Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,308

for her in the back room, but she clung to me and said she needed me. No way could I leave her. Luckily, no one was tacky enough to ask for an autograph.

Today is going to be hard. Today is the funeral, and it sucks ass. There is just no other way to describe losing someone you love. Logan’s gran pulled me to the side. “No matter what you do, young man, just love her through it.” I plan to do just that. I will be by her side every step of the way.

Stacy has been an angel. She spoke to the hotel management and arranged for us to park behind the building and got approval for us to enter the building this way. We just want to make sure we do not draw any attention to Logan and her family, at least not until after today. Once word gets out that she’s my girl, the paparazzi will hound them for a few days. Once they realize Logan is in Tennessee with me, they should leave them alone. At least, I hope that’s what happens.

I’ve just finished fastening my tie when Logan opens the bathroom door. I open my arms and she walks right into them. Right where she belongs. “We need to be going soon,” I say as I rest my chin on top of her head.

“Yeah,” she agrees.

“The guys and Stacy are down there.”

Taking a deep breath, she steps back. “I’m ready,” she says.

I double-check that I have the room key as well as the Tahoe keys, and we head out.

The drive to the funeral home is quiet. The guys make a few crazy jokes, making her laugh, and I make a mental note to thank them. As soon as I pull into the lot, I see a guy with a camera standing by the entrance. I don’t think too much about it. He’s one man, and often times, for those who are big in the community like her grandfather, the press will cover the funeral. Hell, the press covers everything these days.

As soon as we make it to the front entrance, I realize I should have been more concerned about the man with the camera. He starts snapping pictures as three of his buddies come racing toward us doing the same. Anger courses through me. This is a fucking funeral, and they don’t have the decency to give us some privacy. I pull Logan tight against me and stop. I look back and see Cole has done with same with Stacy while Gavin and Tristan stand with their arms crossed.

They start firing off questions. “Were you related to the deceased? Who are the girls? Is it serious?” One after another, the questions come our way.

I hold up my hands and they stop with the questions, but keep snapping pictures. “We ask that you please allow us our privacy during this time.”

“Are you related to the deceased?” one yells.

I realize I’m going to have to give them something to get them to leave. “Listen, yes, I was related. The gentleman we are laying to rest today is my girlfriend’s grandfather. I ask that you give their family the privacy they need to mourn their loss. The guys and I would be happy to talk to you on another day. Today it’s time for us to spend with our families. Please respect that and leave.”

I want to wring their damn necks, but I keep my cool, for Logan and her family,—my future in-laws, if I have a say in the matter.

“What—”

Gavin cuts him off. “Listen, we’re trying to be nice about this. We can do this the hard way and have the police escort you from the premises. Please, just let us have our privacy with our family,” he tries again.

“Is there a problem here?” A uniformed officer asks. He’s walking from the parking lot.

“We’ve asked these gentlemen to leave, to allow us privacy, and they’re refusing,” Tristan sings like a canary.

“This is private property, and I’ve been advised that you are not here to pay your respects and to escort you from the premises,” the officer says.

Two more officers walk up and, suddenly, the photographers are quick to change their tune. “We’re leaving,” the ringleader says and they turn and hustle off to the parking lot.

I turn to the officer. “I’m not sure where you came from, but thank you so much. I’ll make sure to get you all some merch when we get back home. Do you