Page 53 of Johnathan

“What’s wrong with this?”

“For one, it screams ‘preschool teacher’, not ‘fuck me on the hood of your truck and let me call you daddy’.”

“Em!”

“Just make sure you use double protection. Jackson got Grace pregnant the first go. I think John ended up with Katy that way too. Those Boone boys get it done.”

“If you must know,Mom,I’ve got the implant in my arm.”

“Good. Now what are you going to wear?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t even know what we’re going to do. I was just thinking black leggings an?—”

“Oh shit,” Emma hissed as she pulled her hand into her apron.

“What?” Abby put down her coffee mug and dropped off the stool. “Are you okay?”

“No… I mean yes.” Her eyes closed as she raised her face towards the ceiling. “I cut my hand. I hate blood.”

Abby swallowed, her own body starting to feel slick with cold sweat. “Yeah, I know you do. Come sit down.”

She wrapped her arm around Emma and led her over to a booth. The color was rapidly draining from Emma’s face. Shit, what the hell would she do if she passed out?

“What can I do?” Abby asked. “Do you need some water? Want me to take a look and I’ll clean it up for you while you keep your eyes closed?”

“No. Can you just call Seb?” Emma reached inside her apron and pulled out her phone. “He’s the first speed dial.”

“Yeah, I can definitely do that.”

Abby stepped back towards her abandoned coffee, keeping an eye on her pale friend.

“Sprinkles. I thought you’d be too busy to call me randomly today.” Sebastian answered the phone and Abby cringed.

“Sebastian, it’s Abby.”

“Where is she? What’s wrong?” The alarm in his voice made her own heart pump harder in her chest.

“She’s okay. She just had an accident and cut herself. She really is fine, but just shaken up. If you can get away from work, you should probably come over.”

“I’m already on my way. Can you give her the phone?”

“Sure.”

Abby turned to walk back towards Emma when the door to the front of the bakery chimed and Sebastian came running in. There really were perks for the bakery being across the street from Montgomery Equities.

Abby pulled the phone away from her ear and tried to ignore the shaking in her hands. She tipped her head towards the booth at the end of the shop where Emma was sitting, her eyes locked on her fiance as he made his way towards her.

“Let me see it.” Sebastian took Emma’s hand as Abby slipped the phone back onto the table. He would take care of Emma. She could go.

She could go.

She could leave and get back to her apartment.

Sheneededto go, but her feet were glued to the floor. Her muscles wouldn’t listen to her brain begging them to move. To leave the shop. She needed to leave before the walls started to close in.

There was no doubt in her mind that seeing the blood from Emma’s cut had brought back a wave of emotions from the night she was attacked. The way the blade had sliced into her skin. The way Emma had gasped. It all came rushing back at her.

Stickiness dripped down her neck. She could feel the warmth sliding over her skin, her breath growing pained as the panic set in.

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