He hadn’t been avoiding me because he didn’t like me. He’d been avoiding me because he did. But why?

A holler from down the hall. “Erin!” JD’s voice.

Danny looked towards the voice, then gave me a look I’ll never forget. A very British look, a little shake of his head and a helpless grin, humor mixed with pain.

JD had warned him off me. He had to stay away from me…or he’d lose his best friend.

An ache began in my chest, cutting right through to my core. No!

But I slowly nodded. I’d never forgive myself if I came between them.

“Erin!” JD hollered again.

I turned and scurried back to where everyone was gathered. People were saying their final goodbyes. Gabriel had one hand on Olivia’s cheek and was talking to her in a voice too low for me to hear, but whatever he was saying, she was transfixed, doing little nods and gulps as if on the verge of tears. Cal was staring down intently at his girlfriend, whose lip was starting to tremble, too, but he didn’t seem to know what to say to make her feel better. So he put both hands on her waist and just lifted her right off the ground. She yelped and then shrieked and then, as he laid her across his massive shoulders and spun around and around like a helicopter, she started laughing hysterically. Only then did he bring her down and hug her close.

JD held his arms out. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I was aching inside, frustrated, but I knew he was just trying to protect me and he was my brother. I threw my arms around him and pressed my face deep into his plaid shirt. “Be safe,” I pleaded.

He smoothed my hair and kissed the top of my head. “Always.”

As I grudgingly released him, Stacey was hugging Bradan and I saw Emily take Kian’s hand again, anchoring him in Colorado, just in case he got any ideas. Only Danny and Colton didn’t have someone to say goodbye to.

One by one, the team trooped outside into the cold, heading for a huge black SUV. Danny was the last to leave and, as the door closed behind him, I felt this soul-deep tug. I knew I had to stay away. I couldn’t come between him and JD. But this didn’t feel right. What if something happened to him? I walked over to the window and watched him walking away and with every step he took, the pull got stronger. He was halfway to the SUV….

I bolted out the door and ran to him. He must have heard me at the last second because he turned just in time for me to whump into his chest. I squeezed him hard. “Come back safe, okay?” I whispered.