Page 35 of Static

"What's wrong with you?"

I looked up as Jordan walked in. The others were hot on her heels, followed by the dogs. I smiled and snuck a piece of bacon to Auron as he came to lay next to me. I'd called an emergency meeting of what I liked to refer to as the old ladies' club. My kids were still asleep, so it was the perfect time to come clean. Something Dr. Donaldson said had resonated. Just let it out. It was past time to tell my friends what was going on with me. I knew they were all wondering, but were too respectful to push. Except Jordan, but even with her, I'd refused to talk.

"Have a seat. Coffee's on the counter," I told them as they all came in. I held my arms out for Noelle as Sloane came over. Cuddling her close, I smiled down into her sleepy face. Ugh. I missed having a baby. As much as I loved watching my kids grow, I wanted ten of these at all times.

"Thanks for coming so quickly," I told them, letting my eyes sweep over the group. They were all here. Some were still in their pajamas, but they were there. For me. I swallowed back tears that suddenly threatened to fall. "You all have lives and it's not like the world is ending or anything, so thank you for coming over here at the ass crack of dawn."

"What happened?" Seek asked with a yawn.

"I'm not sure where to start," I admitted. "The struggle I've been having for the last...year. The nightmare last night. The fact that Static got me naked. Or that we woke up in bed together this morning." The sound of a pin dropping would have equated to a nuclear bomb exploding that's how stunned into silence they were.

"If we get a vote," Dani finally said, breaking the silence, "I say start with him getting you naked!"

"You're such a hornball," Kit said with a laugh.

"Food and sex," Dani replied with a shrug. "They're literally the only things on my mind these days."

"Lucky Smokehouse," Jenny said with a laugh.

"Ugh." Kit shuddered. "Don't forget he's my brother."

"Enough about your sex," Jordan said. "You get it all the time. This girl on the other hand..." She looked at me with a grin on her face. "How was it?"

I rolled my eyes. "We didn't have sex." The crestfallen looks on their faces made me laugh. It felt so good to laugh. These women were the only reason I had over the last year of my life. They helped me in ways they didn't even realize. "I think I need to start from the beginning, not the middle."

"Aw, man," Dani cried.

"Start wherever you're comfortable, Gwen," Sloane said, putting her hand on my forearm. She somehow always knew when one of us needed a gentle approach.

I looked down at the baby in my arms, and just let it all spill out. "I went and saw a therapist yesterday," I blurted out. "I've been...having a hard time ever since the night Trent tried to kill me."

There were murmurs of encouragement and love all around me.

I couldn't stop now, or I'd never finish. "I haven't been sleeping well. And I can't seem to get over it. The smallest things will send me into a panic attack, so if you've ever noticed I rush out of the room." I shrugged my shoulders. "That's why."

"Of course we noticed, Sweetie," Susie told me.

Looking up, I found them all watching me with concerned looks.

"We weren't sure how to help," Seek added.

"So, we agreed that letting you come to us was best," Daisha said.

"I don't know if that was the right thing." Jordan wrapped her arm around me from the other side while Sloane laid her head on my shoulder, trying to help comfort me.

"It took me almost a year to get to a point where I could finally admit I needed help. I've been fighting it the entire time. I wouldn't have listened if you guys had tried to talk to me," I admitted.

"We're so glad you're coming to us now, though," Seek said.

I handed Noelle back to Sloane and raked my hands through my hair. "I'll do my best not to withdraw again," I promised. "But it's so hard."

"None of it was your fault," Tori said in a soft voice.

Nodding, I stared down at the table. "I know that. Most of the time."

We sat in companionable silence for a few heartbeats.

"So what happened last night?" Dani asked. "What?" She shrugged when everyone stared at her. "It's killing me not to know."

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