Page 60 of Twisted Devotion

“Everything is going to be fine.” He shoots me a wolfish grin, and my heart clenches. “And do not wait around here while I am undergoing this. Go out and distract yourself, otherwise you’re going to be pacing the halls here, and I do not think Jackson wants to replace the tiles because you’ve worn them down to the subfloor.”

I offer a dry look. “You’re hilarious.”

“He’s right,” Jackson says, stepping into the small prep room. He smiles at Seth. “I’ll take care of her.”

“You better,” Seth says back, his voice devoid of any humor.

I scowl. “He will not. It’smyjob to take care ofhim.Jesus, how many times do I have to make that clear?”

“Easy, Kelsey. Let him look out for you, okay?” Seth reaches for my hand and laces his fingers through mine, squeezing them. “For me, please?”

I narrow my eyes, then flick a glance at Jackson. “I’m fine. I’ll be . . .” Tears clog my throat, so I quickly divert the subject, and return my gaze to Seth. “How are you feeling?”

“Nervous. A little hungry.”

I roll my eyes in response.

“What? You know I eat like a bear when I am stressed,” Seth says.

Taking a deep breath, I feed him the line I’ve heard the staff use many times since starting this job. “You don’t need to worry. Jackson’s team is very good at what they do, and the positive outcome rate is extremely high.”

Seth blinks at me, and then we both burst out laughing.

“Okay,” Jackson says softly from behind me. “If you’re ready, Seth, we should get this show on the road.”

Panic seizes me, and Seth notices immediately, squeezing my hand again. “Hey,” he murmurs. “Look at me. It is going to be fine.”

I blink hard and force my eyes to his. “Don’t die,” I say, my jaw clenched so tight my gums ache.

He pulls me into a hug and kisses the side of my head. “I will not.”

When I pull back and straighten, I offer Seth a watery smile, biting my lip to keep it from trembling. I’m fighting one of the toughest battles of my life just trying to be strong for him, and that strength is wavering quickly.

Jackson’s hand touches the small of my back, and I turn, allowing him to guide me out of the room.

Once the door is closed, I press a fist against my mouth to muffle the sob trying to scream free.

“Keep walking,” Jackson says at my ear, sliding his arm around my waist and directing me toward the back door to the staff parking lot.

I stop at the door and dig my heels in. “I should be in there with him.”

Jackson glances down at me, shaking his head. “You need to let out what’s inside. Pushing down the emotions raging through you right now isn’t safe for anyone.”

I shoot him a look, but he doesn’t react. Maybe he wasn’t goading me . . .

“Come on,” he says, pushing the door open. “Let’s head over to the training space and work some of that tension out.”

My eyes narrow at him, trying to find the angle he’s playing, but I come up blank. He doesn’t smirk or blatantly check me out like he’s done in the past. He’s not trying to get in my pants. He genuinely wants to help.

“Okay,” I finally say on an exhale, walking through the door.

As soon as thirty minutes have passed since Jax and I left the facility, I call Bethany from the training warehouse. She wouldn’t normally work today, but I asked her to be there for Seth’s procedure. She’s been nothing but kind to me since I started working with Jackson, and I trust her to tell me the truth.

“Hey, Kelsey,” she says in a warm tone. “How are you holding up?”

“Going crazy. Is he out yet?” I chew my bottom lip, tapping my foot against the end of the treadmill.

“Uhhh, give me a sec and I’ll go check.” The cheesy classical music plays while she has me on hold, and a minute later, she comes back on the line. “Not yet. I’ll give you a call as soon as he is, though.”

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