Page 29 of With You Forever

Bicker, yes. Banter, always. But fight ... not like this. Lacey knows Seth’s only coming from a place of love and concern, but she doesn’t want it like this.

She doesn’t want any of this.

But before she can say so, apologize for snapping, explain her anxiety, Seth puts a broad hand out, his handsome expression twisted. “Can you just do this one thing for me so I can fuckin’ sleep tonight?”

“God, Seth.” Lacey laughs bitterly. “Relax. I’m not going to die if I stay out past ten o’clock.”

It’s the absolute worst thing she can say.

Her words suck the air from the room.

Sal pales and Luke goes deathly still, his eyes locking on his brother.

And Seth ...

Seth sits rigid, the hard bob of his throat telling her she’s hurt him.

Pain rolls over Seth’s face and he looks at her as if he’s about to get up and leave. But he doesn’t. Because Lacey gets there first.

Her hand darts out and she catches his shirt sleeve. “Seth. I didn’t—” Words failing her, wide-eyed, she looks around the table.

Then, Seth’s soft drawl, a hand on her back. “I know.” His voice so comforting, so forgiving, she wants to break into tears.

Luke’s already standing, pulling Sal up with him. “Let’s give ’em a sec, darlin’,” he says, taking her hand and the baby monitor. Sal follows him out, her expression one of sympathy.

Tears in her eyes, Lacey hangs her head. “I’m so sorry, Seth. I never should have said that.”

“You ain’t gotta be,” Seth says, turning in his chair to face her.

She wipes her eyes, sniffs. “I’m such a mess. And Sal and Luke—”

“Sal and Luke don’t care. You know that.” Seth stares at her, his eyes filling with confusion. “What’s wrong, princess?”

“I had a bad day,” she says, scooting her chair closer to him.

Seth wraps her up in his arms and she melts into him. He kisses the crown of her blond head. “You can have a bad day.”

“I don’t want bad days. And I don’t want to take my bad days out on you.” She lays her head against his shoulder, hating herself for hurting him. “I want things to go back to normal.” A long silence, Seth rubbing her back, and then Lacey inhales a deep breath, says, “I needed a bra for my dress fitting.”

Seth sighs, and she can hear the rush of air, a comforting rumble rolling through his body and into Lacey’s.

“And all I could think about is what type of bra? How will my breast look after surgery? What if I look awful?” She closes her eyes. “I think I can do my day, and there there’s always something that makes me remember what’s coming. That nothing is normal. That I’m broken.”

“You ain’t broken, Lace.”

“I just ... don’t want us to fall apart.”

“Hell, that’s the last thing we’re doin’.” A finger beneath her chin, tipping her gaze up to meet his. Her heart stops. There’s so much pain, so much fierce determination, it steals her breath. “We ain’t seen our best days, princess. I can promise you that.”

“Yeah, but ... all this ...” She shakes her head. “The house. The wedding. The surgery. It’s so much.”

“It is, but I got it taken care of.” Seth squeezes her tight. “And I’ll take care of you.”

His words send hope and love blazing through her chest.

Bad days. They can shake off bad days. They can do this.

Together.

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