Page 119 of The Road to Ruined

He pops the pills into his mouth and washes them down with a shot of whiskey before sitting at the edge of the bed.

"I'm crippled, Teagan," he says, dropping his head into his hands. "I think this is as good as it's going to get, and I'm fucking scared."

"Even if you are, that's okay." I lean against his back, wrap my arms around him, and rest my head on his shoulder. "I know you're hurting, but we'll get through it."

"What if I can't?"

"Well…then…I'll lie down and die with you so you don't have to sleep alone."

"Teag…"

"I mean it. I don't want to live another day without you. My heart can't take it."

He turns, facing me with watery eyes, and wraps his arms around me.

"It's okay, Luca," I tell him. "We'll be okay. And if we aren't, then…that's okay, too. We tried."

"You're so good to me, Teag," he says. "I missed you so much. You're the best thing I've ever had."

"I missed you, too. Lie down, okay? I'll rub your back until you fall asleep."

He pulls back the covers and climbs into the bed. I rub his back and shoulders and run my fingers through his hair until I hear snoring.

Which luckily doesn't take long. My own eyes are heavy, too.

TWENTY-ONE

Idon't think it's been long—maybe a couple of hours—before I awake to the sound of the hotel room door slamming shut.

Before I have a chance to panic, I hear Declan's deep, hushed voice. I bury my face against Luca's back, my arm still draped over his body.

"I'd leave around eleven. It's a forty-minute drive," Declan says.

"Fine," Sebastian says.

"You sure you're going to bring her?"

"I'm not going to kill her or let her die."

"You know—"

"I'm done talking now."

Declan walks around the side of the bed. "Luca, wake up. We need to go—the sun will be up soon."

Luca gets out of bed, dresses, and throws his bag over his shoulder. I notice his cane sticking out of the top; he doesn't want to use it in front of Sebastian.

He watches Sebastian hang a garment bag in the closet, his lip turned up in disgust.

"What's that?" Luca asks him.

"It's a fucking suit—what do you think it is? I'm invited to the wedding."

"That's a joke, right?" Luca scoffs.

"No, not at all. The Townsends love me," Sebastian says. "I'm going to take a shower."

He pulls his shirt over his head before entering the bathroom, ensuring that Luca sees my full name carved into his chest before he turns away.

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