Page 113 of Burning Embers

“I’ll see both of you later. Goodbye, Izzy. Goodbye, Reid.” Michelle smiles first at me and then at Reid before sashaying down the hallway and into the lobby.

It’s only when she has disappeared from view do I hurry towards Reid.

“Are you okay? What’s going on?” I anxiously scan his body, searching him for injuries, but I don’t see any.

Then again, if this is a panic attack or even a seizure, I wouldn’t notice anything out of the blue.

I tentatively place a hand on his back, which is covered in sticky sweat, the liquid seeping through his shirt. I try not to cringe away as I offer him whatever comfort I can.

Reid continues to shake and convulse, his entire body locking together.

“Call. Ashton,” he grunts out, letting loose a shaky breath. “Phone. In pocket.”

His words are distorted, almost guttural.

“What’s going on?”

“Call him!” he demands.

I quickly reach towards his front pocket, trying not to notice how hard his thigh is underneath my fingers, like chiseled granite. I’m grateful when my fingers close around the phone. The last thing I want to do is grope him longer than necessary.

“Passcode?”

He can barely speak. Whatever’s happening to him seems to have impacted his ability to function.

“Five. Seven.” He breaks off, gasping.

“Five, seven…?” I press when he doesn’t immediately continue.

“Eight. Four.” Sweat continues to soak my hand as he pants. “His name is under Dick Face.”

I snort before I can stop myself.

Yeah. Dick Face seems like a fitting name for Ashton.

Fortunately, Ashton’s number is Reid’s most recent call, so it only takes me a second to click on it.

The ice prince himself picks up on the second ring.

“Is this important?” Ashton asks briskly. No hello. No greeting. “I’m with my father.”

“It’s me. Izzy,” I say quickly.

The line turns silent. So silent, I actually fear that Ashton hung up on me. The only indication that he hasn’t is his harrowed breathing.

I hurry to finish speaking before he can end the call. “It’s Reid. There’s something going on?—”

“Explain!” Ashton demands, seemingly getting over his shock at having me call him from Reid’s phone.

“He’s breathing heavily, and he’s shaking, and he’s talking weird?—”

“What the fuck did you do?” Ashton hisses.

Indignation burns white-hot inside of me, running through my blood in a ravenous inferno.

“I did jack shit. This girl named Michelle showed up, and they were talking. And then he just started freaking out?—”

Ashton mutters something I can’t hear, the words muffled as if he placed his hand over the speaker.

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