“Well, as a friend, would it be okay if…? Can I ask you to…?” I didn’t know how to ask for what I wanted without sounding like a controlling asshole. Or pathetically insecure. “Never mind,” I told her.

I started to walk away, but she grabbed my arm. “Kellan, what is it?”

Staring at the floor, I let out a long sigh. “Watch Kiera for me?” I swallowed a lump in my throat as I looked up at her. “Just make sure she doesn’t miss me too much. Make sure she doesn’t…” Don’t let her get lonely. Don’t let her cheat on me. Don’t let her hurt me. Please…protect me.

Jenny’s mouth popped open as she studied my expression. I knew what I wanted to ask for was horrible, inappropriate…desperate. I shouldn’t ask Kiera’s friends to shield her from temptation for me, to be her…keeper. And I definitely shouldn’t ask them to betray that trust with Kiera if something awful did happen, but it was so hard not to ask for it. I just needed to know that someone staying behind was on my side.

“Kellan…” she said, her voice soft. Rachel stepped into the room then, and I could tell from the look on her face, that she’d heard all that, and she’d understood what I was really asking, and she was feeling sorry for me now, just like Jenny.

The sympathy oozing from them was too much to bear, and I quickly changed my mind. They don’t need to know how terrified I am…how much this is killing me. And besides, Kiera wasn’t going to hurt me. She loved me.

Tossing on a casual smile, I indicated both of them and said, “I just mean, you know how mopey she can get. Just make sure you guys take her out, make her have fun. Don’t let her be sad about me being gone. Especially right after we leave. She’s gonna be…well, you know.” I said it with a nonchalant shrug, but thinking about that moment instinctually made my insides constrict with pain and fear. Holding her after Denny had announced he was leaving…that had been our starting point. I didn’t want someone else putting her back together when I was the one shattering her. “I just want her to be happy,” I said, trying to keep my voice light.

Jenny frowned, like she knew that wasn’t really what I’d wanted to ask. Then she sighed. “Yeah, of course, Kellan. We’ll make sure she’s fine,” she said, squeezing my arm. Leaning in, she softly added, “But it’s going to be okay. Kiera loves you. Have a little faith.”

Faith. Right.

Chapter 10

THE FINAL DAYS