Page 56 of With You Forever

Stops. Checks the time.

Resumes pacing.

Luke runs a hand through his dark hair with a sigh, looking up from his chair. “You wanna get a coffee?”

Seth glowers. “No. I don’t want a goddamn coffee.”

If his brother thinks he’s moving from this spot, he’s insane.

“How about a drink?” Griff drawls, a flask appearing in his hands. He passes it to Sal, who takes a pull and passes it to Luke. A soft smile on her face, Alabama shakes her head and takes Griff’s hand to still his nerves. Across from them sit Jace and Emmy Lou, an unread magazine draped over the rising swell of Emmy Lou’s stomach.

Everyone silent. Stoic. Six people camped out in the family room in solidarity with Seth. Everyone watching the clock tick. Everyone gathered here for him—for Lacey.

It chokes Seth up something fierce.

For his friends and family to be here during one of the worst times in his life means everything to Seth. He’s nothing but thankful.

Because he needs them.

Because Lacey’s in surgery and he’s losing it.

He thought he’d stay calm, steady, but he’s a nervous wreck. His head’s a mess, and all he can do is replay the memory of this morning. Lacey, in her hospital room, her anxious, beautiful face as she grabbed Seth’s shirt and kissed his lips. Tears welled in her eyes. “No goodbyes,” she whispered.

Her words gutted him.

He kissed her back, fighting like hell not to break. “No goodbyes.”

But now ...

Now—

Out of Seth comes some unholy strangled sound. “It’s been too long.”

Sal gives a sympathetic smile. “Only an hour. They said it could take that long.”

He smears a hand down his face. Sal’s right. Still, the confidence in her voice does nothing to reassure him. Nothing will make him feel better until he sees Lacey.

Lacey needs the surgery, but his girl going under, it’s almost more than he can take. There’s no way in hell this can go wrong. Absolutely fucking not. Seth reminds himself, it’s easy. Routine. He got her the best doctor on the fucking planet. He’s researched the procedure and recovery and knows all the risks.

Still ...

The thought of it going wrong and Lacey not waking up ... or discovering that her cancer has spread ...

Christ.

He’d sell his soul to the fucking devil to be with her right now. To make everything okay.

“What did we say? When we were kids?” Seth glances over to see Luke’s steady gaze on him. “When we were tryin’ to get on those broncs and they kept buckin’ us off?”

Seth blinks, getting it.

Seth holds Luke’s stare for a moment, then nods. His brother’s steady nature is exactly what he needs.

“We said, ‘hat low, eyes closed,’ and we got back on.” Seth exhales a long breath. “We survived. Every damn time.”

Luke grins. “That’s it.”

Jace nods his agreement.

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