He gazes at us, the place we’re standing, hand in hand, at Ryan’s aspect. His expression is stern and onerous, and I bear in mind Brylee saying he’s a army man. Ryan by no means talked about him.

However one thing glints in his gaze, one thing like amusement. “Brylee and Riddick, I presume.”

Brylee glances at me. I barely cease myself from shrugging.

“You’re the ones Ryan simply added to his will,” he goes on.

“His will?” I blink. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Rid.” Brylee tugs on my hand.

Dawson Senior lowers the surgical masks he’s carrying and a smile tugs on his in any other case grim mouth. “He didn’t inform you.”

“After all he didn’t…” I wish to throttle the person. However I nonetheless can’t wrap my thoughts round what Ryan did. “Why would he embody us in his will?”

The smile widens. “My son by no means tells me a lot. He doesn’t must. I can learn him like an open e book. He’s been happier in these previous weeks than ever earlier than. I knew he’d met somebody, that he’d let himself open up eventually. It took him a very long time.” His smile fades. “Since my spouse died, Ryan put his life on maintain. He was positive he’d die in the end. He didn’t need anybody struggling due to it. Not like he did when his mom died.”

“Mr. Dawson…” Brylee begins, her eyes moist and shiny.

He places up a hand to cease her.

“My son loves you, each.” He provides us a shrewd look. “Now you already know all the pieces. The remaining is as much as you.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Shaved Ice Tumble Pitcher

Ryan

Chilly. I’m so chilly, and I can’t breathe. I’m drowning, sinking into the lake water, by means of ice. The useless are watching me, floating round me, attempting to catch me with sharp claws.

Can’t. Fucking. Breathe.

I kick on the water, on the ice, swimming towards the floor, however the claws drag me down, attempting to maintain me in the dead of night.

“You’re okay,” a voice whispers in my ear. “Relax. You’re okay, Ryan.”

I sink again down and float within the crystal ice, struggling to attract air, questioning if my coronary heart will give out.

Silly thought, Ryan. You’re useless. Your coronary heart broke, don’t you bear in mind? It’s throughout.

My coronary heart broke. That’s proper. It shattered, the items too many to be put again collectively. Yeah, it is smart, though I don’t bear in mind how that occurred. And now I’m alone.

It’s surprisingly peaceable after that realization. Surprisingly unhappy.

Darkish and quiet.

Subsequent time I floor I hear extra voices. Low and distorted, accurately right here, contained in the lake. I don’t perceive what they’re saying, however I acknowledge a face.

Mother.

She smiles down at me, her darkish hair unfastened round her face. “Ryan,” she whispers. “I by no means thought I’d see you once more.”

Neither did I, but it surely doesn’t matter, as a result of she’s right here now.

I missed you, I attempt to inform her, however I can’t. All of the ice in my mouth, in my throat, in my chest. Missed you so fucking a lot.

“Don’t combat it,” she says. “Simpler when you don’t.”

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