Page 9 of By His Play

His eyes drop momentarily to my previously mentioned parts, and my cheeks heat.

“I just want you to be happy,” he says, surging forward.

“I know. But right now, I’m living here in my grams’ house and supporting her in her f-final… however long,” I choke out. “My focus is her. There will be time for me later.”

Without hanging around to hear him dispute my words, I rip the door open and race through it.

Ignoring my car, I march toward his, knowing that he’ll want to take charge.

“We’re going to our place, right?” I ask once he’s backed out of the driveway.

When he told me earlier that he’d made a reservation, I just assumed.

Now, though, I can’t imagine going anywhere but our favorite place in the city.

“Do you know me at all?” Kieran asks with a laugh, instantly making me relax. “I sorted it out before leaving Chicago.”

His words remind me of the long day he’s had.

When he first showed up, I expected him to tell me that he’d flown. But no sooner do we emerge from the care home and I see his car parked up, I discover that wasn’t the case.

Kieran had jumped in his car first thing this morning and driven almost five hours to me. Even now, hours later, a smile pulls at my lips.

It’s not the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but he made the journey to see me. Not anyone else in the world. Me.

Thousands of people—women—across the country clamor for my best friend’s attention, and yet he drives for miles to spend time with me.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. Things have been…”

Reaching over, I squeeze the hand resting on his thigh in support.

“It’s okay. Whenever you’re ready.”

He blows out a long, slow breath, letting me know that I’m not the only one struggling with the things life has thrown at us recently.

The ding of my cell phone cuts through the heavy silence in the car and I pull it from my purse, frowning at the message from Jasmine, my assistant who has been keeping my job and our team functioning in my absence.

“Everything okay?” Kieran asks, glancing over.

I tap out a quick response to her query and shove my cell back into my purse.

“Yep, just work stuff.”

“You’re on sabbatical, you don’t need to be involved.”

Guilt twists up my insides. I hate that I’m letting my team and the Foundation down. But I can’t be in two places at once.

“It’s fine. I like still being involved, even if it is from a distance. “Shall we go eat?” I ask, changing the subject, my eyes landing on our favorite little hidden gem in the city.

It’s a stylish bistro that’s concealed in the backstreets. We found it by accident when we were visiting Grams a few years ago, and it very quickly turned into our number one place.

Pushing the door open, I take a moment to appreciate the warmth of spring before Kieran wraps his thick arm around my shoulder and guides me toward the front door.

The owner, Melanie, is there waiting for us with a beaming smile on her face.

“I’ve missed you guys,” she cries enthusiastically before giving us both a hug as if we’re long-lost friends. “Sorry about how your season ended,” she says to Kieran, making his body lock up.

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