Page 12 of With You Forever

With one phone call, his entire life’s been sideswiped.

It was only an hour ago that he was waiting on Lacey to have a drink and finalize their wedding plans, and now, he’s at the goddamn hospital, needing to see Lacey so bad he aches.

Still, he reminds himself they don’t know anything yet.

Because he’s Seth Kincaid, his brain wants to dwell on the worst, wants to panic, but he has to focus on Lacey. On being strong for her.

He can do that.

He can be her rock.

“Fuck,” he exhales, lifting his face. “How long does it fuckin’ take?”

A hand on his shoulder has him turning. Sal. Her lower lip pulled between her bottom teeth.

“It should be soon, okay?”

Boot kicked up on his knee, Luke studies him. “Hang in there, man.”

Seth nods, shifting his gaze to the stack of Lacey’s wedding magazines beside Sal. The backs of his eyes start to burn. He’d give anything to be talking china patterns right now instead of cancer.

Christ.

Cancer.

He looks at Sal. “What do you think?”

He doesn’t need to say anymore. His best friend reads him. Understands his train of thought.

“I don’t know.” A shaky breath rattles out of her. Luke pulls her close and she closes her eyes. “I just know Lacey. Either she won’t take it well or she’ll act like everything’s fine.”

A muscle jerks in his jaw. “I know.”

Fake it or break, those are the options with Lacey.

If he’s scared, he can’t imagine what Lacey’s beautiful whirlwind brain is thinking.

His girl. And he knows her. She’ll panic, spiral. Then snap.

He’s got to be the one to keep her steady.

Sal turns into him, clutches his hands. Hers are cold, shaky. “Don’t let her read articles.”

Seth snorts. “I like how you think I got a choice in the matter.”

Her lips thin.

“This is Lacey we’re talking about here.”

Sal’s shoulders sag. Fresh tears leap into her eyes. “I know.”

A brick forms in his throat. “I’ll make sure she’s okay, Sal. I swear it.”

Always. It’s his lifeblood. Protecting Lacey. She’s his. Nothing will touch her. Absolutely fucking not.

Luke’s drawl is quiet. “We’ll get her there. Whatever you two need, you got it.”

As Seth meets his brother’s dark brown eyes, understanding and pain passing between them, he sees something else. Fear.

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