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But I knew he was. I also had no doubt he knew exactly what I was feeling and would have reached out to comfort me if he could have.
“I just… I don’t want anyone to recognize me,” I said lamely. “You, Gage’s family… you guys won’t get a moment’s peace if reporters get wind that I’m here,” I said.
I was actually more concerned about Reese than Gage’s family. Because Gage would just be inconvenienced by the whole thing. Reese was the one who would be transported back in time to when he’d tried so hard to avoid the spotlight that had somehow always managed to find him.
“Your cap and sunglasses are in the trunk, sir,” Nash announced.
Reese and I both glanced at him, then I looked back at Reese. I’d look ridiculous sitting indoors with sunglasses on, but if I didn’t sit too close to anyone else, maybe it would work.
“It’s up to you, Reese,” I said. “If I’m wearing them, people might not figure it out.”
“It’s just Sarah in the room we’ll be in,” Reese said. “Ronan paid for the clinic to not book any other appointments during my time… he wanted me to feel comfortable enough to focus on the session.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant about needing to feel comfortable until I saw him tug at the sleeve of his shirt. Understanding dawned as I realized the ugly truth.
He was embarrassed about his burned arms.
My heart broke for him all over again right then and there and I nearly pulled him into my arms to tell him that it didn’t matter what kind of scars were left behind. But of course, I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
He would have shunned me for sure.
“Sarah’s going to be focused on me, so if you just stay along the wall where the visitors sit—”
“Yes, okay, absolutely,” I blurted. “Anything.”
Reese looked at me with suspicion at first, then nodded. But when he glanced at Nash, his face fell.
Because Nash looked every bit the Secret Service agent that he was. I could even see his gun peeking out beneath his jacket from the gun holster over his shoulder.
God, I’d been so fucking close.
“I’ll wait out here, Mr. President,” Nash said.
He looked at Reese and said, “I trust you’ll let me know if anything looks suspicious when you get in there.”
Reese was as caught off guard as me, but he nodded.
“You have my cell phone number?” Nash asked.
“Gage gave it to me when I first arrived at the house… in case of an emergency,” Reese murmured. To me he said, “We should go in. I don’t want to be late.”
I nodded and quickly went to the trunk to grab the sunglasses and baseball cap. Reese had already started to head for the building, so I was free to quietly say, “Thank you,” to Nash.
“Go get ‘em, baby,” Nash said so softly that I almost didn’t hear him. He sent me a smile and then got back in the car, presumably to move it to a parking space. I hurried to catch up to my son.
Chapter 28
Gage
Anxiety curled through my belly as I quickly trotted down the stairs and across the driveway toward the guest house. I’d been waiting for Nash and Everett to come to the main house at some point during the last hour, but there hadn’t been a peep from them after they’d all arrived back from Reese’s physical therapy appointment. I’d thought maybe something had happened between Reese and Everett when Everett didn’t come into the house with his son, but Reese had said his father was fine and that he’d just gone to lie down for a bit before dinner. He’d even told me that Everett had watched his physical therapy session. I’d wanted to rush to the guest house then and there, because Everett had to have been bouncing off the walls with excitement that his son had allowed that, but I’d managed to refrain from reacting to the comment.
I’d had to bide my time so it wouldn’t look too suspicious, so I’d spent the last hour helping Charlie cook dinner while my father graded mid-terms. Reese had been understandably tired, so he’d gone to lie down too.
After putting the food Charlie and I had made into the oven to keep it warm, I’d told Charlie to set the table while I went to get Everett and Nash. Still high from her successful first recital solo, she’d happily agreed.
The guest house was quiet as I walked in, but I saw my men right away.
And I knew it was bad.
I didn’t even know what it was, but it was definitely bad.
Both men were sitting on the couch, but on opposite ends. Everett was rocking back and forth, and Nash had his elbows on his knees and his hands were cradling his head.
Panic exploded inside of me, because I knew this was the moment… the one I’d been dreading ever since the first night we’d all made love for the first time.
