I kissed him back. Held him.
When we pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too."
We stayed like that for a while. Just holding each other.
Eventually, I got him to bed. He was drunk. Exhausted. Broken.
He fell asleep almost immediately.
I stayed awake. Watched him. Made sure he was breathing. Made sure he was okay.
He mumbled in his sleep. Names. Derek. Greg. Wade.
I wished I could take the pain away. Wished I could make it better.
But I couldn't.
All I could do was be here. Be with him. Hold him when he fell apart.
And hope it was enough.
I fell asleep sometime around three. Woke up at seven.
Ridge was already awake. Sitting on the edge of the bed. Head in his hands.
"Hey," I said.
He looked at me. "Hey."
"How are you feelin
