Page 17 of Festive

Her big doe eyes look up at me through her thick lashes, and she blinks a few times while I rest my hands in fists on the table. “I’ll get right to it. We would like to transition you into a working role within the club. We want to see you in a stable position, andwhile we love that the kids adore you, it’s just not feasible for the club to have another girl on staff. So this is why we’re gonna help you shift out into the workforce.”

Her eyes widen, and in an instant, I see the shimmer of unshed tears threatening to spill over. The color drains from her face, leaving it ashen, as if every ounce of life has been sucked out of her. Her breath catches, shallow and frantic, each inhale too quick, too desperate, as if the air itself is slipping through her fingers. Her hand flies to her chest, clutching at her heart like it’s trying to hold itself together.

She hunches over, the weight of whatever is suffocating her pressing down, and I see the struggle in her every movement. Her body is trembling, fighting against the internal panic that’s gripping her chest, her shoulders shaking with the effort of trying to pull in air.

The sound of her ragged breathing fills the space between us, and I know, without a single doubt, what’s happening.She’s having a panic attack.I feel it in the frantic energy vibrating off her, in the way her eyes dart around, unable to focus, her body caught in the grip of something she can’t escape. It’s like the world has gone still around her, and all we hear is the rush of her anxious breath.

Zero and Neon both sit, their eyes wide like they have no clue how to handle this, but I know this all too well, having had to deal with Rebel’s panic attacks. So I slide my chair out and race around, spinning Amber’s chair to face me. I reach out for both her hands, holding them tight in my own. “Amber, listen to my voice. Are you listening?” She’s panting but subtly nods through her desperate breaths and trembling body. “Pick something to focus your eyes on, anything in the room. Find something and stare at it.”

Her eyes instantly snap up, locking intently with my eyes.

Jesus! Fuck! I didn’t mean me.

But if it helps right now, then so be it.

I look back at her and keep going, attempting to calm her down. “Breathe with me, okay? In, two three… out, two three. In, two three… out, two three. Good… good, now keep going, slow that breathing down.”

Her eyes glisten with tears, and she finally begins to calm down enough to talk. “T-thank you. No one has been able to c-calm me like you d-do, Six.”

“I’ve had to deal with this kind of thing before. So I know my way around panic attacks.”

Her lips turn up just a smidge, her eyes lighting with unmistakable adoration, as her thumbs gently caress my hands holding hers. “You really are like my own personal hero.”

Yep, that’s my cue to back the fuck up.

I move instinctively, slowly backing away, still trying to make her feel grounded but also letting her know I need to keep my distance. This is something she has to ride out on her own. I can’t be the man to constantly save her. The only thing I can do now is be here—be steady, be a reminder that she’s not alone. But I also can’t be the white knight she wants me to be.

I shift back to my seat, with Zero and Neon watching my every move, quietly assessing Amber and me. I feel it with every movement and word that I speak. They have their opinions, and I know I will hear them soon enough.

“The fact is, Amber, I know you’re scared about getting back out into the world, but we will all be here to help guide you. We won’t send you out on your ass. You have my word,” I promise her.

She sniffles and nods. “So this job you’re thinking about, what is it?”

“With your qualifications in childcare, we’ve talked to the manager at Kenna’s school and gotten you a placement at their after-school hours care program.”

“So I’ll be working with kids?” she asks, her tone inflecting up as she beams from ear to ear.

“Yeah, if you’re happy with that?”

“I mean, yeah… that’s my dream job. Thank you, Six.”

I tilt my head. “We want you to be independent again, Amber. We want you to get the confidence back that Bradley took from you. Working for an income and getting your own place will do that for youfar betterthan we can provide for you here.”

She gnaws on her bottom lip like she is hesitant. “I’m not sure what to say.”

“Say, thank you.”

She giggles. “Thank you. When do I start?”

“Tomorrow. You’ll get some time in before the Christmas break, then start with confidence in the new year.”

“What about the kids and looking after them here?”

“We’ll find a way to work around it. Getting you back on your feet is more important. We managed before you came. We can manage now.”

She frowns as if I have offended her, but then she straightens her shoulders and plasters on a fake smile. “Okay, thank you for this opportunity, Six. I won’t let you down.”

I let out a long breath. “You need to do this foryou,Amber. Yes, we will be here to help you and give you support, but you’re the one who has to makeyourlife better. To step out from the shadows of Bradley. Are you ready to do that?”

---