Ignite (Speed Series Book 1)(21)

I closed my eyes and sighed. “I also ramble on when I’m nervous.”

Tara placed her hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze as I opened my eyes. “You and Mr. Lewis should get together sometime. You’d hit it off.”

A bemused look moved across my face as I let out a chuckle. Tara made her way back toward the front of the plane as I pulled out my phone. Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle. If Tara only knew.

The private plane had Wi-Fi and I had already logged into it before we took off. I was hoping to catch up on Facebook when my heart dropped as I saw his name scroll across my screen.

Emmit.

I opened his text as a smile grew across my face.

Emmit: What are you doing this very minute?

I felt the heat move into my cheeks as I decided to play with Emmit.

With a giggle, I hit Send.

Me: You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. It’s something naughty.

Closing my eyes, I tried to keep my heart from racing. Up until this point, Emmit and I had been very cautious and slow. As much as we were both feeling the pull toward each other, we had stayed more in the friend-zone this week. I had just taken a giant leap right on out of that comfort zone, and I felt giddy as hell.

Emmit: I just choked on my water. Tell me.

Me: Tell you what?

Emmit: What are you doing that’s naughty, Addie!

Peeking up, I looked to see if Tara was on her way back out. Taking in a slow deep breath through my nose, I tried like hell to calm my beating heart. Three years it had been since I’d had these feelings. Only Emmit could pull them out of me. A huge part of me was excited to be feeling that pull in my lower stomach that I’d been longing for. I was tired of being careful. Tired of trying to do what I thought was the best thing for both Emmit and me. I knew what the best thing was.

Us.

Together.

Looking over my shoulder, I grinned when I saw the door to the private bedroom. Unbuckling, I walked toward where Tara was.

“Tara?”

Her head popped around the corner as she smiled and asked, “Is everything okay, you look flush again?”

“Um . . . would you mind if I went and took a short nap? My head is killing me.”

Tara’s eyes filled with worry. “Of course not. You go right on ahead. Mr. Elliot said he wanted you to be as comfortable as possible. Do you need some aspirin?”

“No thank you. I just need to lie down I think.”

Tara motioned with her head toward the back of the plane. “You go right on ahead. I won’t bother you unless I need to.”

I gave her a weak smile and made my way back to the private bedroom.

“Good lord, is it just dawning on me there is a freaking bedroom on the plane,” I said to myself as I opened the door and let out a gasp.

“Please dear God, let Emmit have a bedroom on his plane. Please.”

Pulling my phone back out, I sent Emmit another text. Time to kick it up a notch.

Me: All I can think of is you, Emmit. I can’t hide it anymore.

Emmit: Holy living hell, Addie. Hide what?

Giggling, I knew Emmit was probably getting himself all worked up but I couldn’t help myself. Shit, I hope he wasn’t about to qualify.

Me: What are you doing this very second?

Emmit: Running back to my bus!

I chuckled as I pictured Emmit doing just that.

Me: Have you qualified yet?

Emmit: Yes! Yes! Yes! What can’t you hide anymore, Addie?

Here it goes.

Me: I want you, Emmit. I’ve never stopped loving you and this past week . . . it’s led me to this insane desire to be with you.

Emmit: Damn, Addie. Baby, I’ve never stopped loving you. Please forgive me for being a total f*cker.

My heart felt as if I had just fallen from a ten-story building. Closing my eyes, I softly spoke, “Oh, Emmit.” I had wanted to tell Emmit all of this in person, but fear of rejection pushed me into blurting it out over text.

I was flying to Tennessee to give Mr. Elliot my answer on his job proposal. He wanted to bring a nurse on to his team. When he told me he wanted me to come to work with him as the team’s personal nurse, I almost burst into tears. I’d had a hell of a time trying to find a job. No one really wanted to hire fresh-out-of-school nurses.

I could do my job and be with Emmit while he did his. While Mr. Elliot had been talking, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Me: We both made mistakes. Can we start over?

Emmit: No. We can pick up where we left off.

Pulling up his number, I hit it and held my breath as it rang. Thank God for the invention of Wi-Fi calling.

His voice was barely above a whisper. “Addie,”

I wasn’t prepared for the reaction I was going to have when I heard him say my name. A small sob escaped my lips as I said, “Emmit, I’m so sorry. I was only doing what I thought was right for both of us . . . I . . . I’ve always loved you.”

Emmit made a noise and said, “Jesus, Addie. We were both young and stupid. Baby, please tell me we can pick up where we left off. We’ll make this work, Addie, I swear to God we’ll make it work.”

I covered my mouth with my hand as I held my sobs back while tears rolled down my face.

“Baby, talk to me, please, Addie. Say something.”

Wiping my tears away, I nodded even though Emmit couldn’t see me. “We’ll make it work, Emmit. I know we will.”