Forever Too Far

simple. Even with my heart still hurting from his not being there for me and the baby yesterday, I needed him I still couldn’t imagine life without him.
         “Nan overdosed. I found her unconscious in her hotel room. I left my phone in her room when I rushed off with the paramedics to take her to the hospital. That’s why I didn’t answer you. I’m so sorry, Blaire. I am so damn sorry.” The pleading in his voice broke my heart. I should have known it was something that serious. Rush always answered my calls and texts.
         “Is Nan okay?” I asked. Not because I cared about Nan but because I cared about Rush.
         “Yeah. They pumped her stomach. My mother is taking her to a center in Montana to get her some help. I can’t keep trying to control her. I have you and our baby to focus on.”
         I looked up as my dad stepped into the boat.  He was carrying a paper bag in one hand and a gallon of sweet tea in the other. I wasn’t ready to leave him just yet. I had just got ten here and I liked seeing him happy. Or at least content.
         “I want to stay and visit my dad for a little while,” I told him knowing he was going to argue. I was missing him something fierce and I knew he felt the same way.
         “Okay. Can I come visit him too?” he asked
         My dad was watching me and a small smile tugged on his lips. I didn’t have to tell him what Rush had asked. He already knew. “Tell the boy to come on. I got room for one more.”
         “I’d like that. I miss you,” I replied.
         Rush let out a sigh. “God, baby, I miss you too. So damn much. I’ll be there as soon as I can get a flight out.”
     

 
    RUSH
     
     
         I needed to get to Blaire. I needed to hold her and reassure myself I hadn’t just lost her and that she and our baby were okay. Then I was convincing her to go home with me and marry me immediately. I didn’t want to wait anymore. I shouldn’t have waited this long.
          My plane had landed thirty minutes ahead of schedule. We’d take n off earlier than planned. I didn’t want to wait around until the time I’d told her to be here and I didn’t want her coming to the airport alone. I grabbed a cab and told them to take me to the marina. I’d find Abe’s boat myself. Key West wasn’t a big place. I’d find her before she had time to leave.
         Stepping onto the pier that went between the rows of docked boats I looked for any sign of Blaire or Abe. I’d called her but it had gone straight to voicemail.   There were sailboats, fishing boats, and even houseboats docked in this place. Several of them had people living aboard. I was getting close to the end when I saw a guy standing near the back of his boat. He had his arms crossed over his bare chest as he stared over at the boat next to him. I started to ask him if he knew where Abe Wynn’s boat was when I followed his gaze.
         Long blonde hair hung down her back and b lew carelessly in the wind. The familiar sundress she was wearing was a favorite of hers lately because it was one of the few things that still fit her. The small stomach that had developed over the past weeks was taking up more room and the length on it was shorter than I preferred. Taking in the sight of her I felt whole again... until I realized that she was what the shirtless guy was staring at. She didn’t realize it because her back was turned and she was looking out at the clear blue water as the setting sun set off an array of colors. But I saw it.
         My inner caveman wanted to go jerk him off his boat and throw his ass in the water. I couldn’t do that though. As pissed off as it made me to know he was looking at what was mine, I understood why. She was breathtaking. I wanted to stop and stare at her too.
         I took the other caveman route and headed straight for her father’s boat and jumped in then pulled her into my arms before she could spin around to see who it was.
        “Rush,” she said in a contented sigh and the caveman felt like pounding on his chest. She knew it was me. I loved that.  I buried my nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. She smelled so damn good. Today her sweet smell was mixed with the sea. I wanted to strip her naked and find out if she smelled like the sea everywhere else too.
         I placed both my hands over her stomach just to remind myself that our baby was still okay. He was healthy and Blaire was