Page 31 of With You Forever

“What about you?” Jace asks.

“What about me?”

“Seth.” Luke’s mouth is a flat white line. Both him and Jace are giving him that overly concerned raised eyebrow look.

Seth groans, fighting a yawn. “Surgery’s in two weeks. I’ll get her through it and then we’ll both take a long-ass nap.”

Jace frowns. “That’s too damn long.”

Seth grunts.

His friend is right.

Though he tries to keep the grim thoughts at bay, Seth’s on edge. Worrying about Lacey’s upcoming surgery. What if they’ve waited too long? What if they’re too late? What if they open her up and—

Shaking off his dark thoughts, Seth looks up at Luke, who’s leaning back against the boardroom table. “We doin’ this call or what?” he asks, drumming his fingers on the table. Ready to get this boring business shit out of the way and make it back to Lacey. If he can meet her at the hospital, maybe he won’t feel like such a worthless asshole for not being there today.

“Not today,” Luke says. “I rescheduled it.”

Seth stares. His brother blowing off music business is like hell freezing over. It just doesn’t happen. “Hell, Luke, you feelin’ okay?”

Luke snorts, then sits beside him. “You’re doin’ too much.” His dark eyes scour over Seth. “You can’t have a weddin’, build a house, and—”

Luke’s next words trail off, but Seth doesn’t miss the look that passes between Jace and Luke. Doesn’t miss the unsaid words.

Take care of Lacey.

With a shake of his head, Seth slaps shut a pamphlet. A muscle works in his jaw. Conviction blasts a hole in his heart.

“She’s gonna be okay.”

“She will be,” Luke says softly. “No one’s sayin’ otherwise. But you gotta be okay too.” He clasps Seth’s shoulder. Squeezes. “You eat today?”

Seth doesn’t think he or Lacey has. Hell, Seth walked out of the house today in just his socks. Not like he’d tell Luke that.

Luke jerks his head to the door. “C’mon. Let’s get a beer and a burger.”

Minutes later, the Brothers Kincaid are striding down the sidewalk, bypassing glossy high-rises and the bustling Broadway crowd of tourists and musicians. Seth catches his haggard appearance reflected at him from a blacked-out window.

Fuck. So, this is why Luke is worried.

As they pass Tootsie’s, a woman pushes off the purple brick wall and follows. “Excuse me, Seth Kincaid?”

Seth glances back at the call of his name. A sound of disgust from Luke.

“Just keep walkin’,” Jace mutters, grabbing his shoulder and propelling him forward.

“Seth, I was wondering if you could answer some questions about your fiancée’s condition. She’s been seen at the hospital and we’re wondering if we could have a comment.”

Seth stops next to a red brick building, Luke nearly running over him. Fists clenched, he turns around and narrows his gaze. The woman’s petite, with long black hair and big blue eyes. Sweet-looking. But he knows better.

“Are you from theStar?”

She blinks. “Well, yes, I’m—”

“I don’t care what your fuckin’ name is.” Seth jabs a finger. “Stay away from my wife.”

She perks up. “Are you married?”

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