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A primordial sob, deep and long escapes as he holds me closer, rocking us back and forth. “It’s okay to be emotional. It doesn’t make you weak. Even the strongest of us needs someone to lean on every now and again.”
His kind words only make me cry harder, but somehow, it feels freeing knowing that he’ll catch me. That he’ll shield me.
???
An hour later I find myself at home surrounded by the people who love me most. I’m sitting on the couch between Aly and Caleb sharing a trio of Ben and Jerry’s as we watch trash tv. My tears haven’t dried, but they’re coming slower.
Aly makes this weird noise between a sniffle and a giggle that has both Caleb and I gaping at her.
“What the hell was that?” Caleb laughs, a slight smirk curving his mouth.
She shakes her head. “It’s just that Essie has been there every time my heart was broken, and after so many years, I never thought I’d be able to return the favor.” She’s immediately guilt stricken, “I mean, it’s not that I wanted you to get your heart broken, but I’m just glad I can be here for you.”
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears because she’s always had the biggest heart that feels too much.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. “I’m glad you’re here, baby sis.”
She snorts. “I can’t even comfort you the right way because here you are comforting me, yet again.”
“Oh, Aly,” I mumble into her soft, sweet smelling hair. “Just having you here helps more than I can ever explain.”
Not long after that, my tears have officially dried. I may still be weary. My heart still aches something fierce, but I know no matter what happens, everything is gonna be alright. Even though Beau threw my ass under the bus forcing the chief to make me take a week off. I’m thankful I won’t be there when she comes in to get her stuff. Not that I’ve had much time alone, thanks to the boys at work along with the usual suspects.
But I’m glad it’s Caleb who’s there when I discover that she’ll be getting married in less than two weeks.
I had just sat down to the breakfast he made, which dripped with grease, and the coffee I made that my spoon could stand up straight in. I eye the pile of bacon and oily eggs before I shrug and dig in. It may look like a mess, but it tastes divine.
“What is it about cowboys making the best breakfast?”
He smiles real big as he sits across from me with a plate piled twice as high as mine.“Gotta load up enough fuel to make it through the morning.”
He starts flipping through the paper when he stops on a dime, his cerulean eyes going wide in shock.
“What is it?” No answer. “Caleb, what’s wrong?”
He shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
Yeah right. “Don’t lie.”
His worried gaze moves over me before he schools his features and smirks. “Just looking at the weather. They’re predicting a twister to come through on Thursday.”
How the heck is that surprising? It is that time of year. My best friend never was a very good liar, though, and I see right through him. I snatch the paper up before he even knew what hit him.
“Essie, it’s nothing.”
My eyes scan the paper, and my gaze unerringly finds her gorgeous face, next to an equally attractive man. I stare at them as if I’m entrapped.
“They make a beautiful couple,” I state hollowly.
“Essie, don’t,” he begs.
“Don’t what? Look at them? Consider how he’ll take everything that was mine? But she was never really mine, now was she?”
Without even realizing it, I'm on my feet wandering around my kitchen, my hands flying around like a crazy person. I cackle like a godforsaken witch. “I bet she’ll be the most beautiful bride that ever walked down an aisle. And sooner rather than later, she’ll provide him with the most beautiful babies.”
How the fuck did I end up on the floor, and why am I cradled in Caleb’s arms?
My gaze is blurry, and it takes the longest time to realize not only are tears washing my face, but I’m crying out in the harshest sobs.
