Page 99 of Let Me
“I’m so sorry, Jack,” he says, his words hoarse. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you.” The hand against the angel turns into a fist. “And I hope this is okay. God, I hope this is okay.” I hear his breathing, uneven and heartbreaking. “I will make this up to you, I swear to fucking God.”
Benji wraps his arm around my shoulder, and then together, the two of us flank Caden’s side. He turns his head, burying his face in the crook of my neck and my shoulder, and we hold each other for a long, long moment, Caden’s sobs the only sound between us.
Then he gets to his feet, with Benji’s help, and pulls me into his arms, his own wrapping tightly around me.
“I love you so fucking much,” he says, his mouth moving against my hair. “I love you so fucking much.”
Before I can reply, I hear Benji at our side: “Aw, I love you too, bro.”
Caden’s arms tense around me and he turns his head to glare at Benji. “That week I’m gone every month, you better keep your fucking hands to yourself, or I’ll break them.”
Benji laughs easily and I can’t stop the smile from my own face. “Scout’s honor.”
This time, I’m the one to laugh, ducking out from Caden’s arms. “Benji Silva, we all know you don’t have any honor.”
He tilts his head back and laughs, and the three of us link arms, and head down the grassy hill to the gates leaving the cemetery.
I tell Jack a silent goodbye.
