Page 61 of Always Mine

“You scared me,” Rachel said.“You don’t get to scare me like that.”

Daisy let out a chuckle.“I’m so sorry.The next time I’m at death’s door, I’ll tell them it is unacceptable because Rachel cannot stand it.”

“You better,” Rachel said and stepped back.

Constance hugged her.“You know, we were all scared there for a minute.We figured we would have to deal with Anthony without you.”

“Yeah, and we all know that would be a losing battle,” Blaise said.

“Anthony is not that bad.”

“He is not that bad, providing he has you.He is easier to deal with if he knows he has you.”Blaise pulled back from the hug he had given her.

She looked between her friends.She loved all of them.“It will be all right.Nothing bad happened.”

Rachel and Constance looked close to tears.

“What is it?”she asked them, starting to worry.

“We really did think we were going to lose you,” Rachel said.“Everyone has been so worried.”

Daisy looked down as Rachel grabbed one of her hands.Constance grabbed the other, and Blaise even reached out and grabbed her leg.

“This is really sweet, guys.Honestly, it is, but you’re all kind of scaring me now.”

“None of us considered the possibility that we wouldn’t make it,” Blaise said.

This surprised her.“What?”She looked between all three of them.“You guys are crazy.I even told you there was a chance we might not make it.”

Blaise shrugged and Rachel laughed.

“Just because you gave us the warning didn’t mean we actually heard it.”

Daisy couldn’t believe she was hearing this.“You guys do realize that it is a risk, right?Being with the Skulls, this life, comes with a risk of not making it out alive.”

“We know that,” Blaise said.“I just ...you’re one of the good ones.You shouldn’t have gotten hurt.We failed you.”

“No one failed anyone.I went in there knowing there was a chance there would be a cost.A big one.I ...it’s fine.I’m fine and I am alive.We all made it out.”She tried to reassure them all.

Rachel gripped her hand tightly.This was not good, and she knew she was going to have to talk to Anthony.

After they left, John, Damien, and Tate came to her.She got visit after visit, after visit, until finally Lacey and Whizz came to her room and said there would be no more for the night.

She was tired, so tired, and she kept looking at the door, hoping Anthony would step through.He was the person she wanted to see.

Her parents were not wrong, though, she was so tired, she slowly closed her eyes.She would just rest them for a while, and when Anthony was there, she would be ready for him.

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