Page 71 of Extraction Play

She’d thought losing her parents, her boyfriend and girlfriend, and her home in one sweep would’ve destroyed her.

Instead, she’d risen like the ashes to find something better and brighter, a future she genuinely longed for.

Micah pulled back at last, and his eyes were shining too. “Come on,” he said, clapping her on the shoulder. “Let’s go get the girl.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Pixie had only been in the room with her mother for an hour, but she was already wiped. Not only the adrenaline crash but also navigating her mother in this state and making sure she didn’t set off any mental landmines had taken a lot out of her.

“The doctors are going to be coming back for you soon,” she said, pushing up from her seat. She’d done what she could here, and she’d return to check in on Maisie once the hold was lifted. The relief trickling through her made her feel guilty as shit, no matter the logic that the trained professionals would be able to help Maisie better than she could. She squeezedMaisie’s hand.

For a moment, her mother’s eyes cleared, like lucidity descended. “I’ll be okay, sweetheart. You’ve done so much. Go rest.”

Her body sagged. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed to hear that permission. In the past, she would’ve left to wallow in the swell of bitterness and confusion that followed her or chase a distraction. Not today. Today, she had something to look forward to, to hope for.

“See you on the other side,” Pixie said, giving her mother’s hand one last squeeze. The sight of Maisie sitting there softly smiling at her was one that settled in her chest. Maybe she’d been spinning her wheels by keeping all this from her friends. Maybe if she’d let them in a long time ago, she wouldn’t have struggled so hard.

She didn’t look back as she exited the ICU room and walked to the waiting area where she’d left Parker.

Pixie’s skin buzzed. The relief coursing through her was staggering. Not only was her mother fine with just a mild concussion, but she was en route to getting the help she needed. If the meds wore off, the doctors would adjust them and work with her until they found the best solution.

And she wasn’t going out by her lonesome to slump into her car.

No, her friends were aware of her situation. Eva waited for her.

When she turned the corner into the waiting area, she stopped still.

Parker was there, but he wasn’t alone. More noise than should’ve been in an ICU waiting room poured her way.

Everyone had shown up.

Micah sat in Parker’s lap, waving his hands wildly, with Parker’s arms wound around him as they talked to Nolan, who sat right next to the pair. Sloan leaned against Fin’s side, and they wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Meg murmured something in Fin’s ear, a wicked grin ensuing, and both of them glanced at Tristan.

And Eva stood beside them, still wearing Pixie’s clothes from the morning.

Pixie’s heart surged, and her eyes prickled.

“Oh, look,” Micah said. “You finally decided to show up.”

“We’re in a hospital, Micah Frederick Abrams,” Eva said in the Domme voice that never failed to send a shiver down her spine. Not like Micah would listen. Eva wasn’t continuing with him though—no, she walked in Pixie’s direction, crossing the space between them.

Pixie covered her mouth with her hand, unable to believe the sight before her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her vision blurring. Her heart cracked open right then and there. She hadn’t said a word, yet they’d all come here for her. To support her.

After years of carrying the load herself, this was more than she could’ve imagined.

When Eva wrapped her arms around her, she sank against Eva’s chest, the softness and warmth the exact comfort she’d been searching for. “I told you, dove. We’ve got you.”

Fuck. This woman was going to make her bawl.

The stress, the agony, the loneliness poured from her, and she was left with a freedom she’d never been able to find, no matter how hard she’d searched. She was probably making a mess of Eva’s shirt, but those steady fingers combed through her hair, and Eva held her like she could single-handedly keep her broken pieces together.

“Pixie girl,” Fin said. “You are in so much trouble.”

“Fucking Christ, Fin. Can’t you see she’s dealing with a lot right now?” Nolan’s smack echoed.

“You want payback for that?” Fin said.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

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