Page 117 of Need You Now

Beau rolls his eyes and kicks a rock with his boot. “Whatever, man.”

Luke looks at Jace. “Get him outta here before I kill him.”

A growl from Griff. “I’m gonna boot this motherfucker all the way out of town,” he says, stalking over to a retreating Beau.

“Asshole,” Seth mutters, shaking his head and pushing upward. Luke and Jace are there, each taking an arm to gently hoist him up.

For an instant, Luke locks eyes with Lacey. A shared look passes between them, relief, terror. A joining, a connection of their love for Seth.

Sal stands in front of Seth, her hands shaking as she palms his chest. “I want to get you inside and check you over.”

“I’m fine, Sal.”

“Don’t you I’m fine me.” Sal’s eyes glitter with tears. “You could have been seriously hurt, Seth.”

In small, halting movements, Lacey approaches Seth, her gut churning, her heart heavy. All the fear in her has been replaced by something else. Relief. Regret. Anger.

Anger that she’s not by Seth’s side, comforting him, openly worrying about him. And why? Because they’re being stupid idiots hiding this thing. Because Sal still doesn’t know. Because she’s so stubborn, so icy, so scared of letting herself go all the way with Seth.

She’s in front of him, so close, her heart blazing, her hands trembling, when Seth lasers his gaze to her. His grin tired, but still cocky, still all confidence. “What’d you think, princess?”

All she can do is press a hand to her mouth, letting out a small sob.

Seth’s blue eyes flicker with concern. His expression softens. He stretches out a hand. “Lace—”

A flare of anger. “You asshole.”

She hits him. She hits him again. Lacey beats her fists on his chest, little lashing fuck-yous of rage.

His eyes widening, Seth tries to take her in his arms to calm her, but she rips away, ignoring the perplexed expression on her sister’s face.

“Fuck you, Seth,” Lacey flings back and storms for the house.

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