Rush (Eligible Receivers #3)

Chapter Twenty-five

Linc trained his gaze on the stairs. “Nora sure is sleeping late.” Even though he’d only just woken up himself not long ago, he was still starting to worry. That he’d fallen asleep so hard he hadn’t even gotten up to look in on her during the night made him feel like crap despite the reassurance of Dr. Pierce that waking her wasn’t necessary.

“I’m gonna go check on her.”

“Nora?”

He looked over at Sophie, heart swelling at the fact she was talking again even if he was still getting used to her responding. She stared up at him now, and by the look on her face, she knew something he didn’t. “Yeah, she sure is being a slow-poke this morning. I want to make sure her head isn’t hurting.”

“She’s ok, Unca Linc, she told me bye-bye before she left.”

Nora wasn’t in the house and he hadn’t known it. His anger intensified at himself followed by fear that he might’ve missed the one catch in his life that had meant the most. “You saw her leave?”

“Yeah. When you were sleeping. It was still kinda dark out.”

So, she’d been gone long enough that Linc could deduce she was gone . Stomach churning now for an entirely different reason, he questioned, “Did she say where she was going?”

“To see Unca Oz.”

He picked up his phone, first calling Nora. The line didn’t even ring, just went straight to voicemail. Why was her phone turned off? Next he tried Oz. That call went to voicemail too but only after it had rung four times first. Linc checked the time and realized he’d still be at practice and his phone would be in his locker. When he tried Emerson next and couldn’t get ahold of her either, he gave up playing phone tag. He’d wasted enough time with his head up his ass when all he wanted was his girl back.

There was only one thing left to do. “Come on, Peanut. We need to get dressed. We’re going to Uncle Oz’s house.”

Pulling up in front of a red, brick split-level with manicured lawns, colorful flower beds, and a young yet thriving tree which sometime in the future would shade the house, the first thing Linc noticed was the absence of Nora’s car behind the gates. But that it wasn’t in the driveway didn’t mean it wasn’t in the garage if she took Oz’s spot when he left. He wasn’t crazy about the odds, but he was trying to be optimistic because if she wasn’t here, he wasn’t sure where to look next.

Pulling up to the gate, Linc punched in the code that his friend had given him when it had first been installed. He knew he was presuming a lot given what Nora had probably told Oz but desperate times and all that. As soon as the gates shut behind him, he circled to the rear passenger side and collected Sophie from her booster seat. They walked hand-in-hand up the walkway.

“Sophie! Come give me a big hug.” Emerson squatted to Sophie’s level after opening the door to Linc’s impatient knocking. “I bet you’re happy to be home.”

“I was scared, but I’m all better now.”

Holding her at arm’s length, Emerson gave her a big smile, “Your Uncle Oz and I were very worried.” Then she chuckled, “You should’ve seen him dancing around the room when we found out you were safe.”

Linc heard Sophie’s high-pitched giggle. “Silly, Unca Oz.”

“He is silly, isn’t he?” She gave Sophie’s head a pat and stood back up, a line forming between her eyes as Linc saw her look over at his car. “Is everything okay? Where’s Nora?”

Hackles rising, he asked, “Isn’t she here?”

Her brows raised. “Why would she be here?”

“Sophie said she came over this morning.”

“I haven’t seen her, but she could’ve been here earlier. I had a few deliveries this morning at the pub and just got home an hour ago.”

“Have you talked to Oz?”

“Not since last night. He was gone by the time I got home.” She shrugged. “What’s going on?”

Linc rubbed a hand over his head. “I need to talk to Nora, and it can’t wait.”

Emerson glanced down at Sophie before skewering Linc with a look full of sharp, pointy questions. “How much in the doghouse are we talking here?”

“At this point, I’m buried beneath it.”

Heat blazed in her eyes and a frown pulled at her lips. “If she came early enough to talk to Oz before he left…” Emerson trailed off when she noticed Sophie hanging on to her every word.

Linc knew what she inferred. Nora could be long gone by now. Something he refused to believe. “Right, so I need to talk to Oz.” He grimaced, hoping he didn’t get punched in the jaw in front of Sophie.

From the expression on Emerson’s face, she was thinking that too. “I’ll tell him to call you if he makes it back here first.”

“Thanks. And if you hear from Nora—”

It was Emerson’s turn to grimace. “We’ll have to see on that one, but I promise to let you know if she’s ok.” Emerson gave Sophie a sidelong glance. “Since she has the headache and all going on,” she hastily added for the little girl’s benefit.

Linc dipped his head in acknowledgment then scooped up Sophie. Next stop, Phantoms’ stadium.

After a quick detour to get Sophie a Happy Meal, Linc arrived at the field relieved to see Oz’s truck, knowing he didn’t miss him and pulled in next to it. About five-minutes later, the man himself walked out the gate. Linc got out of his car, leaning against it but leaving Sophie in the air-conditioned backseat, happily eating her chicken nuggets and fries while watching the Paw Patrol movie on the monitor.

