Page 46 of Wildest Forever

“Thanks,” I mumble, reaching behind him and twisting the door handle, pulling it open as I wait for him to leave.

He gives me a heavy nod before he steps across the threshold, and I shut the door quietly behind him.

Dropping my head, my chest aches.

My own grief bubbles at the surface and I know she is going to have to go through this all herself.

I may be here by her side, but I can't take any of this pain away and it guts me to my core.

Inhaling sharply, I stand tall and climb the stairs to find her but when I reach the top, she hasn't moved.

She is still standing there.

Anchored to the spot.

Fingers pressed against her lips, but this time she isn't biting on her nails.

Her glassy eyes are pinned to her granddad’s bedroom door, and I know she is seconds from letting the tears fall.

Stepping in front of her, I hear the inhale of her trembling breath. I reach up, curling my fingers around her wrist and slowly pull her hand away, my head tilts to the side, dipping it slightly and that's when she finally looks at me.

“Baby,” I whisper to the quiet room and that's all it took. I pull her into my body, her head on my chest and I wrap my arms around her trembling body as she sobs, her tears soaking through my tee but I don't care.

I just hold her until she is done.

My lips press to the top of her head as I close my own eyes, pushing down my own grief as I let her cry.

Once she had calmed down, I walked her into her grandad’s room and then slipped out silently so she could spend time with him.

I took myself downstairs and put away breakfast, then cleaned the dishes before drying and putting everything back. Sure, it took me a while to find out where everything went, but I got there in the end.

Moving upstairs, I walk into my room and make my bed up before reaching for fresh clothes. I needed a shower. Padding across to the main bathroom, I close the door behind me and turn the faucet on for the shower before I hear the bang in the pipes. Placing my hand under the water, I wait for it to warm up before I peel my clothes from me and dump them in a pile on the floor then stepping into the shower tray as I wash the morning off me.

I needed to prepare myself for what was about to come.She was going to be distraught and heartbroken, and I had no idea how to comfort her.If she is anything like how I was, she will push everyone away and of course, she only has me and Dusty.

I needed to get her familiar with my family, needed to introduce her to Sunny and Conrad so she always had someone to turn to if she ever needed it.

Even if she pushed me away to the point of hating me, I would still be here for her.

Because that's what I promised.

I promised her grandad that I would look after her and their ranch.

Scrubbing my skin and then my hair, I rinse the suds off before turning the shower off and wrapping the towel around me. Drying myself, I dress and brush my teeth before I hang my towel up to dry and make my way back to my room.

Gerry's door is still shut and I am assuming that she is still in there.

I didn't want to disturb.

Glancing at the time, it was nearing midday.

I had some laundry to take over to mom's and I needed to catch up with Austin.

Pacing the small hallway, I debated going up there to let her know that I was leaving. I really didn't want to just disappear and her wonder where I had gone.

Stopping when I stand at the bottom of the stairs, my eyes drift up when I hear the sound of floorboards creaking above me. I hold my breath for a moment, then finally make my way up them as I search for her.

Gerry's door is now ajar and hers is wide open.

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