Page 169 of Beautifully Damaged Boxset

“I’ll handle the contact information,” Zayne said quietly. I glanced over at him. His face was still full of grief.

“Chance, go on in.” I squeezed his shoulder before he left Jace and me in the hall. I watched Zayne stroll down toward the nurse’s station. I nearly chuckled as four nurses rushed over to help him. They were all smiles and fluttering hands as he began to talk to them. Typically, I would have been rolling on the floor laughing, but Brynn had just died. Flatlined. Coded.

I grabbed Jace in a huge hug. “Love ya, man,” I croaked out.

“You, too.” Jace gripped my shirt, and we clung to each other for several seconds.

One thing about Jace, Chance, and me, we weren’t afraid to hug or say we loved each other. Hell, we’d seen each other fuck the girls in the club. This was nothing. This was raw and honest, and I hadn’t found what I had with them in any other friends. We’d covered up secrets, lied for each other, cried, and laughed together. And now, we’d lost both our girls and were grieving together.

The door opened, and Chance left her room. “Can I go next?” Jace asked me.

“Of course.” I squeezed his shoulder before he joined Brynn.

“I won’t ask if you’re okay. I’m not. I’m still reeling.” I eyed my best friend.

“I’ve never told her how much I love her. Not that I love her, but I’m so fucking in love with her it’s eating me up. What if I never have that opportunity?” He leaned against the wall as tears fell down his cheeks.

“Then you fucking get back in there and tell her, Chance. You fucking tell her. You heard the doctor. They think Brynn can hear us.”

He looked up at the ceiling and blinked several times.

“Let me go in and tell her I love her and as soon as she’s better she can help River pick out her wedding gown. Then, I’ll get right back out here, and we’ll sneak you in. You can’t leave without telling her how you feel, Chance. Besides, your voice should be the last she hears today. You telling her how much you love her should be the words she’s left with for the night.”

Jace joined us in the hall. “Stay close and sneak in as soon as I’m done. The nurses can see us from their station. Jace will block their view as much as possible.”

Confusion flickered in Jace’s gaze.

“Chance needs to talk to her before we’re kicked out,” I explained.

Chance stood next to Brynn’s door, and Jace stood in front of him. Jace’s shoulders were broader, and he cleared Chance by an inch, so hopefully, our plan would work.

I slipped in, my attention landing on Brynn. The soft beep of the heart monitor told me she was with us again.

“Hey, hon.” I approached her bed and took her hand in mine. “I love you.” I brushed the strands of red hair off her forehead. “Don’t forget that you promised to take River shopping for her wedding gown. You’re going to be an amazing maid of honor.” I leaned over and kissed her on the side of her head. “Get some rest and I’ll be back later.”

Her frail fingers fell from mine as I walked away, begging God or anyone who might listen to me not to take her yet. She had to make it through the night.

I stepped into the hall and held the door open as Chance scurried in. I folded my arms over my chest and stood in front of the room. I could at least talk shit long enough to a doctor or nurse if they came over and wanted to make him leave. He only needed a minute or two.

“They have all of our cell numbers,” Zayne said. “I booked the penthouse at the Hyatt. There’s three bedrooms.”

“Thanks. Maybe you can get some sleep, too. I think we’re all running on fumes.”

“I only need a few hours. We’ll work it out. With Tim in Oregon, I’m not taking any chances.”

I cringed. “Fuck, I forgot about all of that shit.”

Chance reappeared and nodded at me.

“Let’s get some rest so we can be here the second they call,” I said.

The four of us fell into step and passed the nurse’s station.

“That is one lucky girl,” one of them said.

I glanced over my shoulder to find five women watching us as we walked away. Brynn would have laughed her ass off. I could imagine Brynn throwing her head back, her laughter floating on the air, then grinning and agreeing with them.

I hoped like hell she would have the opportunity to do just that.

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