Page 62 of Whenever You Call

“I…” she tried to speak, but she was breaking up.

I pushed my finger into my free ear and narrowed my eyes. “Hannah? I can hardly hear you.”

“Go, enjoy your night, Logan. I’ll call you later.”

“Not a chance. Wait a minute.”

The music seemed to grow louder with every beat of the song, so I stepped outside onto the porch surrounding the bar, letting the cool night air hit every sense I had when the door slammed closed behind me.

“What’s happened? And don’t say it’s nothing, Hannah, because I know you wouldn’t say it was urgent if it wasn’t.” I tried to hide the worry that had started to claw its way out of my throat, but I failed epically. I was fucking worried. Always when it came to her now.

“It’s just…” She hitched in a sharp, shaky breath, releasing quickly. “I think I’m having another panic attack.”

“You think, or you know?”

“I know.”

“How bad is it?”

“The worst is probably over, but I’m pretty badly shaken.”

“You know what to do, right? You remember the breathing patterns I told you to follow?”

“I’ve already done them but this one isn’t going away so easily, and Livia isn’t here, so I’m all alone with Bella, and I’m… scared. I feel ridiculous for saying that, but I am. For the first time in months, I’m scared that I’m alone, and I don’t know what to do about it or if there even is anything I can do. That’s why I called. You told me whenever, right? That’s what you said.”

“And I meant it. You can call me anytime, day or night.”

“But I don’t want to be a burden.”

The sudden urge to call herbabybit at the tip of my tongue, and I quickly forced it back, shredding it to pieces before it came to life. I’d never called a womanbabyin my damn life. I wasn’t about to start now at thirty years old. Especially not a woman who wasn’t mine.

“You’re never a burden,” I said instead. “I want to know when you’re struggling so that I can help. I want to help. Do you want me to come over?”

“I can’t ask that of you.”

“You didn’t.”

She remained quiet, and another breath stuttered in and out of her before she took another too quickly. I could sense the panic rising inside her again.

“Hannah, you either want me to come and help you, or I’m going to have to phone an ambulance to get there and do my job for me because I’m not leaving you alone to—”

“No!” she said quickly, cutting me off. “No ambulance.”

She didn’t have to say another word before I turned back toward the door of the bar to grab my shit and say goodbye to the others. “I’m calling a cab now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Are you sure?”

“Hundred percent. Go lay down, close your eyes, and concentrate on those big, deep breaths. You hear me?”

“Yes, but Logan… Don’t make a fuss. I’m okay. I’ll be okay. I just need…” She didn’t finish, and I imagined her telling me she neededme, even if the word never passed her lips.

“I’ll be right there.”

We ended the call, and I made my way into the bar, pulling up my Uber app to find the closest driver to the bar we were in.

“Everything okay, LT? You look shaken up,” Jerry said from over my shoulder as I tapped away on the screen.

“Gotta go, Jerry.”

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