Page 29 of All Along

I inhale a deep breath and try to make out the scents of the restaurant. “Pizza and honey.”

“Honey?” She frowns. “I don’t smell honey.”

I shrug. “You always smell of honey to me.”

“One thing you can taste.”

I’m confused. Am I supposed to be eating now?

She hands me a breadstick.

“Did you steal this breadstick?”

“It’s not my fault they didn’t lock the storeroom.”

I bark out a laugh and realize I can breathe. I can see. I can hear. My panic has subsided and my chest is no longer tight.

Damnit. I didn’t want Maya to witness me having a panic attack. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed away from her. I don’t want her to think I’m pathetic. But now she will. After the way I panicked because some stupid hockey team scored and people in the bar cheered.

I run a hand through my hair. “Maybe—”

Maya holds up a hand. “Nope.”

“What? Nope?”

“You’re not going to sit there and apologize for having a panic attack. It’s plain stupid.”

“Stupid?”

“Yes.” She nods. “Stupid.”

“I’m stupid for having a panic attack?”

She glares at me. “No. You’re human for having a panic attack. You’re stupid if you’re going to apologize and beat yourself up for having one.”

“You see right through me.”

“Duh. We’re friends. Friends know and understand each other.”

“Nonetheless, I should be the one protecting you.” She shouldn’t be forced to be in this room with me, talking me down from a panic attack.

“I didn’t know there were rules about who protects whom.”

“I bet in your romance books the hero always protects the woman.”

“Who says I need protecting?”

She holds out her hand. I contemplate it for a second. I could ignore it but I can’t stand from this position without help. Not yet at least.

I grasp her hand and she helps me to stand. Her hand feels right in mine.

Maybe I was wrong to push Maya away. It’s obvious she can handle my broke ass. Maybe it’s time to finally declare what I’ve always known is true.

Maya is mine.

My thigh twinges.

Or maybe not.

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