I will. Right after this FaceTime.
“Jules?” he pressed.
“Yes, I’m ready.” I fluffed my roots. “You’ve got a filter, right? I blame you for the situation happening under my eyes.” Because, as it turns out, honeymoons are not designed for sleeping.
“Filters won’t work on you,” he said. “They’re only capable of making people more beautiful, and you’re already the pinnacle.” His brows flicked up. “Filters wish they could be you.”
My chest hummed at his sweetness. He was too good to me—and I had every intention of being even better to him.
His fingers laced through mine.
“Oh,” I said. “Your ring is in my purse.” We’d stowed it there when we went snorkeling one last time early this morning.
I was about to hop up and get it when his phone pinged loudly with a notification. Then again. And again—three more times. His muscles tensed as his eyes narrowed on the screen, his expression growing more concerned by the second.
“Must be some fire.” I rubbed under my eyes to remove some excess mascara.
He didn’t respond.
“Griff?”
His chest heaved. “Uh, it’s… my family… James and Sage were in a car accident.”
I sucked in a gasp.
He stabbed at the screen, put it to his ear, and dropped onto the couch.
I sank down beside him, rubbing a hand over his shoulders as the phone rang.
I might not have met his family yet, but from all the stories he’d told me, they were already starting to feel like mine. My breath stalled as his knee bounced uncontrollably.
“Mom?” His voice cracked on that single syllable. “Is James…okay?” He drew a slow breath. Then he exhaled and fell apart. Shoulders shaking, hands trembling, voice quivering. “Mm-hmm… mm-hmm… what about Sage and the baby?” He made a sound like something had been knocked out of him. “No. No, no, no. James won’t be able…to handle that.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning my cheek against his back. As if suddenly remembering I was there, he turned and pulled me against him. I held him as he cried—and I cried right along with him. I didn’t know the extent of the accident, but whatever it was, Griffin was hurting. Which meant I hurt too.
I could hear his mom now. “It’s a miracle that Willow was delivered safely. She’s so beautiful and healthy.”Is. Present tense. Willow was the name James and Sage were going to give the baby. My chest loosened the tiniest bit. “They said she’s doing j-ju… just… fine.” Lemon sounded like she was barely holding it together. “I have to go. They’re taking James into surgery right now. We’ll call you as soon as we know more.”
James was alive. It should’ve been a relief. But Griffin was struggling to breathe.
“Yeah. Okay,” he whimpered. “Love you.”
Griffin set the phone down. “Sage di—” he gasped. “Didn’t make it…and J-James… James m-might… not either.” He buried his face in my chest, sobbing.
My heart felt cracked in two. Sage would’ve been my sister-in-law, and now I’d never meet her. I leaned my cheek against his head, stroking his hair as he cried.
He lifted his head and punched his thigh. “I can’t believe I did that.” He wiped his eyes. “I’m such a douche.”
“What do you mean?” I sniffed. “You didn’t do anything.”
“I did. To Bowen. I’ve been cruel, and I’ve stonewalled him, and now…” He sucked in a breath. “He might be the o-only brother I have left.”
“It’s okay. He’ll forgive you if that’s what you want.” My fingertips traced over his spine. I didn’t know if that was true—maybe he wouldn’t forgive Griffin—but I’d talk to him if it would help.
“I do.” Griffin nodded. “I love him, even if he is a total punk. And I’m going to tell him as soon as I see him again.” He sat up. “We need to go home and be with my family.”
“Yes,” I said. “Of course.”
His phone rang again. When he saw the name—Funcle Ford—he quickly punched the green check button, as if Ford were exactly who you needed in a time like this.
