Swiveling in my seat, I saw Kace and Gyth approaching, knowing it was Kace who had made the comment. I’d worked with all the guys and been around them enough to recognize their voices.
“Whoa, have you been crying?” Gyth asked, both men now standing in front of my desk.
Kace backhanded him across the chest. “You’re a real Sherlock Holmes. What gave that away?”
“Shut it, dickweed, I was trying to be sympathetic,” Gyth countered back with a scowl on his face.
Shaking my head, the slightest of smiles threatened toemerge. I swear those two were at it all the time and it was funny as hell.
But even they couldn’t pull one out of me right then.
“I went by the condo on my way in,” I announced, leveling my gaze at Gyth. “You should have convinced him to come home.”
My temper was gearing up to make another appearance.
He looked sorry, but his rebuttal knocked the wind out of my sails.
“I wish that had been the right move, but it wasn’t.”
The big man’s eyes clouded for a minute, taking on a faraway look as if he were remembering a much more personal time of his own. Then he was back.
“You can’t push someone who is working through some of the worst shit of his life.” He paused, his features tensing. “Whatever happened out there—and it’s his story to tell, at least what he can—I’m guessing he’s suffering from survivor's guilt.”
A sick feeling settled in my stomach. “How do you know?” I asked softly.
Gyth blew out a rough sigh. “Because I’ve been where he is.”
Seeing the torment on Gyth’s face after all this time and knowing Jett was going through the same thing was heart-crushing.
Kace clasped a hand on his friend’s shoulder in support, picking up on the deep emotions rumbling through him.
“It’s not an easy road he has to travel right now, but if you're there for Jett, it will make all the difference in the world,” Gyth said, after blowing out a breath. “But sweetheart, it won’t be easy on you either. If you need anything, remember we are all here for you too.”
Shame and love.
Both emotions swarmed me at once.
I was lucky to have these people in my life, but I’d also let all the hurt bubble up and take over. I knew I had a right to my feelings, but I shouldn’t have lost sight of the fact that my best friend needed me.
We needed each other.
That still didn’t mean a fake marriage was the answer.
It would never be fake for me.
I’d managed to get through half the day before things went from bad to worse.
After the initial conversation with Gyth and Kace, one which left me reeling as mixed emotions swamped me, things had been relatively quiet. The guys had mostly given me a wide berth.
That may not have happened if Lyric had been there, but he had to check out a job and hadn’t been in all morning. If he had, he would have wanted to talk to me. He was that big brother I never had. All the guys were. It was amazing and annoying at the same time, depending on the circumstances.
It was finally lunch and after the sleepless night I’d had, I decided to run out for coffee. I let Braxton know I was running out for a bit, checking to see if he or anyone else wanted anything, but they all declined. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door.
Pushing it open while glancing down to zip up my jacket, I wandered out into the cool March air. When I looked back up, I was startled to find a strange man standing in front of me.
I took a step back as I heard the click of the door shutting behind me. There was nowhere to go. It would take too long to punch in the code with him right there, but the guy didn’t advance on me.
“Patience Williams?”
