Page 82 of Sealing the Deal

Instead, she nods. “I understand.”

The words devastate me more than anger ever could. She’s still standing by my side, having my back even as I break her heart.

Fuck, I love her.

But I keep those words in, because they’re not fair to say now. This is bigger than me. Bigger than us. I have to go.

A painful silence stretches between us, then footsteps echo down the corridor and Dylan appears, his face drawn but determined.

Flic is already moving to follow him. “Do what you have to do, Grayson,” she says softly. “It’s OK. I don’t need you.”

The words feel like a wrecking ball to the last pieces of my heart. Then she turns and walks back toward her family, leaving me standing there with the life I was building in Denver unraveling in real time. A future that was just within reach now in tatters. A life with this fierce, funny, beautiful woman, almost mine.

And now I don’t know where I belong. Denver or New York. My family’s past or my own future. Her or everyone else. I don’t know anymore. I just know I have to do the right thing.

THIRTY-SEVEN

FLIC

I follow Dylan into the waiting room as my stomach drops away at Grayson’s revelation. He’s going to New York, and he’s not coming back. Everything he promised me in the ballroom just hours ago has turned to dust. This is exactly what I feared. What I expected. And even though I understand why he has to do it, I still feel utterly destroyed.

Except right now, the Sullivans need me with them. My best friend needs me. I push the hurt over Grayson leaving deep down inside me and take my seat beside Mama, my hand slipping into hers.

“What’s going on, Dyl?” Chase asks, reaching his brother’s side, hand on his shoulder.

Dylan’s face is ashen. He scrubs a hand over his mouth, eyes bright and unfocused like he’s barely holding himself together. “They’re preparing her for an emergency C-section,” he says. “I have to go back. I just came to tell you. The baby’s stuck and in distress.”

Ice-cold dread floods through my veins.

“They’re doing everything they can,” he says quietly before turning and striding away.

No one speaks as the shock settles over us. Izzy is being rushed into surgery. The baby is in trouble.

“What does that mean?” Chase asks quietly, eyes wide with alarm as Serena reaches out a hand to comfort him. I wonder if he’s thinking of their own babies, growing in Serena’s belly.

Mama stiffens beside me, but she lifts her head, and when she speaks her voice is unwavering and calm. “It means exactly what Dylan said. The doctors are working very quickly and doing everything they can. All we can do is wait.”

Harper covers her mouth with her hands. Mad’s eyes are wide with alarm as they focus on me. “Is my mom going to be OK?”

I don’t think. I just move. I scoop her into my arms and press her head against my chest, holding her close. “Hey,” I murmur. “You don’t need to worry.” My throat is tight and my heart is hammering with fear, but I will not let Mad see it. “I don’t know anyone as strong as your mom.”

It’s a truth we all cling to. Because if Izzy doesn’t make it—if anything happens to her or the baby—I don’t know how we’ll get through it. Not after Harry.

Dylan. Mad. Mama. Jake. Chase. Harper. Serena. We’re all stitched together by love and history. We’re family. The thought of that thread snapping makes my vision blur.

The waiting room feels smaller suddenly. Like the walls are inching closer. Like everything I love could be taken away in a heartbeat. This is my world. These are my people. I won’t let myself dwell on Grayson and the fact he’s gone. Not now. I knew this moment would come. I always did. A moment where he’d have to choose between New York or Denver. His old life or the one we were building. I know the decision wasn’t easy for him. I can tell he’s hurting just as much as I am. But we were barely getting started. Of course he chose New York. Just as I would’ve chosen Denver and my family if it had been the other way around.

I press my cheek to Mad’s hair and breathe through the hurt in my heart. Jake steps through the doors then. He gives us a small nod that says without words that the puppy is safe with Buck at the ranch. Mad doesn’t know yet and now isn’t the time to tell her. “Travis is taking care of the horses,” he adds, mentioning the young ranch hand Dylan and Izzy hired a while back.

The wait is agony. Minutes drag like hours. Every time a door opens, my heart jumps and we all jerk forward. I keep my arms locked around Mad, whispering nonsense stories to keep her distracted while I plead in my head for Izzy and the baby to be OK.

Finally, footsteps echo down the corridor and Dylan appears. For one terrible second, his face crumples and tears spill down his cheeks, and my stomach drops. The world tilts. Mad rushes to him. I’m on my feet without realizing I’ve stood, my body cold and shaking, already breaking apart.

Then Dylan’s mouth curves into a smile. “They’re OK,” he chokes. “They’re both OK.”

The room collapses into sounds of relieved exhales and crying. He drops to his knees and Mad launches herself at him. He catches her, crushing her to his chest.

“It’s going to be a little while before everyone can see her,” he says thickly. “But Mad, would you like to be the first to meet your little sister?”