Page 162 of Meet Me In The Dark
His throat bobs on a swallow. “I left to get changed.” He steps forward. “Celeste, I’m so fucking sor—”
His gaze drops to where I’m holdingout the earbud in offering.
He doesn’t need to talk right now. I won’t force it out of him.
It’ll come when he’s ready.
With a harsh exhale, I feel the relief wash through him as he pulls me into an embrace so tight I can hardly breathe.
When he finally pulls back, he takes the earbud from my hand and gently places it in his ear.Youthby Daughter begins to play, the soft strum of guitar filling the silence between us, and without another word, we start to run.
Fifty-One
Julian
My shoes pound the pavement, rhythm steady and breath even, until my chest tightens as if someone has reached inside and twisted my lungs.
My fingers tingle, my hands go numb, and a strange pressure builds in my ears, like I’m underwater and rising too fast.
I try to push through it.
One stride. Two.
Not now.
Not in front of her.
I slow down, hoping she won’t notice, but my legs feel like they’re wading through cement. My brainstarts screaming at me,something’s wrong, something’s wrong,until it’s all I can hear.
Celeste halts her steps beside me.
Her brow creases… I think.
I can’t fucking see properly.
“Julian?”
I wave her off. “I’m fine. Just winded.”
“You don’t get winded.”
“I do now.” The lie collapses when the pain spikes, and my chest tightens so violently I’m sure my heart’s giving out. “Fuck.”
My pulse is everywhere at once.
“Hey, hey.” She steps in front of me, her hands coming up to frame my face, forcing my gaze to hers. “Look at me.”
I try, but her features warp and blur.
“I think…” My voice is thin. “This is it.”
“What?”
“The end.”
She doesn’t laugh. “I think you’re having a panic attack.”
“No, it’s—” I break off, gasping. “Heart—”
