Page 70 of Need You Now

She gives him a thin smile. “But I’m good. Healthier. I got help. I don’t have those urges anymore.” She shakes her head. “Sal doesn’t remember. Luke thought it was okay to tell her, but ... I don’t want her to know. It doesn’t matter. It’s not important.”

“It does matter,” Seth says in a low voice. “You matter, Lace. I think you should tell her. She would wanna know.”

Hot tears run down Lacey’s cheek. She looks at the trio of scars on her knuckles, rubbing a thumb across the white moons. Her hands shake. It feels like she’s split her chest wide open.

“I can’t. I can’t tell her again. It was too hard the first time.” Lacey’s voice breaks at the memory. “I don’t want her to feel guilty for not remembering or for leaving. She doesn’t deserve that. Not now.”

She wipes a tear away from her face and then drops her face into her hands. She can’t face Seth yet, face his reaction. Too many emotions all at once. Relief her story’s out. Worry that Seth will think the worst of her. And, as always, that furious rush of old shame.

Seth’s deep rumble shakes out. “Lace ...” There’s an emotional edge to his voice.

“Don’t look at me, Seth,” Lacey moans into her hands. “Oh God, I’m so embarrassed. You must think I’m so messed up.”

A soft chuckle.

And then, there’s a rustle of movement as Seth scoots close and gathers her in his arms. He hugs her tight, pressing a kiss to her temple. He shifts, unfurling her from his arms, tipping her face up to him. “I don’t think you’re messed up.”

“You don’t?” She stares at him in wonder, nothing but tenderness and understanding on his face.

“No.” He smiles. “I think you’re brave. I think you’re strong.” His voice cracks. “Tellin’ me all that—you’re amazing. And you shouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed. That’s the last thing you should feel. You should be proud of yourself, because I am.”

Lacey closes her eyes, almost unable to believe. She’d held a brief flutter of fear that when Seth heard her past, her secrets, he’d run. Not wanting the burden, the darkness she carried for so long. But here he is, telling her he’ll carry it too.

“What can I do?”

She blinks. “What?”

“To help you.” Seth peers at her, his kind eyes searching.

The question means everything. It slices through her anxiety, steals her breath.

Her heart.

“This.” She rests her head against his shoulder, slipping his hand into hers. She smiles, her soul surging in a great, big rush of happy. “This right here helps.”

Seth wraps an arm around the curve of her hip and pulls her closer. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he whispers, holding her tight like she could leave at any second.

She closes her eyes, leans into his strength. “Thanks. I’m glad I am too.”

They sit there, curled into each other, watching the sun sinking down into the water in a fiery golden glow.

Finally, the ping of Lacey’s phone breaks the silence.

She groans, scrambling to dig her phone out of the bag. “It’s Prentiss, I know it.”

“I have one question,” Seth says, scowling. “How soon can I hurt him?”

Her eyes go wide. “Shit. It’s a text from Colin.” Lacey bites her lip. Her fingers itch to reply. “Oh, shit,” she says as her phone lights up. “He’s calling me.”

A sharp growl from Seth.

A flare of courage goes through her. Another risk to take. Another wave to break through.

She swallows hard. Then, with one long inhale of breath, she answers. “I am sorry, Colin. I cannot help you right now. I am hurt. And I am tired. And I am ... on a break. Goodbye.”

She hangs up and turns to Seth, who’s grinning. “Holy shit. What did I do?”

His expression’s sympathetic, but pleased. “Tough?”

“Incredibly.” She exhales. A weight lifted. Free. It feels fucking fantastic. She looks at Seth and claps her hands together, energized. “What next?”

He grins. “I got a place we could go.”

She arches a suspicious brow. “You know a place in LA?”

“I do.” Seth presses his lips to hers and Lacey winds her arms around his neck. “It’s got great tap water.”

The laugh she lets out shakes them both.

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