Page 72 of Wildest Forever

Walking into the kitchen, I see Pacey facing me, back to the work surface, arms crossed in front of his chest. His eyes trace up and down my body and my cheeks burn and I internally roll my eyes.

How can he affect me from just a look.

Sighing, I cross my own arms over my chest and step a little further into the room.

“How's your day been?” I ask, kicking my toe to the floor.

“Busy,” he sighs, “had something come up, ranch across town has had its cows moved across the border.”

“What?” I know what he said but I am shocked.

“Yup,” he puffs his cheeks out. “Never a dull moment,” he winks, and I nod.“How about you?”

“Cows were a nightmare,” I admit, “but I met the new neighbors,”

“Yeah?” his brows raise.

“Yeah, they're from New York,” I bob my head.

“Nice, Riggs said we have new neighbors too,” he admits, and I watch the heavy sigh that leaves him.

“Yeah, they're James and Nate's friends,” I step a little closer, “I'm going for lunch with James and her friend Friday.”

“Very nice, look at you making friends,” he smirks. “Your pops...” he trails off just as his phone begins to buzz. He looks down, then back at me as if he is asking my permission silently if he can answer it.

I smile.

He takes that as a yes.

I take that as my cue to leave and check on pops.

Climbing the stairs, the nurse slips out just as I slip in.

“All okay?” I whisper as I look over at him sleeping.

She gives a nod.

“Doctor Carlos is popping in today, your grandad is complaining of pain in his stomach, he shouldn't be feeling it due to his meds so we just want to get him checked out.”

My heart stills for a beat before I am nodding at her.

The smile she gives me is tight. She moves past me and heads downstairs. I look at my pops and suddenly he looks so small tucked into his bed.

Walking slowly towards him, my heart drops a little at his coloring. He is turning more gray as the days go by.

Sighing, my breathing rattles and I hold in the sob that blooms in my chest.I reach my hand forward and cup his, brushing my thumb back and forth over the back of his hand.

“Hey pops,” I whisper to him, my eyes searching his face willing for him to open his eyes.

There is so much I want to speak about but at the same time, I want to sit here in silence and just watch him sleep.

The creaking floorboard has me lifting my teary eyes to the door to see Pacey standing there.

He gives me a sad smile as he leans against the doorframe.

“Lunch is here,” he says softly and I palm away a tear that has run down my cheek.

I nod, looking back to my pops before I lean in and place a kiss on his forehead, lingering for a moment then push to my feet.

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