Page 141 of Need You Now

When Seth hesitates, Griff jerks his head. “Five minutes.”

Seth pushes up and drags himself over to the bar, a hollow feeling inside his chest.

Jace and Luke, speaking in low tones at the other end of the hall, fall silent and follow.

At the bar, Seth stares, numb, as Griff shows him a bottle of Jack. With an uncaring shake of his head, Seth says, “Bourbon or whiskey or fuckin’ arsenic, I don’t give a damn.”

A look of concern passes between Luke and Jace.

Griff pours out a shot for Seth, takes one for himself. He breathes through the sting, turns to Seth. Sympathy creases his rugged face. “Lacey fought like hell to get back up,” he says gruffly, reaching out to clasp Seth’s shoulder. “She’s strong. She’ll be okay, Seth.”

At Griff’s words, fresh tears prick his eyes. Seth swallows down the honey-colored liquid, thanking Christ Lacey is a strong swimmer. That her body’s conditioned to the cold. Otherwise ... she might not have survived the current.

When he glances up, he meets Luke’s stare. His brother looks just as agonized as he does. “It’s gonna work out, Seth,” Luke says quietly. “Lacey’s breathin’. They’re just gettin’ her warm.”

“I need to be with her,” he croaks.

“I know you do. But you can’t.”

Seth squeezes his eyes shut. His own damn fault he can’t be with her. A flash of memory, of earlier, of Lacey passing out in his arms. Her head lolling, the way she went limp, too still and too quiet for Lacey, had Seth thinking the worst. He had lost his damn mind, was beside himself, and effectively got himself banned from her bedroom by the doctor and Sal.

Now he waits. He’ll never forgive himself if she wakes up, needing him, and he isn’t there because of his own idiot actions.

Seth nods, his throat convulsing. “What if she’s not okay?” He forces the words out, his voice thick with grief. “What if—fuck—”

He breaks off, tears blurring his vision.

A firm hand on his shoulder. Luke steps up and pulls him away from the group.

“Don’t be doin’ that,” Luke says calmly, sliding his hands over Seth’s shoulders. “Griff’s right. Lacey’s strong. She’ll make it.” Luke’s dark, worried eyes search his. “No matter what happens, I got you.”

Before Seth can break down into a blubbering mess, Luke pulls him into a fierce hug. Seth hugs his brother back, tears burning his eyelids. Thank Christ for Luke keeping his cool. For being the source of calm when all Seth wants to do is lose it.

Pulling back, Seth clears his throat. “Thanks.” He lets out a shaky sigh. “I’m goin’ damn close to crazy here.”

The creak of a door.

All heads snap up.

Seth turns toward the sound, to the stairs, thinking it’s Sal and the doctor.

That’s when he sees Luke. His brother’s face is hard, staring over his shoulder at the front door.

Seth turns.

It’s Beau. His expression haggard, his eyes bloodshot. “Is she okay?” asks hoarsely.

Seth stares.

And then he lunges for him.

“You motherfucker.”

The living room erupts into chaos. Luke leaps between his brother and Beau, while Jace and Griff each grab Seth’s arm, holding him back. Emmy Lou covers her mouth with her palms.

Alabama props her hands on her hips, her face white with rage. “I know y’all ain’t fightin’ right now.”

All Beau does is stand there, looking like he’d relish a fist to his face, anything to make him forget. “I’m sorry,” he says, his lips trembling. “I’m so sorry.”

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