Page 43 of Open Net

“I know and he knows that. He‘s aware it can’t happen again. He needs to get his emotions under control.”

I nodded. “How’s he planning on doing that?”

I felt like I was in middle school again. Asking the friend questions about my crush because I was too afraid to talk to him directly. I wanted to go down and talk to him, but I didn't think I'd be able to without losing my mind. Not yet.

“He agreed to continue working with Madi,” Reese said, “and I made him promise to treat her better or we’re finding someone new.”

I sighed. I didn’t know Madi was getting a piece of his anger too. I needed to call her and apologize.

“He’s considering talking to a counselor as well.”

I gaped at him. “Really?”

He nodded. “He didn’t commit but he said he’d think about it.”

That made me feel a little bit better.

“I also made him promise me something.”

“What?” Chloe asked before I could.

“If something like tonight happens again, he has to get help.” Chloe glanced at me and I knew she was thinking about what we’d talked about. He’d go to a treatment center.

“I’m not going to let this turn into something worse.” Reese said while shaking his head. “I’m not going to sit back and watch him spiral. You need him. Jackson needs him. The team needs him. I won’t let it happen.”

Reese stood and walked toward me. When he bent down and hugged me, I nearly burst into tears.

“Thank you,” I said as tears threatened to fall again.

“I’ll take care of this, Emma,” Reese said. “You just tell me when you need help.”

How many times was I going to hear that tonight? I needed to let them know. I blinked back the tears and nodded.

Chloe hugged me, too. “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling with all that’s happened recently, but we love both of you and we’re here for you.” She turned to Reese and grinned. “Will you grab my bag?”

He nodded and left the room. “Why do you need your purse?”

“Not my purse, my overnight bag. I’m staying here tonight.”

I froze. “Really?”

She smiled. “Of course.”

I threw my arms around her. Holding on like she was a literary lifeline in a stormy sea. “Thank you.”

She squeezed me back. “I could hear it in your voice. I knew you needed someone with you, even though you’ll never admit it.”

I stepped back. “I’m going to work on that.”

She nodded once. “Good.”

Reese came back into the house and set Chloe’s black bag on the ground. “You guys have a good night and let me know if you need anything. I’ll talk to Olli on my way out and let him know you’re both fine and going to relax tonight. It will give you both time to gather your thoughts and maybe tomorrow things won’t seem as bad.”

I smiled. “Thank you. For everything, Reese. You can get through to him in ways I can’t. I really appreciate you coming over.”

He came forward and gave me another hug before putting his arm around Chloe’s shoulders. “We’re family.”

He said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. We are family, therefore he would take care of things. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it before, but within the past few weeks I’d seen people prove it with their actions. Tonight was all I needed to finally accept it.