Page 92 of Fangirl Down

At once, the situation clicked, the remaining sleep cobwebs dissipating.

The blood drained from her face.

“Oh Wells, I’m sorry.” Slowly, she stood. “I should have explained this to you.”

He dropped his phone with a loud bang, but didn’t seem to notice he’d done so.

“I had to change the sensor. It takes a while to warm up and connect again with the app, so... there is no number for a while.” He looked so shaken up, she was almost afraid to approach him. “It might have looked like I was crashing, but I was fine. I’mtotallyfine.”

Wells doubled over, hands propped on his knees, sides puffing in and out.

“I’m sorry,” she said, a chasm opening in the center of her chest. “I’m sorry that freaked you out. I fell asleep and my phone must have been silenced.”

“Okay.” He took several long, uneven breaths. “Just... let me get myself together.”

“Okay.” She shifted on her bare feet. “Would a hug help—”

“Yes,” Wells rasped, barreling toward her like a cruise missile. Josephine was scooped off the floor and enveloped in a bear hugthat was so fierce, it made her eyes water. Wells buried his face in her neck and breathed deeply, gathering Josephine closer, closer, like he was trying to absorb her. “You and me not being together all the time isfucking stupid, Josephine,” he roared.

“You’re shouting in my ear.”

No apology was forthcoming. Not from this man.

And honestly, Josephine didn’t really need one. The way he was holding her like he was on the verge of breaking said more than words ever could. That was Wells, wasn’t it?

No sweet nothings. Only actions.

Josephine stared over his shoulder at the brutalized door, piling more and more facts together. “Did you drive all the way here from Miami?”

“I’d have driven to the ends of the Earth, belle.”

Oh wow.

Moisture washed into her eyes.

Hold that thought about sweet nothings—

“That’s probably how long it would have taken you to simply return my call.Christ.”

She started to laugh.

Holy cow, she’d missed him more than she realized. Like a hundred times more.

“Don’t you dare laugh. I’ve been through hell. That was the worst hour of my life.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing when he lifted her more securely against his chest, her feet leaving the floor. “I know. I’m sorry.” Discreetly, she inhaled his neck, letting the combination of soap and sweat seep into her skin. “You’re still paying for my door. Did you even knock?”

“Nope.”

Wells walked them over to the couch and turned, sitting down heavily. And because of the way they’d been standing, she had nochoice but to wrap her thighs around his hips, straddling him on the couch, her face smooshed in his neck.

Right. No choice at all.

“Listen, belle,” he started a few seconds later, his palm stroking down the back of her head, still shaking slightly. “I remember what you told me. About your parents making a fuss about diabetes and how it reminds you there’s something to fear. I know you can take care of yourself. This just threw me, okay? I didn’t know what was happening.”

“I understand.”

“I won’t lose my shit next time.” He paused to let out a jagged breath. “But you should still answer your goddamn phone.”

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