Chapter 56
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Emma
“You left me in bed so you could play a game on your phone?” Case accuses with a laugh. “What the fuck, Emma?”
I glance over my shoulder to see him coming down the hallway toward me. He’s wearing only a pair of black boxer briefs.
Wow.
I turn my phone’s camera to face him. “I should get a picture of this.”
He stretches his arms out at his sides. “Have at it. I have no shame.”
I snap a quick picture before I add it to my Printe order.
Drake will probably be coming back to Manhattan soon. That means I’ll be heading to Seattle with him and Jane to fill my folks in on everything that’s happened.
I want to print out the pictures I’ve taken on this trip to add to an extra scrapbook I have at my condo. I’ll label it my life-changing scrapbook since the life I’m facing in the future is completely different than the life I had before this trip.
Case drops onto the couch next to me, craning his neck to see my phone’s screen. “Is that the Printe app?”
I turn my phone toward him. “It is. I’m putting in an order. Do you have a coupon code?”
He huffs out a hearty laugh. “Hold off on that order until you’re on staff. Free Printe prints are a perk for Cabbott employees.”
I glance back at the screen and hit the order now button. “I can’t wait.”
Dropping my phone on the leather couch between us, I glance at his face. “You were fast asleep. What woke you up?”
His lips part, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he shoves a hand through his hair. “What woke you up?”
I don’t have an answer to that question either. My mind quieted enough after we made love that I was able to sleep for almost two hours.
When I woke up, I needed space, so I came into the main living area.
My time with Case is coming to an end unless he offers me a job at the Cabbott office in San Francisco.
“I’m not sure,” I answer with a shrug.
He leans forward to scoop my bare legs into his lap. I’m wearing his white shirt again, but this time only one button is done up.
Running a hand over my skin, he sighs. “I had a dream about you.”
My mouth curves up into a smile. “Tell me about it.”
Glancing at me, he grins. “You were singing, of course.”
“Of course?” I question with a fake scowl. “What does that mean?”
“You always sing to me in my dreams.”
My breath catches in my chest. “Do you dream of me often?”
“Since I met you, yes.” He glances at the windows that overlook Madison Avenue. “Before that, I had other dreams.”
“What dreams?” I question even though I doubt he’ll answer.
He’s holding something painful inside. I see it whenever I look deeply into his eyes. It might be masked by happiness now because of us, but it’s still there below the surface, gnawing at him, consuming him.
His gaze drops to my legs. He runs a finger over one. “Dreams about my brother.”
“What’s his name?”
His hand stops. I see the sudden shake in it. Reaching forward, I place mine over it.
“Apollo,” he whispers. “My brother’s name was Apollo Easton.”
I wait for more, but the only sound that fills the silence is the beat of raindrops against the window.
I rest my head on Case’s shoulder, trying to comfort him, so he knows that I’m here. I’ll listen. I’ll understand.
“In my dreams, he’s eighteen.” He closes his eyes. “I think when someone dies, they never age in your dreams. They always look and sound the way they did the last time you saw them.”
I bite back the urge to cry because that’s not what he needs. He needs strength. “What was he like?”
“He was nothing like me.”
I smile because I doubt that. Case must have an influence on every person he meets. He’s had an incredible impact on me.
“It was a long time ago.” His hand inches over my knee. “I don’t want to forget him. I never want to forget him.”
“You won’t,” I offer even though the memory of my grandma has faded over time.
He looks at me. “He would have liked you, Emma. He probably would have liked you more than he liked me.”
I can’t help but laugh. “That’s hard to imagine. You’re pretty likable.”
His gaze wanders to the window again before it levels back on me. “Come back to bed. The rain will help us fall asleep.”
I place my hand in his. “Lead the way.”
He does.
We crawl into his bed, and with his arms wrapped around me he drifts off. I watch him sleep with a new understanding of why sadness has taken root in his beautiful green eyes.