Page 67 of Fame And Secrets
My stomach rolled. “Ry, I’m in Portland.”
“Jesus Christ, Julian! Why are you—”
“Damn it, I’ve been trying to get out of here for over six hours! They grounded the plane in Seattle, and all the other direct flights are full. Kristina had us drive to PAX and I’m connecting. I’ve been beating my brains out trying to get out.”
“Okay, calm down. When’s your flight?”
Every loud pulse of blood in my ears sounded like a steel drum adding to the headache brewing behind my eyes. “We should board in a few. All I know is I’m stuck in this goddamn airport. Do you know what that means, Ry?”
“Yeah, I think I do.”
“It means I screwed her over again! It means the biggest moment in our lives, she’ll have to do on her own. I won’t…” I stopped as emotion clouded my vision. “I won’t be there to see my kid.”
I wasn’t a crier. Outward emotion wasn’t my thing. But damn if I couldn’t wail some tears right now.
After minutes of complete silence, Ryker spoke softly. “There’s still a chance.”
I raked my hand across my eyes. “Are you telling me Phoebe can hold out?”
He hesitated. “Maybe an hour…two at the most. She’s going fast and the doctors aren’t taking chances with the baby being early.”
I hadn’t stopped to think about the timing. Phoebe still had nearly nine weeks left. It was too early.
Rubbing the back of my hand against my eyes, I spoke the only words left inside of me. “I need you to do something for me, Ry.”
“Julian, it’s not—”
“Please, just listen. I don’t know how much longer I can do this without losing it.” Stopping only for a deep breath, I forged ahead. “I want you to be there for Phoebe. Whatever she needs, you do it.”
“Of course, I will but—”
“One more thing.”
“Yeah?”
“I want you to be there when the baby is born. I want you to tell him or her that its dad loves it. You say that, Ry. You promise me.”
“I promise,” he agreed, his voice cracking.
Phoebe was giving birth, but it felt like death. “I’m trusting you with my family. Do me proud.”
His tone picked up in optimism. “Wait, Julian, I have an idea! What if I just call you when…”
My heart beat at an irregular pace as I frantically called his name. “Ry? What if you call me when what? Ryker?” The next sound was a click and then silence. “What the fuck?”
I held the phone up to my face, and the world crashed down around me.
A black, cold, silent screen looked back at me. My phone died, and my charger was plugged into a wall in the Stone Acer studio. All I had left was a promise by a brother who I’d trusted with everything that meant anything.
In a crowded airport full of people, I’d never felt more alone in my life.