Page 36 of My Best Friend's Grump Brother

She ripped her wrist from my hold and took a few steps back.

“I have my inhaler in my pocket. I took it out when we decided to walk, so there is no need to worry about me, Mr. Sinclair. Now, come on, we need to get out of this heat. It’s not good for either of us.”

We continued walking in silence until the gas station finally came into view.

“Thank Jesus,” she huffed out. She was practically panting and looked like she was ready to keel over onto the ground. Her face was beet red, and her breathing was labored. She still had not taken out her inhaler to take a few pumps, and I worried that she was just trying to be brave for no damn reason. Knowing her, she wanted to prove a point to me about me not needing to carry her—her stubbornness would be the death of her one day.

As we drew nearer to the gas station, I noticed a small convenience store as well. Good, we could have some food and water in our systems after we made the call.

“I am…never…letting you…drive me…again.”

I turned to look at her, and I stumbled. I reached out to steady her swaying body. “Where is your inhaler?”

She looked right through me like I wasn’t even there. Her eyes were fluttering like she was struggling to keep her vision focused. My heart plummeted to the ground. Heavy concrete settled into my stomach, the dread pouring out into my system as I analyzed her face.

She was having an asthma attack.

“Dammit, Abrams.” I reached into her pocket and steadied her against my body. I gave her inhaler a little shake and popped it, then placed it against her lips. “One…two…three…inhale.” I pumped the mist into her mouth, praying that what I remembered from watching Jimmy Hudson when I was in grade school was the correct way.

“Come on again, Selena. Breathe for me. One…two…three…”

I gave her one last pump of the mist, and she inhaled it deeply. Her entire body weight rested on me, and I took that chance to gather her into my arms. I watched her for a moment, her chest finally calming and her eyes looking a little more in focus. The dread slowly drained from my body, and her own body came back to normal.

Fuck me.

“Th-thank you…” she could barely speak, but there was no need for her to.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Selena?” I buried my nose in her hair and breathed in her sweet scent of vanilla. It oddly calmed the raging storm inside of me, which was something I was not used to, and it felt…good.

Hmm, this was troubling.

She nestled her head into the crook of my neck, her eyes staring ahead. “I…wanted to prove…I could make it. I wanted…to rub it in your face.”

“And you would risk your health just to one-up me?”

Her eyes fluttered open slightly; I could see the slight hint of a smile on her lips. “Have you met you?”

Good, she still had her usual snark, which meant that she was going to be just fine.

“You are truly something Selena Abrams.”

“I could…” she sighed deeply, her eyes fluttering again, “…say the same for you. You are oddly comfortable. I should have taken you up on that offer to carry me a few miles back.”

“Yes,” I laughed lowly, the rumble coming from my chest, “next time, don’t be so damn stubborn.”

I don’t know what compelled me to do it, but I pressed my lips against the side of her head and started walking. I had never done that before, and it was out of character for me, but it felt right doing it. Selena didn’t seem to mind, or she didn’t notice.

“Let’s get to this gas station and get you out of this heat.” I had no idea how to care for an asthma patient, but food and water seemed like a good place to start.

I carried her the rest of the way. Neither one of us said a thing, but there was no mistaking the large elephant in the room that lay between us. I only hoped that for the sake of my sister and this birthday, we would be able to contain any and all arguments...and sexual attraction. This weekend was meant to be a peaceful one. But knowing Selena and I, nothing ever stayed calm for long. Something always gave and sparked a new fire to put out.

Chapter seventeen

Welcome to Isolation

Selena

I stared at my dead phone, willing it to turn on by the sheer power of my mind. I hated the fact that I not only left my charger in the car but now I had to endure some more alone time with Daniel.

---