Page 131 of Against The Rules

I hold her tight, and after a minute, she slumps against me, completely quiet except for a few choked breaths.

When I glance down at her, she’s passed out.

“What the hell?” I ask Presley. “Is she asleep?”

“I gave her a Xanax.” She shrugs. “She was having a panic attack.”

“What the fuck?”

“Chill out, Tyler, she’s going to be fine. She’ll feel better when she wakes up. You’re right, by the way. She needs therapy. You put a Band-aid over her thing with food, but she’s always been… weird about food. I think it’s a control issue.”

I’m furious with Presley for giving her meds she wasn’t prescribed, which is hypocritical as fuck considering the team doc is always offering up anything he thinks will help us perform better. Legally, of course.

“Shit,” I say on an exhale. “I didn’t know it was this bad.”

“I don’t think it has been.” She peeks around at where Savannah’s face is smushed against my chest. “I haven’t seen her like this since college. It’s that damn cheer team.”

“And me.”

“Well, no. Not you you.”

I raise an eyebrow, picking up Savannah and carefully carrying her to her room. “Explain,” I demand.

“The stress of keeping your relationship secret, obviously. It’s bothering her. But she loves you too much to do anything about it.”

Savannah sighs as she rolls to her side, and I pull her quilt over her shoulders, tucking her in.

I glance desperately at Presley. “How do I help her?”

“She has to want help, for one. But to get help, she needs either money or insurance, and let me tell you, most therapists won’t see you if you don’t have insurance.”

“I didn’t know it was this bad,” I repeat. What else is there to say? How did I not see how much she was struggling?

“She hides it well,” Presley says quietly, and I close the door to Savannah’s room, feeling sick and helpless. “She always has. She’s so damn stubborn and smart and high-strung. But if you can help her, Tyler, help her. She’s my best friend.”

The look Presley gives me is as helpless as I feel.

I know what I have to do. Savannah might not like it, but I’m past caring about that.

I just want her to be okay.

CHAPTER 58

SAVANNAH

I wake up refreshed for the first time in ages, yawning and stretching my arms overhead. My eyes are itchy, and my little breakdown comes roaring back through my memories as I blink at the ceiling.

“Good morning, baby,” my mom says.

“Mom?” I sit up, confused. “When did you—”

“Presley got me from the airport last night. She said you needed sleep. I took her bed and she took the couch.” The bed creaks as my mom sits on it, and I inhale her lavender and mint scent, transporting me right back to my childhood. “Are you okay, Savannah?”

I wrap my arms around her. “I missed you, Mom.”

“Oh, Savvy, I missed you too.” She pecks the top of my head, stroking her fingers through my hair like she used to when I was little. “I peeked in here last night, but you were out.”

“I… had a rough night.” I wince, remembering how completely freaked out I was when Tyler came over. Oh god, he must think the worst of me.

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