Page 34 of Unwrapping Romance

“You can sleep in this room.” He set my suitcase down.

“Why not the other bedroom?” My brow arched.

“What’s wrong with this one?”

“The other one is bigger.”

“Fine.” He picked up my suitcase and took it to the other room.

“Is she still sleeping?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Mommy!” We heard Ellie scream.

We ran down to her room, where she was sitting up, crying her eyes out. Suddenly, my heart started racing, and I couldn’t breathe. I gripped my chest and slid down the wall until my butt touched the ground.

“Sierra, what’s wrong?” Jack ran over and gripped my arm.

“I can’t breathe,” I struggled to say the words.

“You’re having a panic attack.” He gripped my shoulders. “Look at me. Slow, deep breaths. Name five objects in this room.”

I stared at him blankly momentarily as my heart raced out of my chest.

“Five objects, Sierra. Name them now.”

“Bed, dresser, nightstand, area rug, chair.” My breathing began to return to normal.

“Good. That’s good. Better?” he asked softly, our eyes locked on each other.

I nodded as he helped me up, and Ellie sat on the bed, staring at us.

“What was that all about?” Jack asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, Jack.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost dinner time. Are you hungry, Ellie?”

“I want my mom,” she whined.

My heart broke for her, not only because her mother left her with her father, who was a stranger to her, but because that poor little girl would be fucked up for life.

“Let’s take her out to eat,” I said.

“You mean to a restaurant?” Jack asked.

“Yes.” My brows furrowed at him.

“What if she misbehaves?”

“Then we’ll deal with it. Do you want to go to a restaurant for dinner?” I asked Ellie.

She nodded as she gripped her baby doll.

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