Page 68 of Chloé

Her pop had never questioned who her dad was, or whom he loved, and when others might’ve turned their back on a son who wanted such an unconventional life, Pop had embraced her papa andpèreand welcomed them into his family instead.

Chloé swiped at her tears, not sure how she was supposed to get through the next couple of days. She’d never been to a funeral, never been around such grief, and the idea of seeing the ones she loved suffering from such loss made her heart break all over again.

She sniffed and wiped at her nose, and then aimed her eyes toward the front of the car.

Ethan was driving today. He’d wanted to give her some privacy while she mourned, and she appreciated the gesture, not really wanting anyone around—including their driver—to see her fall apart.

Every now and then she’d see him eyeing her in the rearview mirror, and she appreciated the fact that he didn’t press for conversation even if he did catch her wiping away a new set of tears.

Zayne was sleeping in the passenger seat, his head propped up against his hand on the window and his other on Ethan’s thigh, and while she needed time and space to try to understand how to deal with all of this, she appreciated seeing them there, connected that way. It offered that piece of normality in her life she desperately needed right now.

She took in a deep breath and rested her forehead against the window. They were just coming up on their exit, and as they got closer, Chloé reminded herself to breathe. This was the last reason she’d ever expected to bring Ethan and Zayne to Oshkosh. But here they were, about to meet the Bianchi clan for the first time—well, all of them but one.

Another round of grief punched her in the gut as Ethan began turning down familiar streets. They were getting closer now, and the sun that was high in the sky felt so out of place that Chloé almost wished it was a dreary winter’s day. At least that would’ve been more in line with the emotions she was feeling.

As Ethan turned on to her grandparents’ street, she was shocked by the amount of cars lining it. The driveway was packed and there was no room anywhere. It seemed the entire family and then some had shown up to pay their respects. As they got closer, Zayne sat up and looked out the window.

“Might have to park a street over,” he said, turning to Ethan, who was already nodding and making a three-point turn.

“Why don’t you and Chloé hop out here, and I’ll find a parking spot and meet you inside.”

“No.” It was the first time Chloé had spoken up this trip, and both men glanced back at her.

“Would you like to go in alone?” Ethan asked. “That’s fine too. We can wait in the car or—”

“No.” She shook her head, and when he frowned, she realized she needed to say more than that. “I just meant that I want to stay with both of you. Let’s park and then we’ll go in.”

Zayne twisted in his seat and reached back to take her hand in his. “Whatever you want, Red. Whatever makes this easier for you. You tell us and we’ll do it.”

She swallowed and nodded, not able to do or say much more than that without fear of losing it all over again.

Ethan found a parking spot one street over, and once they were all out of the car, Chloé stood there for a moment and tried to collect herself.

“Hey.” Zayne shut the door and leaned against the vehicle. “How you doing?”

Chloé let out a deep sigh and looked up at him. “Honestly? I don’t know. One minute I feel like I’ve got myself together and the next I can’t stop crying.”

“That’s okay.” He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. “If you feel like crying, you should.”

“I know, but I don’t want—” She cut herself off and shook her head, deciding there was no point to that line of thinking.

But Zayne wasn’t about to let her get away with that.

“You don’t want what, Red?”

She let out a sigh and looked down at their hands. That felt easier than looking at him.

“I don’t want to give my fathers anything else to worry about.”

“Can I let you in on a little secret?” Ethan came up on the other side of her and reached out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Your fathers will be worried about you today no matter what.”

“I know. I just didn’t want to add to whatever else they’re dealing with.”

“You aren’t adding to it, you’re a part of it.” Ethan cradled her cheek and took a step closer to her. “You lost your grandfather. A man you loved very much. You have just as much right to grieve as everyone else that knew him. Holding back will only haunt you later.”

He was right, she knew he was, and if anyone knew what it felt like to be haunted, it was the man who lived with a ghost every day of his life.

“Okay, I think I’m ready.”

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