Ronan wasted no time. He pulled me into his arms. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. He was a good six inches taller than me, and I'd never felt such a solid pair of arms around me. They felt like security and warmth and that darn troublemaker, heartbreak. I rested my face against his shoulder, and he tightened his hold on me. I melted like butter in his arms,feeling instantly at home. He didn't try anything. He just held me there, solidly, protectively, and for a few glorious minutes, I got lost in his scent and warmth.
The song ended. I lifted my face and peered up at him. He lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me lightly. I wanted more, and I sensed he was holding back. It seemed we were both tiptoeing around this thing between us, as if we both sensed that it might be significant.
"I guess we didn't get very far with our questions," he said.
"You were right. A slow dance is far more revealing."
The jukebox fell silent and the familiar ring of my phone somehow penetrated the dizzying fog I was in. I straightened. "That's my mom's ringtone." I hurried over to my purse and pulled out my phone.
"Mom?" There was a long pause, long enough to tighten my muscles with adrenaline. "Mom?" Ronan stood next to me with a worried expression.
"Ray, honey—" Her voice was strained. "I'm not feeling well. My chest is tight."
"I'm coming home right now." I hung up. "My mom's not feeling well. It's her chest." I pushed my hand against my mouth to stop a sob.
Ronan dropped cash on the table and followed me out. "I'll follow you home in case you need someone."
I hurried across the lot. "You don't need to."
"I want to." He saw me to the car. My hands were shaking as I turned the key. I should never have gone out.
fourteen
. . .
Ronan
Ifollowed Rachel to her apartment building. She ran up the stairs, and I followed behind. She was shaking so badly she couldn't get her key in the lock. I took hold of the keys and opened the door. A woman with the same brown eyes as Rachel was sitting on the couch looking pale and in pain. Rachel threw her stuff down and ran to her mom.
"I'll call an ambulance," Rachel said.
"No, not necessary," her mom said through clenched teeth. "Well, maybe that's for the best."
I had my phone ready. "Address?"
"Uh"—Rachel rubbed her forehead—"Uh, 218 Lincoln Street apartment 203." She sat on the floor in front of her mom holding her hand. It brought back the scare we'd had with Dad. Heart attacks were scary shit. They usually happened without warning, and they always carried with them the threat that the person you were used to having in your life might suddenly be taken away. Dad's heart attack had proven to me that no matter how much I tried to hate him, I knew my life wouldn't be the same without him. And the anguish on Rachel's face assured me that she'd be lost without her mom.
"Ambulance is on its way. What can I get you?" I asked her mom. "A glass of water?"
Even through her fear and pain she smiled at her daughter. "You weren't kidding about him being handsome. A glass of water, dear, please."
I hurried into the kitchen. It was the kind of space where you could cook food and set the table without moving your feet. There was a dinosaur clock on the wall and a basket of plastic dinosaurs sitting on a booster seat. I filled a glass with water and walked out to the front room.
I spotted the small figure standing in the hallway before anyone else. He smiled at me and hurried forward with his stuffed dinosaur. "How did you know Bronty was firsty?"
"Because I know dinosaurs love water," I replied. I took the toy and pretended to give it a sip of water. "Now, let's give your grandma a sip, too." Sirens sounded in the distance.
Rachel looked up at me. "I don't want him to freak out when he sees them come in with all their equipment."
I nodded. "I've got this. Hey, Jack, my name is Ronan, and I know a lot about dinosaurs. I'd love to see your collection."
Jack paused and his little face scrunched up with worry as he looked at his mom and grandma. "What are they doing?" he asked warily.
"They're just talking." The sirens grew louder. "What about those dinosaurs? I'll bet you don't have a triceratops."
Jack had his mom's big brown eyes. He opened them wide. "Of course I do." He grabbed my hand. "Come with me."
We reached a bedroom with a twin bed and a small toddler bed. I knew instantly by the faint smell of perfume that it was Rachel's bedroom. We'd only had one slow dance, and all I could think while I was holding her was that I was in big fucking trouble. I'd met her. I'd met the woman that Indiana was always teasing me was out there waiting to snatch me from the wildworld of Wilde and throw me into relationship bliss. I'd always replied with a laugh, letting her know relationship bliss was for my sappy older brothers.