Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,293

Can you . . . ?”

“I’ve got her. Don’t worry. I’ll text you her flight information.”

“Thank you,” he whispers. “Take care of her for me?” he asks.

“Always, you don’t even have to ask. We’ll talk soon, and I’m sorry for your loss.”

Ending the call, I slip her phone in my pocket, bend down and place my hands under her knees, and pick her up. “Her grandfather just passed. That was Jase. I’m taking her inside to lie down,” I tell Stacy.

“What can I do?” she asks.

“Just hang out for a while. She may not want me; she might need you.” It hurts that I might not be who she needs, but I’ll make damn sure she’s taken care of.

I carry her from the pool up the back deck. Gavin is at the door waiting for me. He slides it open with a nod of his head. They either heard me talking to Stacy or just assume it’s bad from Logan’s reaction.

I carry her to my room and lay her on the bed. She holds tighter around my neck when I try to pull away. “Don’t go.” Her voice is laced with sadness.

“Never, I just want to shut the door to give us some privacy. I’ll be right back.” I kiss her forehead and she lets her arms fall from my neck.

I rush to shut the door and have to swallow back the emotion that’s clogging my throat. I can’t stand to see her hurting. I slide into bed beside her, and she wraps herself around me. Her body shivers. I’m not sure if it’s the chill of the air conditioning or if she’s in shock from the news. Regardless, I reach for the blanket and pull it up over us.

“He’s gone and I didn’t get to say goodbye. It’s been over a year since I’ve seen him.” She sobs against my bare chest. “I’m such a bad person. I should have gone home before now to see them.”

I wrap my arms tighter around her and just hold her. I don’t try to tell her everything is going to be okay. She needs to grieve, needs to work through all the phases of emotions that come with losing someone you love.

I hold her and she continues to cry. My chest is soaked and my arms are going numb from not moving them, but I hold strong. She needs me and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

“I’m sorry,” she says once she has better control of her emotions.

“You don’t get to tell me you’re sorry. Do you think this is a hardship for me? I want to be this person for you, Logan. I’m sorry for your loss, baby, but I’m not sorry you’re leaning on me. I will never pass up the chance to hold you in my arms, hold you up when life beats you down.” I kiss the top of her head. “You are the most important person in my world. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I need to know you understand that. You’ve just lost a loved one, and I need to know that if you need me, you’ll let me know. That you will let me hold you, let me take care of you.”

“Can you help me book a flight to Cincinnati? I’ll also need a ride to the airport. I can ask Stacy . . .”

“No, I want to take you.” I take a deep breath before asking her what my head is screaming for me to just do without her permission. “Do you want me to come with you?”

She’s quiet for so long I think she might have fallen asleep, until she answers, “No, I can’t ask you to do that. I need to go say goodbye, and I’ll probably stay with Gran for a few days.”

“I can stay in a hotel, just be close in case you need me.”

“No, you guys have to write. I’ll be fine,” she says.

I hate it. I hate that she’s going home alone to deal with this. I know her family will be there, but I want to be there. I want to be the one who loves her through this. The words are on the tip of my tongue. I want to tell her my heart is branded with her name, but now is not the time. She’s grieving the loss of her grandfather, and I won’t make it about me.

“The offer stands. I will drop everything to go with you or to