Page 12 of Dramatic AF
Cradled in safety, I let out a shaky breath as the world came rushing back—shouts from the crew, the abrupt silence of the music, the smell of paint and dust and fear.
“Don’t let go,” I rasped, my fingers clutching at the soft fabric of his tee.
He hauled me against his chest, holding me protectively as he petted my hair and my back in slow, soothing strokes. “I’ve got you, Jay.”
Footsteps pounded over the stage as both cast and crew surrounded us, their faces twisted into nearly identical expressions of shock and worry.
“Jayden!”
“Are you okay?”
“What the hell happened?”
“That was so scary.”
“Are you hurt?”
Their voices blended together, overlapping in a cacophony of panic and urgency until I could no longer make out what they were saying. I appreciated their concern, but as the adrenaline ebbed, I felt cold and shaky.
More than anything, I just wanted a moment alone to collect myself.
“He’s okay,” Trick said. “Let’s give him some air.”
“Maybe you should sit down,” someone suggested.
“I’ll get some water,” another person offered.
“I’m going to take him to the dressing room,” Trick interjected. “He’s done for today.”
“There’s only a week until opening night,” David sputtered. “If he’s not hurt, we have to—”
“I said he’s done.” A low growl rumbled in Trick’s chest, vibrating against my ear.
This time, no one argued.
With an arm around my shoulders, he guided me through the maze of scattered props and anxious faces. I let my feet move on instinct, the din of the stage fading with every step.
Neither of us spoke until we reached the dressing room and the door clicked shut behind us. There, Trick steered me onto the tattered sofa pressed against the far wall and knelt in front of me.
“Breathe,” he urged, his voice softer now, stripped of its edge. “You’re okay.”
I nodded, closing my eyes and listening to my own shaky inhales. “I’m okay,” I echoed. “I’m okay.”
“That’s right. You’re safe now.”
Because of him.
Flipping my eyelids open, I met his gaze, my pulse speeding for an entirely different reason now. “You saved me.”
He glanced away and cleared his throat. “It’s not a big deal.”
“You’re wrong.” I pressed a trembling hand to his cheek, urging his head back around until he face me once again. “You didn’t have to do that.”
His eyes narrowed, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “Well, I wasn’t going to let you fall.”
The offense in his voice loosened the knot in my chest, and my lips twitched into a wobbly smile. “Thank you.”
“I told you, it’s not—”
