Rascal (Rascals Book 1)(56)

“He wants to turn Rascals into a franchise?” Hayley asked, her mouth dropping open.

“He wants the guys to sell it to some outside investors,” I confirmed, and watched anger spread over Hayley’s face.

“Well, that’s just not fair. And it belongs to them. Emerson would never let that happen.”

“I know that, you know that, Emerson knows that,” I agreed. “But your father doesn’t seem to be able to take no for an answer.”

Hayley nodded seriously. “He hates not getting his way,” she said. “He’s stubborn. But so is my brother. The two of them don’t get along because they’re so similar.”

“I think there’s more to it than that,” I told her.

“Maybe.” Hayley thought for a moment. “But the point is that my father and Emerson have a complicated relationship. And because of that, Emerson does things—stupid things—in reaction to my father. Things that he regrets.” She took my hands. “I know that he said some things to you that he wishes he could take back.”

“Did he say that?” I wanted to know.

“Not directly,” she admitted. “But I know my brother, and I know when he realizes he’s made a mistake. I also know that he can be too stubborn to admit that mistake.”

I looked at her. “I don’t really know what you want me to say.”

“I just want you to go talk to him,” Hayley begged. “Give him a chance to explain. To apologize. He’s miserable without you.”

“Is that why he ran away to the woods with the guys?” I asked.

My tone was sarcastic but Hayley’s nod was genuine.

“He didn’t know what to do,” she confirmed. “I told him to talk to you, to call you, but he’s too proud. Just please give him a chance to explain. To apologize.”

“I’ll think about it,” I told her.

“Thank you.” Hayley gave me a big hug. “You won’t regret it.”



Hours later, I was still unsure. I thought that a bottle of wine would help, but I was nearing the bottom of that bottle and I still didn’t know if I had the strength to confront Emerson. To talk to him.

But I couldn’t deny that every time I thought about him—every time I remembered the time we had spent together, a little spark of happiness spread through me. It filled up that empty space inside of me and made me long for more.

I had been so focused on my work for so long—working towards a goal that at many times had seemed unattainable.

Until now.

That goal—the job I had worked tirelessly towards for years—had been attained. I had my dream position, and I was on the fast track to a better life. One where I could afford to send my mother on a vacation and where I could buy myself designed clothes, instead of searching for them at consignment shops. I would belong among my peers.

I should have felt triumphant, but I just missed Emerson.

Everything had been better when I had him to share my life, my accomplishments and my frustrations with. He had supported me in a way that no other man had. He sacrificed his own comfort, his free time, his energy, to help me—going to events I knew he didn’t want to go to. Spending time with people he had spent a good portion of his adult life trying to avoid. I had been trying to be part of the world that he had been born into—a world that he had all but left.

And he came back to it. For me.

I should have listened to him. I should have trusted him when he warned me about his father the first time. I should have taken him at his word and been more careful. Cautious. And I should have told him exactly what the partners and his father had been planning. Instead, I hesitated, because I thought I knew best.

And everything had fallen apart.

He’d made a snap decision and said harsh things to me . . . But I’d made a bad judgment call, too. Hayley had said he was proud, but I was too. I thought I was the one who deserved an apology, and I’d been so busy not giving an inch, I hadn’t realized we both deserved one.

Maybe I couldn’t make Emerson see his mistakes, but I knew mine now, and I needed to at least try to make that right.

But what if I was too late?

I grabbed my phone and called Hayley. She picked up on the first ring.

“The guys went camping,” my words came out in a rush. “Do you know where they went?”





24





Emerson





Usually being alone in the woods with my boys and no cell reception was the perfect break from the world. Fishing and camping always cleared my head—so it was no wonder that after watching me mope over Alex for almost two weeks, Chase and Sawyer got fed up with my pity party and dragged me out of the city to get over it.

We had the woods to ourselves. A few hours away from Sawyer’s cabin, it was too early in the season for the hiking/fishing/camping crowd that could overwhelm these woods over the summer. We hadn’t seen a single other person since we set up camp.

Usually, trips like these were the things I looked forward to every spring. The chance to get away from the city, away from my family, away from any stress that might be fucking with my life.

But this time, I was finding absolutely zero relief in the great outdoors.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Alex and how much I had fucked up with her. Because I had fucked up big time. I’d flown off the handle and put her right in the firing line. And I couldn’t stop replaying that moment between us—when I stood outside the Blackstone Hotel and accused her of selling out to get ahead.