Page 124 of Need You Now

Lacey nods, stepping forward, her hands on her heart. “It happened after the plane crash, when you were missing.” Sal’s eyes widen at the lengthy time span. Lacey continues. “I needed someone and Seth was there. After that, it was kind of ongoing whenever we were together and now ... now it’s something.”

Sal’s eyes fill with tears. “When were you going to tell me?”

Fuck. Sal’s flashing back to the past. When Luke kept secrets from her to protect her. Seth knows she hates that. Knows she worked hard to keep the truth in her life.

Seth can’t stand it any longer. He’s being eaten up by guilt. By Sal’s watery eyes, her trembling hands. She looks fragile and making her cry—making her cry while pregnant—he’s an asshole. Pushing off the counter, he says, “Sal, you gotta know we didn’t want you to find out like this.”

“We wanted to wait until there was a right time,” Lacey adds. “And you’ve been worrying about the baby and the vacation and then there was Beau and you were getting protective and Seth crashed his ATV because he’s an idiot and—”

Seth needles his brow. “Lace, you’re ramblin.”

Lacey lets loose a giant sigh. “We all didn’t want to risk upsetting you.”

It’s the we all that gets her.

Sal whirls on Luke. “Did you know?”

Luke’s mouth falls open, his eyes flashing with worry. He straightens up, clearing his throat. “Darlin’ ...”

She turns away from Luke, giving his brother the coldest cold shoulder Seth’s ever seen. Luke, pained, leans back against the wall, tossing Seth a thanks-a-lot glare.

Sal stands there, processing the news, while Lacey and Seth wait, frozen.

Finally, Sal turns to them. She inhales a breath, places both hands on her belly, and asks, “Is it serious?”

Seth reaches for Lacey’s hand. “It is,” he says. The only thing he can do to prove to Sal that he’s serious. “Lacey, she’s ...”

He wants to say more. Say that he loves her desperately, stupidly, but he can’t. It’s like the words stick. Like letting his guard down in front of everyone, like finally owning it, will have him failing all over again. Fucking things up like he always does.

And he can’t ruin this. Not this.

Lacey squeezes his hand, and he looks over at her, almost startled, the simple action spurring Seth forward. She’s there for him. Just like she’s always been. Giving him strength, making him better, holding his heart.

“She’s perfect,” he finishes. “She’s my everything. I care about her so damn much, Sal.”

Lacey, her own eyes glittering with tears, says, “We’re going to try and make it work in Nashville.”

Something like life comes into Sal’s pale face. “You are?”

Seth draws Lacey into him. “We are.”

Lacey’s got a death grip on his hand as they wait for Sal’s response.

Sal takes a breath and raises her eyes to the ceiling as if debating with herself. And then she lets out a great burst of a sob. Seth’s heart plummets. They all take a step toward her and stop.

She’s laughing.

Holding her stomach and rolling with full-throttle laughter.

Lacey tilts her blond head, perplexed. “Sal?”

Sal covers her mouth, reins back the laugh, and says, “This is the best news ever.”

Lacey squeaks. “Wait, what?”

“Hell, I’m fuckin’ confused,” Seth says. He peers at her. “Sal, you okay?”

“Of course.” Her smile softens in wonder and she looks at Seth. “I’m so happy for you two.” She arches a mischievous brow. “I had to feel you out first. It is my sister after all.”

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