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“We’re all here for you, babe.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I didn’t want to say anything. I’m so sorry.” Brynn stepped away from Jace and wiped her damp cheeks. “Everything with River is bad enough.” Brynn’s shoulders shook as her sobs ripped through the room.
Jace held her while Chance and I remained quiet. I’d seen Jace fuck Brynn, Chance fuck Brynn, Sariah and Payton fuck Brynn. I’d touched her, kissed her, and fucked her myself. But this … this was much more intimate. We saw each other emotionally, mentally, and spiritually stripped down. Exposed and vulnerable. There were no facades or egos involved—only a deep, abiding love for each other.
“Do your parents know?” I asked as I sat on the edge of the bed again.
Pulling herself together, she joined me. She fidgeted, then nodded. “Yeah. They said that they can’t come in from Europe. Mom said that she and Dad would FaceTime with me, though.”
I rubbed my jawline, itching to find Brynn’s father and beat the shit out of him. What sorry excuse of a parent FaceTimed their daughter instead of coming home while she was fighting cancer?
“You’re moving in here,” Chance stated. “I can help you better if you’re here. We can all go to your parent’s place and pack what you’ll need. You’re not fucking staying there alone. You will never be alone again.” Chance was barely holding it together. I could tell by the rigid set of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders.
Jace crossed his arms over his chest, anger behind his gaze. “While you’re receiving treatment, I’ll go by and check on your parents’ house every few days. I’ll water plants or whatever you need me to do. I’ll even hang out a bit here and there, so it looks like someone is living there.”
“Are you sure?” Her attention bounced to each one of us. “It’s going to be a lot. You all have so much going on. I’d never ask—”
I barked out a laugh. “We know you, Brynn. You never ask for help. And if you honestly think that we’re not going to take care of you, you’re sadly mistaken. When River returns, she’ll be right next to you every step of the way. We’re family, Brynn.” Although I meant every word I’d just said, I had no idea how mentally and physically intact River would be. But I knew River. She would move heaven and earth to be with Brynn, to support her, and to love her.
“Thank you.” Her chin trembled.
“This is why you haven’t been eating?” Chance asked, pain etched into his expression.
She nibbled on her thumbnail. “Yeah.”
“I’ve got some edibles at my place. Do you want to try one?” Jace asked. “It should settle your stomach and give you the munchies.” A grin eased across his face. “You’ve always been pretty entertaining when we’ve smoked.”
Chance and I chuckled.
“I’m willing to try it. But if it works anything like a joint does, I might wind up emptying your refrigerator, Chance.” Pink dusted her cheeks.
“Excellent, it will give me an opportunity to buy some better food for us,” I joked. “You can have your own stash of munchies.”
Realizing none of us were going back to sleep, we moved into the living room. The second Brynn shivered, Chance immediately grabbed her Dallas Cowboys plush blanket from his bedroom. He sat at the end of the couch and stretched one of his legs in front of him. He patted the seat between his thighs. Brynn settled between them and nestled her back against his chest.
“That’s better. Thanks.” She peered up at him and smiled.
We discussed treatment plans, schedules, and divided the responsibilities. Although I hated that 4 Play was gone, maybe not working right now was actually a blessing in disguise. We could all help with Brynn. As fucked up as it was, Brynn gave me something else to think about other than what River might be living through.
I had a purpose. Help my friend live.
Once Brynn had drifted off to sleep, I rose from the chair and stretched. “I’m going to shower.”
“Since it’s after ten, the shop should be open. I’ll pick up some edibles for Brynn,” Jace said.
“Thought you had some at your place?” Chance quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Like I’d fucking eat over smoke.” Jace rolled his eyes. “I was afraid she’d turn down the offer if she realized that I needed to go to a shop. But they’ll be able to help me pick out what will work best for her. That’s the beautiful thing about weed being legal here. You can get help and ask questions. Buying off the street is like Russian roulette, you never know what you’re going to end up with.”
“I’ll catch you later, then.” I left the living room and closed my bedroom door behind me. My jaw clenched, and I swallowed back the scream building in my throat. I had to suck it up. This wasn’t about me and my feelings. River needed me to be strong. Brynn needed me to be strong.
“Goddammit,” I quietly swore as I grabbed the back of my neck and rubbed. I entered the small but adequate bathroom. When River came back, it might be a tight fit, but we’d figure it out. She’d want to stay as close to Brynn as possible.
I turned on the shower and waited for the hot water to begin steaming up the bathroom. Glancing in the mirror, I ignored the circles under my eyes and rubbed a hand over the dark stubble on my chin. Shaving had been the last thing on my mind, and I honestly didn’t have the energy to attempt it.
My mind wandered to the first time River and I had showered together. My cock thickened as I undressed, then stepped beneath the spray. I allowed the water to run over my body, my heart aching for her.
I fucking wanted to punch something. Pent-up rage boiled inside me, threatening to erupt. In the past, I’d had football and the sex club. Maybe I should go to school and use the gym. Even though I’d graduated early, I still had access to the workout room. I didn’t care about walking across the stage, so River and I had skipped the ceremony and fucked like bunnies that night. Even then, she’d been my main priority.
