“Rich-people spa,” Hazel says at the same time. “How do you know about it?” she gasps, her head whipping my direction.
“Lara loved it,” I whisper.
“Oh.” Hazel pats my shoulder, swiping over to answer as her phone rings. “Hello, lover.”
“Don’t hello lover me!” Taylor’s voice crackles over the speakerphone. “Why is your GPS moving out of town, and why did I see you in Logan’s truck, with not one but three guys that aren’t me?”
“It’s not three random guys.” Hazel rolls her eyes, a wicked smile on her face.
“Hey, T, can you get Tuck from school today?” I glance down at the phone, surprised to see Taylor’s face glaring at me.
“Can I pick up your son while you abscond with my wife? No. Call Tori. I’m coming after you guys.”
“No, you are not,” Hazel growls. “We’re going after Sibby. No need to get all possessive. It’s literally Dad Massy, and these two goons, who you know I loathe more than I like.”
“Baby, we’ve talked about this. You can’t just run around with other guys. I can’t?—”
“I’ll make it up to you tonight.” Hazel drops her voice low and suggestive.
“Fine. I’ll grab Tucker. What time will you be back?”
“Depends on how far she made it.” Kellan pipes up from the backseat.
“Alright, fine. Take care of my wife, assholes.”
Chuck clears his throat.
“Not you, Dad.” Taylor hangs up the phone real quick.
We’ve all called Chuck, dad, since high school. The Massy house was the place we hung out. When our shitty home lives became too much, he was the dad we needed. The safe space. It’s where Taylor met Hazel.
Shit, my first date with Lara was to afamily dinner at the Massy house. I was fascinated by their dynamic, seeing people who actually loved each other. Lara’s family was like that, too. She thought I was adorable, bringing her to their family dinner. She took me to hers the next week, and that was the night I fell in love with her.
Her rosy cheeks and freckles flash into my mind. Her bright smile, curly hair. Just like always, that happy smiling face I fell in love with turns gray. Lifeless. Those curls I loved so much spread out around her like a halo, covering the table.
A moan rips from my chest; a sob stuck in my throat as I park the truck on the side of the road. Kellan follows me out. He’s seen me like this before. Talked me through a panic attack once or twice. Let me cry without issuing a single judgment.
My hands find my knees, breath coming in shaky as I try to push the image aside. The last time I saw her, laid out on a fucking table where I had to tell the police, “Yes, that is Lara Logan. Mother of my child, love of my life. Dead on a table.”
“I can’t—” I grab Kellan’s arms, pleading with my eyes. “I can’t do it again.”
“I know, Bud.” Kellan hauls me into his chest. He’s a big dude, built like his dad, which is to say, like a bear. Kellan and Chuck have to be at least two fifty a piece, coming in somewhere around six foot three or four. I’ve never asked, knowing the answer would make my six-two feel short.
He waits until my breathing is back to normal, then clasps me on both shoulders.
“You know I can’t tell you that everything will be alright. I can’t tell you nothing is going to happen to her, but I can tell you that you’d never find someone betterthan my sister. If you’re serious about settling down with someone again, she’s worth the risk.”
“I know.” I’m barely able to whisper. I know I’ll never find better, because she is the best. She’s the one for us, and we’ve fucking missed her. I know what it feels like to lose someone, to have to come to terms with never seeing them again, and I refuse to do that with her. As long as we’re both breathing, I will do everything in my power to keep her.
“Then let’s go find her.” Kellan grins, shoving me toward the back door of the pickup. He climbs behind the wheel, and we continue down the road.
Chapter 11
Eli
“You love her, don’t you?”Hazel turns her back to the window, her gaze stripping me bare.
“I don’t understand it.” I look down at my hands.
