Page 35 of With You Forever

Tears sting Lacey’s eyes, her heart a tumbleweed in her chest, and then she bursts out, “It’s not fair to him. What if in the future it comes back? What if I have to do chemo like Mom and I’ll lose my hair and Seth will leave me?”

“Lacey—”

“I plan parties, but I can’t plan my way out of this.” Tears drip into her tea. “No one can.”

Sal looks her over carefully. “You have to talk to Seth, Lacey.”

“I know. But I’m afraid. He’s doing so much; I don’t want to worry him with anything else. Or ...” Her hands twist together, because the truth hurts. “What if he feels the same way?”

A sadness enters Sal’s eyes and she shakes her head. “He won’t. He loves you.”

“Ugh,” Lacey growls, swiping at tears. “I’m such a gross hot mess.”

Sal chuckles. “It’s okay to be. This is scary. And you can vent and rage and be unsure. But don’t push Seth away. You need him. And he’s—”

But she never gets to finish her sentence.

The front door slams open.

Lacey turns, her eyes widening at the scene. Seth’s hand balled against his side, his handsome face twisted up in pain, Luke and Jace hauling him into the apartment.

“Oh my God. What happened?” Lacey asks, scrambling up.

“He punched a goddamn wall,” Luke snaps, eyes wild, as he drags his brother to a chair. “Sit your ass down,” he tells Seth.

“I’m fine,” Seth says, looking up at Lacey. “I’m fine, princess.”

“You’re not fine,” Lacey says, horrified. She leans over him to examine the damage, and he snakes an arm around her waist, tugging her toward him. Shocked, she rears back. “Seth, your hand—why would you—”

“Some lady at theStarwas botherin’ him. Askin’ questions about Lacey,” Jace explains in a low voice to Sal. “She said—”

“Jace,” Seth growls, sending his bandmate a sharp glare, and Lacey stares. He looks weary and worried and so unlike the man she knows. “Shut the fuck up.”

Turning his attention back to Lacey, Seth’s eyes widen as he stares at the gauze wrapped around her elbow. “Christ. Your arm, Lace—”

“I don’t care about my arm.” Her heart thundering, she palms his scruffy jaw, forcing him to look at her. “Why’d you do this? Why, Seth?”

“Because he’s an idiot,” Luke thunders, but he sounds worried. Lacey watches as Luke’s eyes snap to Sal, a secret language passing between them, and it’s all she needs to know.

Seth’s worked up over her. Her cancer. Someone from theStarfound out.

Seth grabs her, and she can feel the warmth of his hand as he palms the small of her back. His rough rumble shakes out. “It ain’t nothin’ for you to worry about, princess. I’ll be okay.”

But she is worried.

So worried.

Sal, scowling, goes to Seth. “Open your hand,” she says, gentle, but no-nonsense. Hissing a breath, Seth does. Barely. His battered hand flexing and unflexing in an almost spastic motion.

The small space of the apartment’s chaotic as Luke hands over an ice pack. Lacey backs away from the scene. She can feel her heartbeat, spasming in her chest, like she can’t process what’s happening right now.

Leaning down, Sal touches Seth’s knuckles, carefully inspecting. Seth waves off their concern, his head bowed, a muscle in his jaw flexing.

Lacey stands, hands clutched to her heart, watching the man she loves fall apart, and yet no force in the world can stop it.

Except her.

She’s doing this to him.

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