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Kennedy
Istare at my phone as I pace behind the bar, my thumb between my teeth. I’ve already chewed the nail as short as it’ll go. The waiting and not knowing is killing me.
Finally, it lights up and I let out a frantic sound as I reach for it. I fumble it before answering and pressing the phone to my ear.
“Is he okay?” I rush out.
“I need you to listen, okay?” Ezra says.
My stomach drops.
“What?” My hands shake. “How bad is it?”
“He’s alive, okay?” he says. I clutch the counter as my world tips. “He’s alive.”
“He’s—Ian.” I let out a choked sob, drawing Otis’ attention.
“I got there too late, but he’s alive. He’s—”
I throw my phone against the wall. A pained sound leaves me as I clutch my rolling stomach. I crouch, bringing my knees to my chest. Tears stream down my face as a hole opens in my chest. I dig my fist into my stomach, trying to staunch the ache.
He’s alive, I tell myself. But Ez was too late. He was too late. He—Ian’s alive. But he was too late.
“Kennedy!” Otis rushes to me. “What the fuck—”
“Ian!” I cry, my eyes squeezed shut. I can’t open them. Everything is spinning, toppling out of control.
Arms wrap around me, and I don’t know or care who it is. I press my face against their chest as I sob.
“What happened?” Otis asks, his voice too gentle for such a giant, scary man. “What the hell happened?” I shake my head. I can’t say it. If the words leave my mouth, everything will be real.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Archer’s voice slices through the air. “Fuck. Fuck, yeah I’ll take her.”
My body feels boneless as I slump forward, folding in on myself.
“Shit, Kens,” Otis says, gritting his teeth. “Come on. Get up.”
My baby. Ian. He’s hurt—or worse.
No.
Ezra said he’s alive.
But for how long?
How could I let this happen?
How couldhelet this happen?
A hand lands on my back, and it rubs small circles. Another sob rips from me at their touch. Gently, they push my hair to the side, exposing my face.
“Kens, babe. Kiwi has him at home,” Archer says softly. “Come on.”
His words barely register.
“He’s home?” I rasp as I turn my head, finally opening my eyes.
“He’s alive,” he says, just like Ezra had. “He’s going to be okay.”
