Page 126 of With Us (Next Generation 2)

“Shade?”

I looked up at Meadow sitting in the back seat of the SUV. The door was open, and her arms were out like she was waiting for me to run into them. To run into her safety and suck whatever strength it was that she was willing to offer me.

Greyson gave my shoulder a final squeeze before he started rounding up the guys to follow us to the hospital and to speak with the coroner about putting Sunny’s body away for safekeeping until we could bury him.

Pushing away from Sunny, I trudged toward Meadow.

She caught my shirt in her hands before I could touch her myself. Pulling me into the back seat, she threw her arms around my shoulders and cried into the crook of my neck.

I pulled her onto my lap, held her tight, and shut the door.

Cyrus slid into the driver’s seat, followed by Sammy joining him in the passenger seat. Cyrus caught my gaze in the rearview mirror and nodded once.

Blowing out a slow breath, I let my eyes close and held Meadow while she cried.

Once we were cleared to leave by the police, Cyrus and Sammy drove Meadow and I to the hospital themselves. The EMT had checked her out but I wanted to be thorough, knowing that it was what Sunny would have wanted as well.

As much as I just wanted to go home, I knew that Meadow needed to be checked out. Sunny had pushed her out of the way but also landed on her quite hard. They were both knocked to the ground and even though Meadow hadn’t complained about being in pain, the adrenaline could have masked that.

Meadow lifted her head, sniffing and wiping under her eyes. “I…”

“Shhh…” I wrapped my hand up in her hair and kissed her forehead. Letting my lips linger, I inhaled the sweet scent of her skin. Running my thumb along her cheek, I breathed her in. Her scent calmed me. It eased some of the pain rushing through the soul of my very being. I knew in time we could get through this but getting over it?

Never.

***

With shaky hands, I pulled a pack of smokes out of the inner pocket of my leather jacket. I attempted to light a cigarette, but the lighter wouldn’t spark.

“Hey.” Cyrus grabbed the smoke. “Let me.” He took the smoke from me and stuck it between his lips, lit the tip, and inhaled. The sweet smoke billowed around us. He handed it back to me and stretched out his long legs in front of him.

“Thank you,” I murmured, taking a deep inhale of the sustenance that I needed. “I thought you quit.”

“I did.” He nodded toward his brother who paced in front of us. “He’s the smoker. I’d rather have liquor. And you were struggling, so I wanted to help.”

I let out a hard sigh and puffed on the smoke between my lips. “I don’t know what to do,” I said after a couple of minutes of silence fell between us.

“You will,” Cyrus said gently. “Maybe not now. Maybe not even tomorrow. But you will figure out what to do. With Meadow there to help you, both of you will get through this.”

“You don’t know that,” I said, my voice rough.

“Nope.” Sammy stopped pacing. “He doesn’t but we can tell you from experience that it will get easier. Some days are harder than others. You could see things that remind you of him. Or smell something. Or even just seeing Meadow could remind you.”

I swallowed hard, looked away, and butted out the smoke on the sidewalk beneath us.

“You’re strong, Shade. Both of you are.” Cyrus nodded toward Sammy. “Hell, I don’t know what I would have done without this fucker.”

Sammy grinned, patting his own back. “I am pretty spectacular.”

I chuckled.

They laughed along with me.

I let out a heavy sigh. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, brother.” Cyrus cupped my shoulder. “You should get in there though. I’m sure they’re done checking on Meadow.”

I nodded. I wanted to stay with her, but she had insisted that I take a breather.

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