Page 21 of Saved By Two

Sitting bolt upright, I clutch the soft linen within my fist as I attempt to gather my whereabouts. My heart is beating angrily in my chest and my temples. My breathing is heavy and erratic, but not from the kind caused by physical exertion; my laboured breathing is thick with fear. There’s a small lamp beside the bed, the light dim but enough to make out the room. I glance to my right and choke on a staggered breath. Noah is seated in a chair beside the bed.

He holds up his palm, as one would with a wild or scared animal, and although I may not know him or Caleb as well as my brother, in a stranger whereabouts kind of way, I have this feeling deep down that I’m safe with them.

I wipe the sweat from my brow and tuck my tangled hair behind my ears, my fingers going to my wrist, seeking a hair band. And then I remember howheused to say it was tacky, so I stopped doing it for the sake of arguments.

“Are you okay, sweet girl?”

Noah leans forward, his gaze probing as he takes in my appearance. I find myself nodding, even though I don’t think I’ll ever be all right again, not truly anyway.

I never realised just how unhinged someone could be untilhim.

“You don’t have to pretend, not with me or Caleb.”

His palm cups my shoulder softly.

“I don’t know who I am anymore…” I admit.

Caleb enters with a phone to his ear, his shoulders tight under his suit jacket; his joggers and casual t-shirt are long gone. Not a wrinkle in sight. He looks down right powerful and ready for business. His posture relaxes a fraction when he notices me sitting upright.

“No, yeah, she’s awake, okay, will do. Thanks, man.” He pulls the phone away and ends the call.

My chest constricts for an entirely different reason. “Was that Mason?” I ask in a rush, my voice hopeful.

He shakes his head. “No, it was Mitchell.”

My hope dissolves, my heart still racing as I sink back into the mattress. “Oh.” It’s hard to hide the disappointment in my voice.

Noah reaches over for my hand, giving it a soft squeeze. “You had us scared there for a minute, and it was either call Mitchell or get you to the hospital.”

I’m about to protest, but he holds up his other hand. “Which we knew you didn’t want, hence Caleb’s call to Mitchell,” he says, gaze flicking in Caleb’s direction.

“No, of course, I hmmm… I don’t know what happened.” I pick at my thumbnail, the skin raw.

Caleb moves across the room and comes to stand beside Noah’s chair.

“Mitchell says it was likely a panic attack.”

Is that what that was?

The humiliation just keeps coming.

“I am so sorry. I know neither of you asked for any of this.”

A deep noise emanates from Caleb’s chest, almost like a growl. “You don’t need to apologise.”

“Sorry…” I cover my mouth with my hand because apologising has become second nature.

“Shhh, it’s okay. And don’t worry about Mason. We’re working on it,” Noah says, glancing at Caleb, where they have a silent exchange.

I clear my throat, my voice thick when I reply. “Thank you. But I don’t want to be even more of an imposition than I already am.”

“Sweet girl, you’re not, I promise.” Noah’s words are full of sincerity. It’s impossible to doubt him, but it doesn’t stop the swell of guilt that swarms me.

“Listen, you rest, make yourself at home, help yourself to anything. And if you need anything, Noah is working remotely, so just ask, okay?”

There it is again, that sinking feeling.

Is he working from home because of me? I hate to be a burden.

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