Page 39 of Not Dating Material

Thankfully, this time he answers.

“Hey, Z, just with a client. Do you need me?”

“Xander’s having a reaction to something and his throat’s closing up and I think I should call an ambulance, but he said to call you.”

There’s a prolonged pause, which lasts way longer than any pause in an emergency should.

“Hello?” I shriek.

“I’m going to need you to calm down.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“I did. Now, I promise that he’s in no immediate harm, but if you want to help, the only way you can do that is to breathe.”

I suck down a shaky breath. “I’m breathing. Now what?”

The bastard actually laughs at me. “Another one.”

“Seven!”

“Take another flipping breath, Molly.”

He has no idea what he’s asking me. Xander’s gripping my hand tight, practically convulsing with the force of trying to get oxygen down, and my pulse is racing out of my goddamn ears, and he wants me to just breathe? Fucking breathe?

“Tell me what to do.”

“I’m trying.”

“No, you’re not!”

“Look, I’ll call Aggy to come over. She can help Xander until I’m there. I’ll be ten minutes.”

I force down a stubborn breath. “I can handle this.”

“Don’t sound like it to me.”

“Goddamn it, he’s going to pass out.”

And the second the words are out of my mouth, Xander sways against me.

“For the love of goose pebbles, stop talking.”

I huff and force down another breath.

“Listen carefully. Don’t say anything alarmist or anything that’ll give him ideas. He knows he’s okay. Xander’s perfectly aware of what’s happening, but his brain is forcing these feelings onto him. The second he gets in a spiral like this, there’s only one thing that will help.”

“What?”

“He needs to go see Derek.”

“Who the hell is that?”

“In Xander’s phone, there’s a contact ‘for emergencies GPD Pharmacy.’ Call them and tell them Xander needs to come in and ask if Derek is available.”

“And if he isn’t?”

“He will be.”

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