Page 67 of Free Me

Miko passed the box of tissues over to Isa, who took one for himself. When Miko excused himself from the dining room, he’d gone to sit with Isa with the intention of giving the brothers privacy. But most of their conversation had carried to them, and they’d both gasped at Demir’s cancer scare news. Isa had begun wiping away tears almost immediately, which had set off Miko’s inner omega, and he’d embraced his future father-in-law.

They’d held each other during the entire reconciliation, and Miko’s heart soared with pride for his bondmate. Pride and love and relief that this standoff between Linus and Demir was finally over. Everything was on the table, and it sounded as if they were now in a better place. His heart also broke a little for Demir’s pain, in keeping such a scary time in his life from some of the people he loved most, simply because he loved Linus that much more.

When Demir and Linus came into the living room, both smiling, Isa and Miko stood at the same time. Isa went straight for Demir and hugged him tight. Miko observed them for a moment, and then he walked to Linus. Folded Linus into hisarms. Soaked in his scent and felt his heart beating against Miko’s.

“I’m so proud of you,” Miko whispered.

“For yelling at my brother?”

Miko pulled back. “No, dork. For standing up for yourself. Speaking your mind. We’re both learning to do that more.”

Linus nodded then rested his cheek on Miko’s shoulder. “Yeah, we are. Finally.”

SEVENTEEN

The next evening,on the night of the Winter Solstice Gala that he’d anticipated for the last two months, Miko was a hot mess, thanks to the comedy of errors that became picking up his suit pants from the tailor.

Miko was at home when the tailor called at three-thirty to tell him the pants were ready, because Linus wanted to be all romantic and pick him up for the gala at seven. He’d been waiting for the call all day, so he practically bounced outside to the car Omi had left for him to use today. He turned the key. The engine cranked once and then gurgled.

“The hell?” He tried again but the damned engine wouldn’t start. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The battery could have died, but by the time he called a friend to come over and jump him, he could just as easily walk to the bus stop. Nah, a taxi would be faster, so he went back inside to find the phone book and call one.

He texted his parents about the car problem, and then waited about ten minutes for the taxi. But the moment the familiar black-and-yellow vehicle pulled up to the curb and honked, Miko’s vision blurred. His chest tightened with dread and hecouldn’t breathe. He heard metal twisting and glass shattering, and then he was on his ass on the porch, rocking.

“Hey, kid, it’s okay, take a breath,” a stranger was saying, and it took what felt like hours for the words make sense. “I’m calling an ambulance.”

“No!” Miko reached out and grabbed the wrist of a blond beta crouched in front of him. His chest still hurt but he could take real, deep breaths again. It helped his mind clear more, and he started shivering. “Fuck.”

“You have a panic attack, buddy?”

“Is that what this is? I’ve never…before.”

“I have a friend who gets them. Doesn’t always know what’ll trigger him, because he went through some shit. I’m guessing you too?”

The way the cabbie spoke, Miko suspected the friend’s “some shit” was violent and physical, but Miko had no idea what had caused him to—the taxi. The last time he was in a black-and-yellow taxi here in Sansbury was the night of the crash that had turned his entire life upside down. He’d had a minor moment back in Ampshire, but those taxis had been a different color, in a different province. He hadn’t even thought of the accident when he’d called for a ride, but the sight of that colored car by the curb?

“I was in an accident a few months ago,” Miko replied. “The taxi I was in crashed and my best friend was seriously injured.”

The cabbie blinked hard at him. “Well, that explains it. I’m real sorry that happened. Guess you’re not as ready as you thought to get into one again.”

“I guess not.” At least not one that color. “I probably shouldn’t risk having another panic attack by taking a ride, but I’ll still tip you for coming all the way out here.”

“Don’t worry about it, honest. You should probably call someone, though.”

“Yeah.” He accepted the beta’s help standing then let himself back into the house. The cabbie lingered on the porch for a few more moments, as if torn about leaving, but they were strangers, not friends. Miko appreciated the kindness, though.

And he still needed his damned pants.

He called Peyton, who had luckily just gotten off early so he could run some errands before the gala. Miko only said the car was dead; he didn’t mention his panic attack. Peyton promised to pick up the pants and drop them off at the house by six. Good enough for Miko.

His parents got home while Miko was in the shower, and Dad agreed it was likely a dead battery. He said he’d take the battery to an auto parts store tomorrow to get it tested. No one needed that car tonight, and they all had plans to attend the gala, so the chore could wait.

“How’d you get back with your pants so fast, anyhow?” Omi asked as he put together a quick dinner for their trio.

Oops. “Um, Peyton said he’d get them and bring them by before six,” Miko replied, his gut squirrelly. He tried to casually lean against the counter, but Omi saw right through his discomfort.

“What’s wrong, baby boy? Your text said you were going to get to the tailor’s shop another way.”

“I was.” He realized he was twisting the belt of his robe around his wrist way too tight and unwound it. “I called a taxi, but as soon as I saw it on the street, I, um, had a panic attack.”

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