The Best Friend's Contract novel Chapter 67

Aidan

Black. Sadness. Respect.

The amount of people being here shows just how much he was a good man. A great man. A father and a loving husband—he is going to be talk of the city and there's no one going to deny the goodness he had when he was alive. There's no better reason why . . . there's no need for any reasons at all. Not even one.

John deserved better. He didn't deserve to die this way; no one would deserve this way. His family doesn't deserve to feel this pain and he certainly didn't have to live like this. Either way, John . . . rest in peace. You were the best father I never had—I saw how much you loved Kenna and Julia with all of your heart, I saw her grew up to be the most beautiful woman and I saw how well you took care of your girls. You deserved more.

I look around to see the look on their faces, eyes swollen, tears drying and heart breaking. It's not a sight worth seeing as it keeps on making my heart ache; especially by looking down at Kenna as she leans closer towards me, my arm around her waist, wanting to keep her safe and wanting to give her support.

My lips lay onto the top of her head before pulling her closer, wanting her to know that I'll always be here for her, no matter what. She will always have me by her side as she lives her life, no matter how. She won't come across another day without me being a part of me, no matter why.

''I can't,'' She mutters under her breath as she looks up at me, her eyes are bloodshot red and her face somehow appears slimmer. ''I can't stay here.'' She adds.

I nod my head as I grab onto her hand, ''Do you want to leave?''

''Yes. I want to be anywhere but here,'' She replies, her eyes showing desperation as her fingers tremble due to the fear glinting, deep in her blue eyes. The way she leans onto me and the way her hands grab tightly onto my arm shows how anxiety is taking control.

It doesn't take me long to take her away from there, away from the grave and away from the crowd. She doesn't need to force herself to stand there in sadness because her legs were giving out, her heart was beating faster than usual and her lips were slightly trembling, she was going to pass out—she was going to break apart, I saw the pain she wanted to hide.

We step inside my car, closing the door to block any sound coming from outside.

I immediately cup onto her face as try to meet her eyes, ''Look at me . . . hey, look at me.'' My lips curve up into a small smile before her blue eyes actually pierce into mine. ''You don't have to force yourself, okay? You don't have to hold it in. You don't have to hide it away. You can show me everything, Kenna. You can show me the pain and I'd still be here with you,'' My voice almost inaudible as the tears slip from her eyes, down her cheeks.

''Why him? Why now?'' She sobs, wrapping her arms around my neck as I pull her close; quickly wrapping mine around her body, securing her.

Her sobs are only getting louder as I soothingly rub onto her back, snuggling closer towards her by letting her place her chin on my shoulder—letting her tears wet my shirt as we both stay in an embrace, pouring her every amount of sadness; something she has been trying to hide since she found out about his death.

--

The ride home to Julia and John's apartment was quiet, neither of us said a word but it was a comfortable silent. We both needed that kind of treatment especially Kenna because she knew the pain was eating her alive and all she ever needed was a moment of silence; something to clear her head from all of those unwanted thoughts.