“H-hey,” I whispered, fresh tears springing to my eyes. I thought I would have been all cried out by now, but it looked like I still had a big supply.
Jace groaned, pushed the door closed, and crossed to the bed. After pulling me into his arms as he sat on the bed, he rocked me carefully. “Kas, hey, it’s okay. Don’t cry.”
“I-I’m s-sorry,” I mumbled tearfully, wiping my nose on his shirt without even realizing I was doing it. “I’m just so damn weepy and I hate it.”
He gave me a gentle hug and sat back so that he could look down at me. “You have a right to be weepy, sweetheart. The last two days have been hell.” He grabbed the box of tissues Gray had set beside the bed and mopped my face with one. “I’m so sorry, Kas.”
“Why are you sorry? This wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t yours or Gray’s or anyone else’s fault. The baby … just wasn’t meant to be.” The tears fell faster, and I snatched the tissue from him to blow my nose.”
“I’m still sorry, sis.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about Gray?” he asked after a moment of silence. “Why did you keep it a secret?”
“Because I wanted to savor being with Gray without you ruining it,” I told him honestly. “You’re a great big brother, Jace. I love you so much. You were my first protector, the boy who acted like my father when he should have been off having fun and not having to worry about his baby sister. Which was why I know you would have made things uncomfortable for us if we’d told you that we were together.”
His lips twisted. “You’re right. I probably would have. But I know he loves you, Kassa. And, after Kin more or less beat it into my head yesterday, I have to admit that I’m kind of glad you’re with Gray. We might never do more than tolerate each other, but I can sleep through the night knowing that you have a man who would give his life for yours if it ever came down to it.”
“I love him too, Jace.”
“I know, honey.” He pressed a small kiss to my brow. “I know.”
The bedroom door opened and Gray came in with a tray loaded with fruit juice and fresh fruit. Jace stood and moved out of his way as he set the tray over my lap.
“Kin was already working on this, so I stole a bowl full for you.” He kissed my lips and straightened. “You need anything else, baby?”
“You beside me is all I want right now.”
“You got it.” He bounced down beside me on the bed and stole a grape before turning the TV on.
Jace bent to give me a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll let you rest. But, if you’re up to it tomorrow, Kin and the girls want to come in and spend a lit
tle time with you.”
“Okay. I think I would like that.” I gave him a tiny smile. “Love you, big bro.”
“Love you, little sis.”
Gray watched my brother leave before giving me his full attention. “You okay?”
I nodded, still too easily emotional to speak.
“It’s okay if you’re not, Kas. You are allowed to not be okay for as long as you want. I’ll be right here to hold you through it, baby.”
“I know,” I whispered. “And that just makes me love you more.”
He shifted so that he was leaning against the headboard. After rearranging the tray he had brought me, he tucked me against him. Then he picked the bowl of fruit up and fed me as we watched pointless television. I loved that he was allowing me to not be okay, because even though I had said that I was, I wasn’t. I didn’t know if or when I would be okay again, but as long as he was holding me, it didn’t matter.
EPILOGUE
Gray
Gray age 25
Kassa age 20
The warm evening air stirred Kassa’s hair as we walked down the street with our friends. Friday night in Nashville was like party city, especially when it came to bachelorette parties. There were drunken pedal taverns everywhere with crazy chicks wasted as they pedaled their way around Music City.