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“Cry,” she croaked.
I tightly wrapped my arms around her and allowed myself to grieve as I held my beautiful, strong, way-too-forgiving woman in my arms. I didn’t deserve this from her—all of this love and support. I had fucking ripped her apart, almost made her lose herself.
I had almost destroyed her, and I would never stop hating myself for that, would never forgive myself.
And yet, she was sitting here, holding me and freely offering me her love despite everything I had just put her through.
“I’m sorry,” I told her, my voice sounding rough to my own ears.
“Shh,” she soothed as she ran her fingers through my hair. “C-cry,” she stuttered.
I tightened my arms around her, knowing it would be a while before her speech came back to her. There was still a block there, but she was fighting. And I would give her whatever the fuck she wanted if it meant she continued fighting to breathe, to live, to be strong.
West was asleep in my arms, her soft snores escaping her lips as she slept. The baby was nudging her belly, and I could feel the movement against my hand as I cuddled her from behind.
Jessie sat in the chair beside the bed, his hand wrapped around hers, which now held both our rings again.
“Right now, I fucking hate you,” Jessie whispered. I swallowed thickly, those words cutting through me like a knife. “She may forgive you way too easily, Lincoln, but I will never forget what the fuck you did to her.” He looked over at me, those dark eyes cutting through me. “And you better spend every goddamn waking moment making this shit up to her. She’s going to forgive you because she fucking understands what you’re going through and how you’re feeling, but you better worship her and make sure you’re actually worthy of that damn forgiveness she’s so freely giving.”
“I fucking hate myself right now,” I told him honestly. I really fucking did. She didn’t deserve this shit. She fought so hard every damn day to be strong, and I fucking threw that shit right in her face.
“Good,” Jessie said with a shrug. “I hope you fucking loathe yourself.”
“That’s not very nice,” Julian said as he stepped into the room. He narrowed his eyes at me. “My woman came home bawling her fucking eyes out because her best friend shut down her emotions. If I didn’t understand mental health and grief so much, I’d fucking knock your teeth down your throat and smile in my mug shot at the fucking police station.”
I clenched my jaw but bit my tongue so I wouldn’t retaliate or say something fucking stupid, especially after all the help he’d given us.
Julian sighed and ran his hands down his face. “Look, I came to talk to you two because I knew Lincoln wouldn’t stay away from her for long, and I know how easily women like West can offer forgiveness.” Jessie snorted. “But I’m here to tell you two that West will pick up on you two being on the outs no matter how much you try to hide it from her. So, fix your shit. Agree to disagree if you fucking have to, but come to a damn truce. Axel walked out on Meghan once before, too. Fucking sent her spiraling to the point that we couldn’t help her. I had no fucking choice but to put her back in the center. But you two were able to help West. Fucking remember that and fix your shit,” he repeated. “Because if my woman comes home upset again because West is losing herself and she feels like she’s losing one of the closest friends she’s had in years, I’ll kick both of your asses.”
With that, he walked out of the room again, leaving Jessie and I in a tense silence.
West
Lincoln and Jessie were on the outs. I knew they were trying to hide it from me, but I wasn’t stupid. We’d been home for a week now, and while they seemed to call a truce where I was concerned, any other time I caught them together, Jessie was acting as if he absolutely hated Lincoln’s guts.
It was exhausting to witness.
I watched as Jessie stepped into the room, his jaw clenching for a moment before he forced himself to relax. And that was enough. I was so fucking done with this shit. The tension when the two of them were in a room together was thick enough to be cut with a knife.
I jumped up from the couch, both men looking at me in alarm. “Sit,” I ordered Jessie as I pointed to the couch.
He sighed and dropped down on the other end of the couch, as far away from Lincoln as he could get. I crossed my arms over my chest as the baby swiped her foot across my belly. “You two are going to fix this shit between you,” I ordered.
