Page 20 of In The Grey (Shattered Cove 6)

Remy lifted Emma’s chin, her dark fingers contrasting with Emma’s pale flesh. “You will get through this. It’s gonna hurt for a while. You’ll always have a missing piece where your dad should be. But it will get easier.”

“He was so proud of you,” Jasmine added.

Emma’s eyes grew blurry with tears. “You guys are going to ruin my makeup.” She laughed, blinking away the emotion.

Her friends chuckled with her and released her. “Let’s go.”

* * *

Big, fat snowflakes drifted from the grey heavens, floating on chilly air only to land on Emma’s upturned face. She inhaled a shaky breath and walked through the doors of The Shipwreck. She scanned the faces, searching for Link. She needed to tell him about the test results. Though he hadn’t asked, much less spoken to her since storming out of the lawyer’s office. Auntie Yaa had communicated between them to arrange her father’s requests for this event.

Several people had already gathered around the packed bar under a canopy of Edison-style string lights. A large blown-up picture of her father had been placed next to the wooden box that held her father’s ashes on a separate table. The whole town seemed to be here. She swallowed as Remy bumped into her. Emma hadn’t realized she’d stopped walking.

“Whoops. Sorry,” Remy apologized.

“Go on ahead. I just need a minute.” Emma waved.

“You sure you don’t want us to stay with you?” Jasmine asked.

“Yeah. You guys go.”

Remy searched her face and nodded before leading Jasmine to the bar.

Emma’s lungs constricted as it hit her. She would never get to call her dad after a show again to tell him how it went. She’d never wake and see one of his random messages checking in on her. He’d never hold her in his arms. He’d never be able to give her advice or teach her something about cars. She’d never have another chance to tell him how much she loved him and know he’d heard it. There would never be a father–daughter dance at her wedding—if she ever got married. Her blood ran cold.

She gasped and took a step backwards. A couple of heads turned, their gazes filled with pity towards her. She needed a minute to gather herself before she broke down in front of all these people. Spinning, she left the main room, beelining along the hallway to the bathrooms. But she turned at the last moment, darting to the back room. It was darker in here, but the exit sign was lit up. She veered towards it, walking with purpose, and bumped into a solid chest of steel.

“Oomph.”

Strong hands reached out to steady her. She tilted her head. The last person who would make her feel better frowned down at her in the shadows.

“Sorry,” she said quickly.

Link just stared at her, his face an emotionless mask highlighted by the safety lights around the space.

“You needed a place to hide too?” She tried to lighten the tension, taking in the black and red kente he wore with all manner of ornate designs and patterns.

Link looked down and let her arm go. “I just can’t believe he’s really gone.” He understood more than anyone else in here.

“Me either.” She reached for his hand to comfort him.

He whipped his hand back, stepping away and clearing his throat. “We better get this over with.”

She nodded, disappointed. Was he so disgusted with her he couldn’t bear to touch her?

Tension thickened the air between them, making it hard to breathe. Why can’t he love me back?

He stepped past her, but she wasn’t ready to let him go. Grasping at anything to make him stay just a little longer, she blurted out, “I’m late.”

Link stopped abruptly, turning around to face her, fear burning in his black eyes.

“I took a test . . .”

He ground his jaw and then snapped, “Are you—?”

She flinched from his outburst. “It was negative. I’m not pregnant.”

He sighed in what seemed like relief, running a hand over his face as his shoulders relaxed. “It’s for the best.”

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