Page 108 of My Fiancé's Brother 2

CHAPTER 36

“Hello.”

I watched as Jackson’s face froze while he listened to whomever was talking on the other end.

“Are you for real?”

“Jesus.”

He hung up and looked at me. His eyes looked anguished.

“Jackson, what is it?”

“Chris is dead. He was killed in a motorcycle accident.”

“What?!”

“We have to go.”

The drive back to the base was silent. I looked over at Jackson a million times, but he was a stone man. Completely blank.

“I’m so sorry, Jackson.”

It was like he didn’t even hear me.

He pulled up to our house and looked over at me. “I have to go see Chris’ wife.”

I nodded and got out of the truck.

I was in shock.I went into the house, and Jackson drove off. Ten minutes later, Lauren called me.

“Did you hear?”

“Yes. I can’t believe it.”

She was crying. “Chris has a wife and a toddler.”

“Oh, my God.”

“I guess he went for a motorcycle ride this morning. A drunk driver hit him.”

Tears rolled down my face. “Jackson went over there.”

“Yeah, all Chris’ unit will go over and do whatever they can to help.”

“Lauren, what should I do?”

She sniffed. “Be there for Jackson.”

I spentthe rest of the day cleaning, mostly because I had no idea what else to do, and I needed to keep busy. I didn’t hear from Jackson.

I waited until I couldn’t keep my eyes open and then I climbed into bed.

I wokeup to the slam of a vehicle door and then a car driving off. The front door slammed open. I listened to Jackson moving around downstairs. Pulling a robe on, I crept down the stairs. He sat on the couch. There was a half-empty bottle of Jim Beam between his legs. He lifted his head and looked at me. His expression was one of defiance and frustration. My husband was extremely angry.

He watched me as I approached. I sat on the couch beside him. I had no idea what to say. I knew grief. Other people talking didn’t help. Talking only helped when the grieving person did the talking. So I put my knees up to my chest and just waited with him. He occasionally took a long drink from the bottle, but he didn’t say anything.He made no move to touch me, and I was pretty sure if I attempted to touch him or comfort him, he would push me off.

His voice jarred me awake. “I went through BUDs with Chris. It was Stubbs, Bixley, Chris, and I. We were all in the same graduating class.”

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