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Barely.
Happiness bubbled inside me, prepared to war with the darkness waiting for us beyond the door, the possibility of tragedy and heartache.
“I’m really ready now,” I whispered as he backed away.
Lips thinning, his shoulders straightening, Rhett seemed to pull back on the armor I’d seen him wear dozens of times before. But I was sure it was for strength to face the other side—not to push against the emotions he felt on a deep level due to the unknown.
He opened the door in front of us.
Ashton’s bed had been angled upward, allowing him to semi-sit. Eyes closed…tears streamed down his cheeks.
My heart stuttered along with Rhett’s second step as though he’d noted the same thing I had.
Bad news.
Eyes welling and throat squeezing, I tugged on Rhett’s hand and led him into Ashton’s room.
There would be no distance between us in our lover’s greatest time of need. We would all hold hands in an unbroken circle as our hearts shattered.
But Rhett would make a plan like always. He would set things in motion toward an end goal—Ashton being comfortable, living out his final days in whatever happiness we could find.
42
Ashton
I couldn’t stop the tears from slipping beneath my clenched eyelids or the pain in my chest no amount of pain meds could touch. Never had I ever felt such intense need—far beyond longing and desire. My soul, every cell inside my body ached for Rhett, for Skylar.
At the sound of shuffling footsteps, I opened my eyes, fighting to focus through the tears and lingering haze of drugs.
A sob erupted from my throat at the sight of them.
Hands clenched tight, they approached my bed, and the way they leaned into each other as though needing support from one another filled me to the breaking point.
I held out both my shaking hands, and Rhett and Sky separated long enough to flank my bed. Their fingers met atop my lap as mine laced with their free ones.
Attempting to breathe steadily and slow my racing heart, I placed both of our clasped hands over theirs on my stomach. Knotted fingers clung in a tight embrace. A beautiful sight of unity.
They leaned down as though of the same mind, Rhett’s forehead to mine, Skylar’s against my cheek, bringing the sweet scent of coconuts.
Another sob made me shudder beneath their gentle touch.
Three words had wrecked me, but I couldn’t wait to share them with my love and sunshine.
“It’s not cancer,” I croaked the doctor’s assurance from minutes earlier, and relief once more rushed through me like a swelling wave, bringing on choking whines.
“Thank fucking Christ.” Rhett’s voice broke, and he buried his face in my neck, his tears smearing over my skin.
Skylar simply let out a soft sigh, snuggling against my other shoulder.
“I’m going to be okay,” I whispered through my tears what I’d been repeating in my head since the doctor had left me alone.
Skylar pulled away first, her eyes shining with so much happiness my chest felt like it was going to explode. “We’re going to make dozens of babies and live happily ever after!” Laughter bubbled from her.
Rhett groaned and straightened, pulling away from our hold to scrub his palms over his face. “No.”
“What do you mean no!” Skylar shot at him, her brow furrowing and chin rising.
“Three, max. Otherwise, I’ll go insane,” he muttered, his eyes still wet as he gave her his attention, his own head tilted back in stubbornness.