Page 116 of Need You Now

But Luke, his eyes wild and unstrung, doesn’t hear her warning. It’s instinct, Seth’s his brother, he’s panicking and he can’t be stopped.

Luke rips Seth’s helmet off.

Seth’s eyes are closed. A tendril of blood streams from his ear down his neck.

Griff swears, a muscle jerking in his jaw.

Emmy Lou whimpers, bringing her hands up to cover her eyes.

“No, Seth,” Luke moans, his face twisting up in the worst expression Lacey’s ever seen. He shakes his head, no no no, his body a ball of pain.

“No,” Lacey whispers. An echo to Luke. That’s when there’s a warm hand in hers. She looks over in surprise.

Alabama.

Hot tears fill her eyes. She’s never been so grateful for the contact, for something to keep her upright when all she wants to do is collapse. Alabama gives her hand a squeeze, and together, they watch as Sal checks Seth over.

Lacey closes her eyes, resisting the sight of Seth lying there, so still, so unlike Seth. The thought has her swaying on her feet. It feels like her world is over. Like her life is ending. She can’t lose him. She absolutely cannot.

“He’s breathing,” Sal announces, leaning over Seth, and Lacey’s eyes flash open. A relieved cry goes up. Low swears. Muted sobs from the sidelines.

Then, as if to prove Sal’s point, Seth groans.

Lacey’s heart hitches.

Luke, kneeling by Seth’s side, grips his brother’s hand. His eyes flicker, tears and worry shining in their dark depths.

And then Seth laughs. A full-bodied laugh that has everyone letting out their held breaths.

Seth’s eyes open to stare at the blue sky above. “Oh man,” he groans, pressing a hand to his head. “Who turned out the fuckin’ lights?”

Lacey’s heart jump-starts, her legs threatening to give out, if it weren’t for Alabama keeping her up.

Sal, her eyes shiny with tears, presses a hand against Seth’s chest. “Stay still.”

But Seth isn’t having any of it. With help from Luke, he sits up. He flinches at the movement, swaying for a second and then steadies. Surveys them all, his gaze aware, clearheaded.

Luke stifles a sob as he grips his brother’s shoulder. He cups Seth’s face, making Seth look at him, clocking his pupils, the blood at his temple.

“I’m okay, man,” Seth says softly to Luke.

“You sure? ’Cause I ain’t.” Luke holds his eyes. His hand still on Seth’s shoulder, squeezing tight.

Seth chuckles, rolls out his neck. “I’m a little bruised up. But I’m alright.”

Lacey’s mind, her heart, overheats. Gripped by the notion that’s Seth’s okay, but she’s not. Regret curdles her stomach, balls her fist. She could have lost him. The man she loves, and he doesn’t even know it. Next comes a wave of rage. Stupid men and their stupid games. He could have been hurt, could have died, and all he’s doing is playing it off.

Seth grins up at Griff and Jace. “Well, what about it? Did I win?”

Griff exhales. “Yeah, you won alright.”

Jace just shakes his head, studying Seth.

A snort from left field. “Barely.” Beau stands there, unfazed, arms crossed, no hint of concern on his face. “Think you forgot how brakes work.”

All eyes snap to Beau, forgotten about in the chaos of tending to Seth.

Luke whips his head up, nostrils flaring, but he stays by his brother’s side. “You fuckin’ idiot!” he yells at Beau, hot anger in his voice. “You hit him with your goddamn wheels!”

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