He watched Oz’s carefree expression morph into a tight-lipped squint-eyed stare the moment he spotted Linc leaning against the car.

He straightened, waiting.

“You got a set of balls on you, coming here.” Oz opened the back door of his truck and threw his duffle in.

“I’m looking for Nora.”

Oz snorted, slamming the car door. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Linc sighed, “Listen, I want to apologize but to do that, I need to know where she is and she’s not answering the phone. I’m worried about her.”

“She’s fine.”

“So you do know where she is.”

“I do.”

“And will you tell me?”

“I won’t.”

“Dude, please.” He wasn’t too proud to beg.

“Do you remember what I told you I’d do to you if you hurt her?” His eyes skidded sideways landing on Sophie in the backseat before a low growl escaped his lips. “You’re just damn lucky Sophie’s with you.”

“I just want to talk to her.”

“When she’s ready to talk to you, she’ll answer your call.”

“Her phone’s turned off. It goes straight to voicemail,” he grudgingly admitted.

“Does it now?” A wicked smile transformed Oz’s lips. “I get through just fine. Looks like she blocked you.” Then he turned serious, taking a step closer. “Listen, I’m pissed at you right now, but I’m still your friend so I’m going to tell you straight. She wanted to go home to Kansas but I convinced her not to—you’re welcome.”

That news had his anxiety levels rising. “If I could just talk to her, I can fix it.”

“She has the right to some alone time to figure her shit out without you breathing down her neck.”

“Waiting feels like a bad idea.” He’d made that mistake once already and look where it landed him.

“Then it’s a good thing you’re not in charge.”

Linc glanced through the back window. Sophie was still engrossed in the movie.

Oz caught the action. “Go home. Coach is expecting you back next week so take advantage of this opportunity to spend some quality time with Sophie. After what happened, I’m sure you could both use it.” Oz slapped him on the back. “As for Nora, she’ll be back in a few days. I’ll let her know you want to talk to her but that’s as much as I’m willing to help. Now, I’m gonna say hello to my niece.”

Frustration rushing through him like a wave, Linc watched as Oz went around to Sophie’s side of the car and opened her door. Oz said Nora would be back in a few days. That implied she went somewhere. But if not back to Kansas, then where? He didn’t want to take Oz’s advice and go home but at this point he didn’t know what else to do.

He may have lost this battle but he would fucking win the war.

A few hours later, unable to stand the radio silence of Nora’s phone a minute longer, Linc packed a bag for Sophie, took her over to Mike and Jill’s house then headed back to Oz’s. Come hell or high water, he would find his woman and do whatever it took to bring her back home where she belonged.

Stepping up onto Oz’s porch, Linc rang the doorbell three times in succession then switched to banging his fist on the door.

It flew open and a grumpy-looking Oz filled the doorway. “You’re really becoming a pain in my ass, you know that?”

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where Nora is.”

“Then I hope you brought a sleeping bag because it’s gonna be a long night.”

He wasn’t giving up this time. Too much was on the line and because of that, he’d lay it all on the line. “Listen, I know I fucked up. I know what I stand to lose. Nora is everything. But I feel like she’s slipping through my fingers and if I don’t get to her soon to make things right, I’ll lose her forever. Please, I just need a little help here.”

Linc saw Emerson step up behind Oz. “Tell him.”

Linc’s heart raced while watching the silent byplay between the couple, ending with Oz crossing his arms over his chest and his lips pressing into a flat line.

“If you won’t tell him I will.”

“Emerson,” Oz warned.

“Honey,” she said, placing a hand on Oz’s forearm. “I know misery when I see it, and that man has anguish written all over his face. Yes, Nora is upset right now, but if we give Linc a little help, maybe they can work things out.”

Oz looked like he wasn’t buying it. Linc held his breath, his heart feeling like it wanted to beat out of his chest. Oz’s lips turned down into a frown. “I don’t know.”

“Well, I do.” Emerson turned to Linc. “She’s at Cyan Beach, staying at the Sea Breeze Cottages. I’m not sure which number. That you’ll have to figure out for yourself.”

Relief rushed through him, making him feel light headed. He sagged against the doorframe, taking Emerson’s hand. “Thank you. I promise, you won’t regret telling me.”

“Oh, I know I won’t because you’re going to do whatever it takes to win her back, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He turned to Oz wanting to tell him he'd make this right but for once his friend’s face was closed to him. “You know I love you like a brother, Linc but Nora is special and my baby sister.

“I know man, I get it—"

“Do you?” Oz's narrowed gaze emphasized the big guy’s question. “Because so far I've seen a lot of Nora making you happy and not a lot coming back her way. Fix that, yeah? Then we'll be back to rights.”

Linc firmed his resolve and met his best friend’s solemn gaze. “I'm going to make sure she stays, for both of our sakes.”

Oz gave him a chin lift and Linc left knowing he had the challenge of his life ahead of him. One with no room for failure.