Page 102 of Broken Breath
Al, pleasetell me you’re okay.
My throat tightens as my fingers move on instinct, typing out the only thing I can offer.
I’m fine.
It isn’t a lie, but it’s not the truth either. It’s only the best I can offer him that isn’t silence. Before I can even put the phone down, it rings.Of course.
I stare at the screen, Dane’s name filling me with dread. My thumb hovers, but I can’t. I can’t face this right now, can’t deal with whatever mix of worry, panic, and guilt is waiting on the other end of the line.
Hitting the side button, I shut it up and shove the phone deep into my hoodie’s front pocket. Then I sink to the floor, my back against the wall, and wrap my arms around my knees, trying to fold in on myself, trying to make the shaking stop.
Even that simple movement hurts in this body.
Everything is more fucked now than it was ten minutes ago, and it was already a mess then.
Why did I pull him in, kiss him like it could’ve meant something, when Iknowotherwise?
I should regret it. Iknowit’s a mistake for both of us, but when I identify everything I do feel, the regret isn’t there. If the only kiss I ever get in this lifetime is that one, I’ll take it. I always wanted Finn Greer to be my first kiss. And never in my wildest dreams did I expect him to kiss me back like that, like he wanted me too.
He kissed me like it was our last day on Earth, and that irony has my head falling to my knees as fresh tears pour outof me. They’re the kind that taste like hope, regret, and every fucked-up almost in between.
For just a second, I thought…
… I felt…
Like I was worth saving.
I turn my head and press my cheek against the top of my knees. Breaths hiccup in and out of me, trying to find the rhythm again, only pausing when I hear the door creak open.
Footsteps approach, but my watery eyes are too blurry for me to make out who it is until the figure is right in front of me, and his knees drop to the floor, so close I could reach out and touch him.
Luc-fucking-Delacroix.
His hands are on me instantly, one bracing my shoulder while the other cradles my head, turning and pulling my face to meet his frantic gaze.
“Petit.” He breathes out, his voice laced with something I can’t name. “What did he do?”
His blue eyes search mine intently, trying to read the whole fucking story that’s written across my face.
He’s too close for comfort right now, and I shove his face back with my palm, pushing him off me as I scramble to my feet.
Luc stands just as fast, towering over me and looking like he can’t decide whether he wants to punch someone or burn the room down.
“Noth…” I start, but he turns his glare on me and interrupts me before I finish the word.
“Don’t. Don’t deny it. This sure as fuck doesn’t look like nothing.”
There’s venom in his tone, but I don’t know if it’s meant for me or the world in general. I’m too tired to sort it out,and I doubt Finn told him anything if they ran into each other.
“I can’t deal with your shit right now, Delacroix,” I murmur in my deep voice as I step to the left to move past him, but he moves, too, easily blocking the way with one long-legged step.
I pivot to the right, but he lifts his arm, bracing his palm against the wall so his forearm becomes a barrier, trapping me.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I snap.
“Better than you?” he says without missing a beat, raising a cocky eyebrow. “Non.”
I glare up at him. “What are you even doing here?”
