Page 79 of Rescued Heart

“Oh, I didn’t know you have a brother.”

Justin popped in a piece of gum. “Can’t have too many limo drivers, you know.”

Bianca smiled but dropped it when she glanced at the fire station.

Zack had said Eddie needed time, and she’d give him space. But she was pretty sure he’d want to know about Will.

She pulled out her phone and shot off a text to Eddie.

Bianca

I’m so sorry, Eddie. I really would like to apologize in person when you’ll let me. But I ran into Will…Did you know that he also goes by the name Jimmy? He was hanging out with these maybe fourteen-year-olds who didn’t know he played baseball. Is that weird, or am I being a helicopter coach?

She pulled up Frances’s name and sent her a text explaining about her mistake with Eddie and his mom and Nathan’s request to meet. Her phone vibrated with a response from her friend.

Frances

Sorry, hun, I’ll be praying for wisdom.

That was it? Her phone buzzed again. But it wasn’t Frances. Another unknown number.

Unknown

LB—really, we need to talk. In person.

If only it were Eddie who was up for talking. Bianca deleted the message. Nathan had always called her LB for Lady Bianca. And he was wrong. They did not need to talk in person. He’d called her a liar under oath. Helped ruin her name and was the reason her accounts had been frozen and were now missing money.

Her phone vibrated again. Eddie’s name finally crossed her screen. However, it was almost as disappointing as her ex’s words.

Eddie

I’ll check on him.

I’ll.Notwe’ll.Just like Will, Eddie had dodged her questions. Maybe he’d also been busy, still upset, or worse, he was pulling away from her. Letting Eddie go was starting to feel like the biggest mistake of their entire deal.

SIXTEEN

Eddie’s boot hit the next rung down on the ladder, which rested against the side of the firehouse. A lunchtime rain shower had cleared out all of the movie crews. His mother had been spotted leaving too. And no further calls or texts. Except from Bianca.

It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know his past with his mother. But maybe it was better to put some space between him and Bianca. Though, she’d been right to tell him about Will. Of course, the kid hadn’t answered Eddie’s call. He’d visit Will after work. Right now, Eddie had to focus on his job. Finally, back to doing what he loved.

A rescue dummy was draped over his right shoulder, and Amelia was hot on his tail. Only four more rungs until he could hit the ground and tag his fellow Rescue crew member’s hand in the training relay race. Truck against Rescue.

“Come on, Rice,” came Zack’s shout. His friend had already completed the second leg of their relay.

Amelia grunted from above him. She must be lifting her rescue dummy on the roof.

Eddie exhaled and steadied his next step on the last rung. Victory was in sight. The sun dipped below the trees lining the street. His boots pounded the driveway, and his helmet hit against the mannequin’s side. Eddie readjusted his grip and sprinted for the ambulance parked halfway down the driveway—the finish line.

“Put it in overdrive,” Izan Collins yelled at his own lieutenant, but Eddie pretended the encouragement was for him, not Amelia.

Eddie tucked his chin and dashed forward.

On the sidelines of the first leg of their relay, Ridge cupped his hands over his mouth. “You got this, Rice. Hold on to the lead!”

Hold on.

Eddie’s boots slapped against the wet asphalt as his mother’s words from over ten years ago rang in his mind.

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