“I’m sorry. That’s fucking rough. Especially when you are watching your parent go through it. You don’t want them in pain, but at the same time you don’t want them to suffer,” I rasp.
She turns and glares at me as she crosses her arms over her chest. “Yeah, what do you know about it, huh?”
I give her a sad smile. “I watched my mom go through it.”
Her shoulders drop, and despair covers her face.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too. Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, even though the last thing I want to do is dredge up those memories.
“I’m scared to lose him. He’s the only family I have. If he’s gone, then I’m all alone,” she says quietly.
“Rain, you know that isn’t true. You and I both know that when his time comes, and it will, that the club will be here foryou. You won’t be alone. I don’t think anyone can be alone when you are part of this club.”
“It won’t be the same.” She shrugs.
“Do you have any siblings?”
She shakes her head. “Only child.”
Well, shit. I don’t know how to respond to that. After my parents died, I still had Ashley.
“Look, I’ll be honest with you. Nothing I say will make it hurt less, but I’m serious when I say that we are here. The club won’t leave you just because your dad is gone. You’re one of them, and if I’m here, I’m always open to listen. I’ve been in your shoes. Hell, I’m sure my sister would even talk to you about it if you wanted a female perspective. Just…don’t let it eat you. Not yet. You need to stay strong for your dad. You can fall apart when he’s gone.”
“I’m just so fucking mad,” she says harshly as she swipes a tear away.
“And you should be.”
Before she can say anything else, Ridge steps into the kitchen. When he sees us, his whole body tenses.
“What the hell is going on in here?” he demands.
“We were just talking,” I tell him.
He looks over at Rain and frowns. “You’re crying.”
Internally, I groan as I shut my eyes. Idiot. You never point that out to a woman.
“No shit, Sherlock. What gave it away?” she snaps.
“Why are you crying?” he asks harshly.
“Because I fucking can, okay? Leave me the fuck alone!” she yells before pushing past him.
Ridge looks over at me and glares. I raise up my free hand in surrender.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I’m not the one who pissed her off.”
“What were you two talking about? Rain doesn’t cry. Ever.”
I shake my head. “You’d have to ask her.”
“Answer my question, prospect,” he hisses.
I push off the counter and grab Aspen’s energy drink. I walk toward him and pause when I reach him.
“It might be in the rules as a prospect to do whatever you guys say, but this time I won’t. Like I told you before, it’s not my shit to tell. If you want answers, go talk to your girl.”
