Page 118 of Lake
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Lake
I was on fucking cloud nine as I passed through the city limits.
I was back home and now everything felt complete.
Okay, so everything wasn’t fixed just like that. And while I was like a pig in shit because Bridge was right behind me, I knew I’d be going back into hell. Maybe it was wrong to drag her down with me, but I heard the old man’s voice in the back of my head.
Keep her safe.
I wasn’t sure if it was that easy, but I had to make it simple.
I would keep her safe.
No matter what we came up against.
I couldn’t wait to see him and I knew Bridge was thinking the same thing.
So despite the fact that I needed to get back to the compound as soon as fucking possible, I drove over to his house knowing she would follow me.
“You read my mind,” she said after we had parked and she got out of her car. “You know…” She looked at me with narrowed eyes for a second. “I talked to him about an hour before you got to my place. And that asshole didn’t say anything. But he knew, didn’t he. Because he had this… this lightness in his tone that I’d never heard before.”
I knew she kept in touch with him after she went back home and I was glad that he hadn’t ruined my surprise. Well, somewhat of a surprise, since she really hadn’t seemed all that shocked. But she was happy and that I would take, that was for damn sure.
“I stopped over here before I headed out. He knew I was coming to get you.” She smiled at me then leaned in and gave a quick kiss to my lips. “He’s going to be so excited to see you.”
“And I can’t wait to choose a mug!” She bounced on the balls of her feet with excitement.
I couldn’t blame her. I loved his stories too.
“Ed,” I called out as I knocked on the door knowing damn well that I’d earned the right to use his first name.
I looked over at Bridget and saw that her eyes were wide hearing me say it.
“I get to call you Ed now, old man,” I said with laughter in my tone as I pushed open the door.
Only I didn’t make it but two steps into his living room before I lost all the air in my lungs.
“Ed?” His name rolled softly off my tongue. “No.”
Bridget gasped behind me but I couldn’t take my eyes off the unmoving man perched in his recliner.
“Fuck,” I blew out with shock.
Even though I could see it, I didn’t want to believe it.
I somehow managed to calmly walk over to him. My ass lowered to the edge of the coffee table and I just stared at him.
His eyes were closed. The blanket was sitting around his lap like normal. His hands were casually clasped together.
And if I wasn’t mistaken, there was almost a smile on his peaceful-looking face.
It hit me like a wrecking ball to the chest.
He was gone. And it was almost like he knew it was coming.
Clapping caught my attention and I turned my head to see the TV on and I pictured him fading out watching his beloved game shows.
