“It may not feel like everything is going to be okay right now, but I truly believe it will work out,” she said softly.
Choking on a sob, I was fighting to get out my thoughts. “B-but he’s o-out. He c-can come h-home, and he d-doesn’t want t-to.” My stomach rolled, and I thought I might be sick. “I n-need him.”
That sounded awful, I know. Jett had been through hell and there I was talking about how I needed him. Not for one second would I not be there for him too, but there was something that nobody knew.
Something that scared the crap out of me.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell Jett about it because he had enough going on. So did everyone else. But normally, when something was wrong, he was my person. Jett was the one I talked to. He was the one who helped me through my worries, fears, and troubles.
And I was sure that I was in big trouble.
Ruby pushed back, her hands resting softly on my shoulder, and her eyes studied me for a few seconds like a bug under a microscope.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I worked to try and come up with something. I didn’t want to lie, but I didn’t want to be a burden.
Notthen.Notever.
The woman in front of me—not only a friend, but like a sister—shook her head. “Don’t try to deflect or come up with something that isn’t exactly what is bothering you.”
“W-what?” I sputtered.
Damn these people and their psychic abilities and shit. I was sure it could help them in situations, but it was damnfrustrating when you were trying to keep something on the down low. Especially for their own good. Again, it was about not being a burden.
Something my mother always made clear that I was.
“I see the wheels turning in your pretty brown eyes, but I felt you stiffen for a moment and can tell there is something more than just Jett being gone that is bothering you.” Ruby gave me a knowing look. “I’ve sensed a difference in you for a week now.”
Her tone left no room for avoidance, but she wasn’t mad. Ruby was a beautiful soul, and I’d rarely seen her angry. Unless of course you messed with one of her own. That included her family, friends and, lucky for us, Griffin and me.
Could I tell her? I knew I wasn’t going to be able to fight evil alone.
A shiver raced through my body when I thought about the text that I’d received.
In a gentle tone, she said, “You can tell me.”
Taking a deep breath in through my nose, I blew it out from my mouth before saying, “If I tell you, then you have to promise not to tell Jett.”
She looked torn. Keeping something that may be important, and when she knew I’d said I needed him, was not going to be easy for her.
“I can’t add to his worries.”
She searched my gaze and then nodded. “Okay, but can I tell Lyric if I think we need him?”
Shit, I should have known that question was coming. But I nodded. “As long as he promises not to tell Jett either.”
“I’ll tell him to promise,” she said.
I was in over my head. I knew it from the second I opened the message. I wasn’t going to make her hide stuff from her husband, but I was trying to spare Jett.
I’d also maybe kept it to myself, taking it on alone for thelast week because I had a feeling if one knew, they all would. And that was confirmed with her next statement.
She did the little head tilt thing again. “You do know you work forNo Surrenderand are part of this family? You can go to them, and they will have your back in a heartbeat, just like me.”
Again, I nodded, knowing that to be the truth. Also in acceptance that if Lyric felt he needed the guys, they soon would find out what I was about to share.
I swallowed, ready to spill the beans.
