Page 70 of The Matchmaker's Choice: A Lesbian Romance

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would be freeing. That it would feel like this huge burden was

lifted off of me, but it doesn’t. It feels like I’m being

smothered.

I’ve never had a panic attack before, but I can almost

feel my lungs closing up. My breathing is shallow, and I’m

basically panting while trying to make it look like I’m not,

which means closing my mouth and keeping the breath in. I

can feel my nostrils flaring though, which I imagine isn’t

pretty at all. Although, at the moment, I’m not exactly worried

about how I look.

I felt like I needed to tell Adley, to make her

understand. To make things right. Now I feel like I have to

make this right.

“I’m just telling you because…because I want you to

know that it definitely wasn’t you. And I appreciate everything

you did. You had no idea. And you’re just so easy to talk to. I

know that you had to know things about me for the profile, but

it wasn’t just that. I wouldn’t have told anyone else half the

things I told you.” That sounds stupid. I’m making things so

much worse.

I can tell that I’ve shocked Adley. Obviously. All the

hallmark signs are there—wide eyes, slightly parted lips, this

glazed over look.

“Oh,” she whispers. “I’m surprised. But that’s fine. I

mean, I think that’s great.” She reaches for her tea, and even

though it’s probably still wickedly hot, she gulps some back

and hangs onto the mug. “Sorry. That sounded terrible. What

I’m trying to say is that I understand. Thank you for telling

me. I imagine it wasn’t easy for you. Am I the only person

you’ve told? Ever?”

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