Page 139 of Stay for Me
“I’m really glad you didn’t die like my dad.”
I hear the intake of Brenna’s breath, and I focus on him. “Seb, I’m really glad I didn’t either.”
“I thought you were—dead.”
“I’m sorry you went through that, but as you can see, I’m here.”
He looks up at me, lip quivering. “I prayed to my daddy. I asked him to let you live so that Mommy would be happy and I wouldn’t have to lose someone again.”
I release a breath through my nose. “It seems he was listening.”
Declan places his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Kids are heading back to the creek to fish. If it’s okay with your mom . . .”
Brenna bobs her head, trying to wipe her face without anyone noticing.
He hugs me once more before rushing off.
My stoic and not-very-emotional brother releases a deep breath. “You really know how to be dramatic.”
“I learned from you.”
“Don’t do it again.” He doesn’t care about my injuries as he gives me a hug. “Seriously.”
“Let go, Dec,” I say as I wince.
“Sorry.”
While Declan pretends he’s the rock, we all know he’s nothing but mush. At least, he is when it comes to the people he loves.
“You don’t have to worry, I have no plans to repeat any of that.”
“Glad you’re alive,” Sean says as he claps my shoulder.
“Me too.”
Connor walks over, shaking his head. “And you all thought I’d be the one to worry about.”
“We worried,” Declan says with a laugh.
“No one thought it would be Jacob,” Connor replies.
“Yeah, because only the good die young, so at this rate, Jacob will outlive us all.” As Sean laughs at his own joke, Brenna walks over to me, tenderly puts her arms around me, and we all walk inside.
And just like that, my world is exactly as it should be.
Chapter Forty
Brenna
“Jacob, you’re being ridiculous!” I yell while he struggles to get his shirt on.
“I’m going, and you can either help me or get out of my way.”
I swear, men are a whole other breed of stupid. “You are supposed to be resting!”
It’s been two days, and he’s the worst patient to ever live. He doesn’t do what he’s told, his idea of resting is doing laundry or trying to help the kids when he can barely keep his eyes open. Today, I caught him trying to put together a bike that he bought Sebastian.
I might actually be who kills him.
