Page 67 of Chloé

He understood that kind of desire to know the bad news even if you were aware it would break you, because sometimes not knowing was a million times worse. But there was no way she’d been going to find out anything that quickly. Oshkosh was almost three hours away, and her fathers would’ve still been on the road.

So, they’d gotten her up and asked her what she needed, and it turned out their being there was pretty much it. Next, she’d called up Justin and told him what she knew, and he’d been in his car five minutes later.

Now, as they closed down for the night, Ethan sat with Zayne in one of the booths of the lounge area and watched as the staff went about clearing up the place.

She’d done it. It was amazing what the mind could accomplish even under great stress, and tonight Chloé had shown exactly what she was made of.

The last of the customers had left around ten minutes ago, and it appeared that this Saturday night crowd had gone home satisfied, all thanks to the grit and determination of one incredible lady.

“Hey guys.” Justin came up to where they were seated with two glasses of scotch and slid them on the table. “Scotch works for you two, right?”

“Always.” Ethan reached for his wallet, but Justin shook his head.

“Don’t even think about giving me your money tonight, not when the two of you have been sitting at this restaurant for over eight hours keeping an eye on my sister.”

Zayne reached for one of the glasses and brought it to his lips. “Wouldn’t be anywhere else, not tonight.”

“I get that. But still, it’s appreciated.”

“We love her,” Ethan said, simple as that.

“I see that. She should be winding down in the kitchens now if you want to head back. I’m sure she’d prefer to see your faces over mine right now.”

They slid out of the booth and got to their feet, and Ethan picked up the scotch and downed it in one quick swig. The strong, fiery liquid was exactly what he needed after sitting there all night worrying about the woman out in the back kitchen.

He placed the glass on Justin’s tray and nodded. “You two are lucky to have each other. Especially in moments like this.”

“Agreed. I always feel lucky to have Chloé in my life. I have since the moment she charged into it. The hard times are always easier to deal with when you have people you love around you. Go,” Justin said, and gestured toward the back hallway. “I’m going to close up out here. Then I’ll come back and see her before you take her home.”

Ethan nodded and walked with Zayne out to the kitchens. They were empty now, the prep stations cleaned, the appliances off and the floors swept, and the dishwasher whirring away was the only sound in the room as Chloé stood with her back to them and her hands braced on one of the counters.

This was not good.

She was using the bench to prop herself up as though her legs might give out from under her at any second. As they got closer, Ethan saw one hand gripping the counter and the other clutched tight around her phone.

“Red?” Zayne’s voice was tentative, his senses telling him the exact same thing Ethan’s were, as Chloé raised her head and looked over her shoulder.

Her eyes were red-rimmed once more, her skin ghostly and ashen. But instead of shock, deep-set lines of grief marred her features now—Ethan would recognize them anywhere.

“He died.” She blinked, a lone tear escaping to roll down her cheek. “Pop just passed away.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

I will be whatever she needs.

Whatevertheyneed.

To get them through the day.

~ Zayne

CHLOÉ STARED OUT the window at the cars passing by and wondered how anyone could survive such heartbreak, because that was how she felt right now, like her heart was broken.

It was Tuesday morning—at least, she thought it was—and Ethan and Zayne were driving her up to Oshkosh for her pop’s funeral. Somehow, she’d managed to make it through the weekend and keep things at JULIEN running smoothly. But thankfully they’d closed down Monday, and she’d finally had a moment to just…be.

Not that it helped. She had no point of reference when it came to such a devastating loss, and she was still trying to wrap her mind around a world without her pop in it.

The patriarch of a large Italian family, her dad’s dad had been larger than life and so full of love that the idea that he was no longer with them seemed unfathomable. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how her dad was taking the news. He’d been so close to his father, had always told her about how he’d taught him thatgreatmen were men who loved unconditionally.

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