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
