Tyn let out a heavy sigh. “I’ll be okay.” She nodded. “I’m okay.”
“You are.”
“Did you call your family?”
Although Tyn had made calls to her family, and Jax and Ana, I hadn’t called anyone. I shook my head. “I guess I should probably do that, huh?”
“Before someone else tells them.”
By the time I got off the phone, I was a wreck. My mother was on Paris time, so she was awake when I called. She shed a few tears but booked her flight home right away. Zara had heard the news from Jax and was consoling X while I was on the line. He’d taken it hard because Gemma was his god-sister. She’d spent summers with them, took vacations with them. And I couldn’t imagine how the kids would react. They loved their Auntie Gem.
“Are you going to call Skye?” Paityn asked.
I shook my head, thinking of X’s cousin and Zara’s best friend. My friend. “Zara’s going to do it. I can’t.”
Paityn sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
We made the slow walk to the porch, but before she could grab her set of keys, Asa swung it open. His eyes locked on mine before Tyn embraced him.
When Tyn finally brushed past him into the house, he held my gaze. His eyes were bloodshot, his face pale. But he was beautiful. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I inched closer to him.
His eyes fluttered closed when I cupped his cheek. “I’m so sorry, Asa.”
Strong arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me into a hug. I felt the sting of his tears on my neck, smelled the fresh soap on his skin. “I didn’t make it in time,” he murmured. “She was already gone before I got . . .” His voice cracked.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeated, unsure of what I could say to make this better for him. “So sorry.”
Eventually, he pulled back, wiping steadily falling tears from his face. Clearing his throat, he grabbed my hand and ushered me into the house. Tyn was already cleaning the kitchen. She’d pulled out pots and pans to cook the breakfast food we’d brought over.
When she looked up, her gaze darted back and forth between us. Asa still hadn’t let go of my hand. My first instinct was to pull away from his touch, but I wouldn’t do that to him. He needed me and I planned to support him through this.
Silence stretched between us as my friend correctly surmised the true nature of my relationship with her baby brother. I could see the pieces start to click together from our earlier conversation, before everything went to hell. Then, a slow smile formed on her lips.
“I brought bacon and eggs,” Paityn announced. “I also thought we could start a meal train. Dallas will handle the estate. Demi will ensure Ezra is in good hands. Is he with her partner?”
Asa nodded.
“Okay, she mentioned Karma was good with him. Ana wants him to come live with them since Gemma has no family.” She wiped her hands on her jeans. “If there’s a service, Duke will cater and Bliss will buy flowers. Blake said she would order groceries for your house. Dex and Charlye agreed to clean and pack up her place. And I?—”
“Tyn,” he said, interrupting her. “I can’t talk about this right now.”
Her eyes widened and she nodded. “For sure.”
“Can you just take care of everything for me?” he asked. His voice sounded so small, so unlike him that I wanted to weep. “Gemma updated her will when Ezra was born. She keeps everything in a safe in the back of her bedroom closet. I have the combination.”
“I got it,” Tyn assured him.
Finally, Asa let go of my hand, walked into his room, and closed the door. I stared at the floor. Guilt and sadness waged a war for dominance in my mind, while anger mixed with crushing despair. It was too much. Too much heartache. Too much pain.
“Rissa,” Paityn called.
Steeling myself for her questions, I lifted my head and stared at her. “Yes?”
She motioned toward the door. “You should go to him.”
Surprised, my mouth fell open. “But?—”
“We have plenty of time to talk about it.”
