her lips together into a thin line. “I just find that hard to believe.”
He rubbed her back as they walked, feigning a relaxed smile. “You, Ms. Sinclair, are a romantic.”
Thankfully, it made her smile up at him in return. “A classic case.”
* * *
Rebecca knew she should probably have her head examined. Who pushed the man you wanted into another man’s arms? It was insane. But the truly insane part was the idea that Manny would throw away his friendship with Kyle and the powerful feelings that went along with it. She adored them together. She adored the way they made her feel when she was with them—both of them. There was no point in denying it. She lusted after each of them individually, but together they made her feel cherished, like a special treasure shared between only the closest of friends. If Manny really meant to end it with Kyle, then surely a part of anything she could ever build with him would be missing. Besides, she was starting to feel something pretty powerful for Kyle herself, and throwing that away just wasn’t an option.