Page 17 of Wreckage

“You’re fine,” he said. “We’re not crashing.”

I let out a shaky breath, my vision still swimming. His mouth pressed into a thin line like he was thinking through his words carefully.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

I didn’t know how to answer that. Troy and I weren’t close. We weren’t friends. He’d never done anything for me to make me trust him.

But right now, he was the only thing grounding me.

I managed a nod.

“Then do what I say,” he continued. “Breathe in for three seconds. We’re going to hold it, OK?”

I nodded and inhaled, my breath shaky and uneven. It even felt too small to sustain life, but it gave me what I needed.

“Hold it,” he instructed. “Count to three.”

My chest ached, but I did as he said, my body trembling.

“Now let it out slow,” he murmured. “Real slow. Feel it leave your body. It’s gentle. It’s calm. It’s OK.”

I exhaled as he instructed.

He repeated the process, guiding me through the motions, his voice a quiet anchor in the storm.

Slowly—so slowly—the panic began to ease.

My grip on the armrest loosened. My breathing steadied, even if my heart still felt like it was slamming against my ribs.

I slumped slightly, exhaustion settling over me as the shaking in the plane slowed.

Troy studied me for a moment longer, his brows still drawn, his jaw tight. Then, his hand lifted. Before I could react, he reached forward and brushed away my tears.

The simple gesture sent something strange through me—something foreign and confusing.

“You’re stronger than this,” he said quietly.

I didn’t know why, but the words stung. It was like he was disappointed in me, like he had expected more.

His face shifted after that, his warmth vanishing in an instant. His jaw tightened, his eyes went cold, and the Troy I knew was back. His kindness had been short-lived.

Of course, it had.

I swallowed, my throat tight. “Why did you even come over here?”

Troy stared at me for a long moment, his expression blank. Then he leaned back, his voice emotionless when he finally spoke.

“Take a nap. We’re through the turbulence.” And just like that, he stood and walked away.

He went back to his seat. Back to Adrian, who shot me an eye roll.

I didn’t have to hear them to know they weren’t saying anything nice. I turned away, staring at the seat in front of me.

I was fine now. I wasn’t shaking anymore. I wasn’t crying.

But something in my chest ached.

I tried to push it aside and ignore the lingering warmth on my cheek where Troy had touched me. On my hand where he’d held me briefly.

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