His eyes finally meet mine.
Pain replaces anger.
“He has a fractured rib. You could have punctured his lung!”
The entire barn has gone quiet.
Cabe stares straight past me at his brother, nostrils flaring, chest heaving, as if he doesn’t even hear me.
I whirl around and hurry back to Axle.
I slide beneath his right arm, and his weight settles against me.
“Lean on me,” I say.
“I’m fi—”
Tears blur my vision. “I swear to God, if you say you’re fine right now, Axle Trust, I’m going to black your other eye.”
Micah rushes toward us.
“Don’t,” I snap. “I’m taking him home.”
“Let me help,” he says.
I let out a sob and step aside as he slips under Axle’s other arm and takes his weight.
Thank God.
Together, we start toward the barn doors.
Bryce and Waylon move Cabe aside.
The path opens, and nobody says a word. The music outside has stopped, and everyone gathered around the cookout stands frozen, watching us emerge.
I keep my eyes on the ground.
I can’t look at them.
This is my fault. All of it. Because I kept a secret.
I look up as we pass Charli. Her eyes are full of worry.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
Her face crumples.
I want to stay. To try and explain, but I can’t be here another second, so I lower my head and keep walking.
“Doc?”
I hurry to Axle’s side. “Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
A sob escapes me.
“None of this is your fault,” he says.
