Page 72 of Cautious

I can picture June saying that.

“What about you, Missy? You finished napping?” Felix teases.

“I was shot, I’ll have you know,” I tell him indignantly.

“’Tis but a scratch.”

I scowl at his Monty Python reference. “I’m baking a human here!” I yell before freezing then turning slowly to look at Blake.

“Oops, I didn’t mean to blurt that out.”

“You’re pregnant?” Felix asks.

I turn back to him just in time to see him jumping back from the bed. I snort. “Don’t worry, it’s not contagious.”

“I don’t want to hurt you. Wait, are you okay? Is the baby okay? Can I get you anything? Towels, water?”

We all stare at him before cracking up into fits of laughter.

“Why would I need towels and water?” I ask through a bout of giggles.

“I don’t know, it’s what they do in the movies,” he replies, looking adorably confused.

I shake my head, my face sore from smiling so much. “You really need to get out more. I’m fine, the baby’s fine. To be honest, I’m not sure why I’m here.”

“You went into shock and lost consciousness,” Blake answers, looking pale as he remembers. “If you could never do that again, I’d appreciate it. I’ve never felt more helpless in my fucking life.”

“I’m sorry. Marcus got shot, and then my… my mom.” I swallow the bile rushing up my throat.

Visions of red, blood-soaked clothes, bloody hands, manic smiles, and the life draining from my mother’s eyes flash through my mind. I can’t escape. It plays over and over making me want to scream, only I can’t because there isn’t enough air.

“Deep breath, Callie. That’s it, breathe with me, baby. Good girl,” Blake’s voice coos in my ear, pulling me from visions of death.

I follow his advice and mimic my breathing to match his, the images disappearing as reality seeps back in. I feel Blake on the bed behind me, his legs on either side of mine and his arms wrapped around me. His chest is flush against my back as he takes slow, deep, even breaths for me to copy.

The guys all watch me, looking worried.

“Jesus, I’m sorry,” I tell them when I get my breath back, feeling freaked out and embarrassed. “She wasn’t a good person, but she was still my mom.”

“Stop apologizing. You have nothing to be sorry for,” Arlo says softly.

“He’s right, Callie. You’ve been through hell and back. I hate to say it, but you won’t be okay for a while, but that’s okay too. We will be here with you and Blake every step of the way,” Banner promises, making me cry.

“Freak out, yell, scream, throw shit if you need to. None of us will judge you for it or think of you as weak. You’re the strongest chick I know, and none of us is going anywhere,” Felix adds.

“I love you. They love you. Let your family take care of you, sweetheart,” Blake whispers into my ear.

I nod with a sob and offer them all a watery smile.

I can do that. For family.

It was a testament to Blake’s love and worry for his friend that he didn’t grunt or moan when I climbed up on the bed beside Marcus and promptly fell asleep with my arm wrapped around him. I don’t know how long I was out, but their voices talking quietly wake me.

“If I’d have known getting shot would lead to waking up with a hot woman in my arms, I would have done it years ago,” Marcus teases.

“Marcus Popeye Bennet, that is not funny. You scared the shit out of me!” I yell, and to prove my point, I burst into tears and bury my face against his chest.

He holds me tight even though it must hurt, murmuring words of comfort and stroking my hair before I calm down enough to breathe without my chest hitching painfully.

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