Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1)(99)

“Thanks.” Heat flushed my cheeks and I blew out a breath. So much had changed in twenty-four hours. “Why did you give up your brothers?”

Noah stroked his fingers through my curls, gently pulling on them in tantalizing movements. “Because they love Carrie and Joe and living with them is what’s best.”

Unable to stop myself, I caressed the rough stubble on his cheeks. “But you love them.”

His smile became forced and a muscle clenched in his jaw. “I’ll still be a part of their lives. A big part. I’m not going to lie, it hurts like hell, but I’m honestly relieved. I can go to college. I can decide my own future.”

I swallowed and tried to reign in the mutant pterodactyls having a roller derby in my stomach as I dared to think about a future for the two of us. The moment Aires’ car rumbled beneath me, I’d known that I needed Noah in my life. Aires’ death had left a gaping hole in my heart. I thought all I needed was that car to run. Wrong. A car would never fill the emptiness, but love could. “I hope your future includes me. I mean, someone has to continue to kick your butt in pool.”

Noah laughed as he snagged his fingers around my belt loops and dragged me closer. “I was letting you win.”

“Please.” His eyes had about fallen out of his head when I’d sunk a couple of balls off the break. “You were losing. Badly.” I wondered if he also reveled in the warmth of being this close again.

“Then I guess I’ll have to keep you around. For good. You’ll be useful during a hustle.” He lowered his forehead to mine and his brown eyes, which had been laughing seconds ago, darkened as he got serious. “I have a lot I want to say to you. A lot I want to apologize for.”

“Me, too.” And I touched his cheek again, this time letting my fingers take their time. Noah wanted me, for good. “But can we hash it all out some other time? I’m sort of talked out and I’ve still gotta go see my dad. Do you think we can just take it on faith right now that I want you, you want me, and we’ll figure out the happy ending part later?”

His lips curved into a sexy smile and I became lost in him. “I love you, Echo Emerson.”

I whispered the words as he brought his lips to mine. “Forever.”





Echo

Noah held my hand and my bag as he escorted me to the third floor—the Women’s Pavilion. The elevator bell rang and the doors opened.

“Jesus, Echo, circulation in my hand would be a good thing,” said Noah.

“Sorry.” I tried to let go, but Noah kept his fingers linked with mine.

We walked down the hallway and passed women strolling slowly with their husbands, balloon-and flower-filled rooms, and the nurse’s station. At the end of the hall, I paused right outside the room I’d been told was Ashley’s.

“Do you want me to come in?” he asked.

I shook my head. “She might be breast-feeding.” Plus I didn’t need an audience for this.

Noah tensed. “Too much information. I’ll be in the waiting room.”

“All right.”

He kissed my lips softly. “Text me and I’ll be here in a heartbeat, breast-feeding or not.”

“Thanks.”

Noah waited until I stepped into the room before he retreated. No ordinary room for Ashley. My father had upgraded to the private room with full spa bathroom, leather couches, wood floors and flat-screen television. He and Ashley were giggling over something when I stepped inside. “Hi.”

Ashley stretched out on the inclined hospital bed with my father right beside her. His arm was draped over her shoulder. There was no sign of the constant worry lines on my father’s face. His gray eyes shone as he looked down at the bundled baby she held in her arms.

They stopped laughing and Dad sat up on the bed. “Echo. Are you okay? Do you need me?”

My foot tapped against the floor. Nausea roiled deep inside. I’d had no idea how badly seeing the replacement child would hurt. “I’m fine. Am I interrupting something? Because if so I could go, because I know that you just had a baby and all …”

“No.” Ashley’s blue eyes softened. “You’re not interrupting anything, Echo. Please come in. I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you last night, but … well … I was sort of preoccupied.”

“Yeah. It’s fine. You had a baby. I think that sort of trumps—” Watching me have a breakdown.

I took the seat next to the bed and tried to peek at the baby without seeming like it. “Is he okay? I mean, he was born early and stuff.”

Not that I should care or anything. This thing was my and Aires’ replacement. But still, it was a small, defenseless baby and it should have been cooking in Ashley’s belly, not out too soon in this horrible world.

My dad gave me an honest-to-God smile. “He’s perfect.”

“Good.” I crossed my ankles and my foot rocked in rhythm to the finger tapping on my knee.

“Would you like to hold him?” Ashley asked.

Um … no. “Okay?”

My father retrieved the swaddled baby from Ashley’s arms and handed him to me. Becoming the queen of awkward, I moved my hands three times before I finally accepted him.

“Support his head and hold him close,” my father said. “That’s right. See, you’re a natural.”