Page 11 of Choosing Skyler

“You told him, didn’t you?” I say with more bite than I intend to.

“You know I had to. He took one look at my face and knew something had happened. Would you lie to him if it were about me?” he asks, stepping into the room but keeping his distance.

I hang my head. “No, of course I wouldn’t, but I don’t imagine you’ve ever been the blubbering mess I was earlier, either.”

He steps closer then, looking to Devon like he’s asking for permission. Devon steps back and sits on the edge of my bed as Brady comes up to me and lifts my face to look at him.

“You ever wonder why Devon is so good with panic attacks? Carefree, happy go lucky, never takes anything seriously, Devon, can talk you down from a panic attack like a pro. You know why?” Brady asks me.

I shake my head slightly. Ihavealways wondered that. I thought it was just because we were close, and I trusted him.

Brady grins a little shyly. “Me.”

I gasp. “You taught him?”

He chuckles. “Well, yeah. Sort of. I started having panic attacks when I was sixteen—right after my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I could never let her see me that way. So, I would run next door to Devon’s or text him when I started to hyperventilate, and he would come over. At first, he would just sit with me until it passed. Then, he started talking to me. Telling me that I was gonna be okay just like last time. I just had to breathe through it. I learned on my own that putting my head between my knees helped. It forced me to breathe slower and take deeper breaths. Then, we realized that when I was focused on his voice the panic would ease faster and I’d calm down enough to sleep it off sooner,” he explains.

Without even consciously deciding to, I step into him and lay my head on his chest. He’s taller than Devon and not quite as wide, but when his arms go around me to pull me into a hug, they feel just as strong. I want to wrap my arms around his waist and burrow into him, but I’m still wrapped in a blanket with nothing but my underwear underneath. So, I lean back and look up at him.

“Thank you, Brady. For talking me down earlier and for sharing that with me. It makes me feel a little less crazy. I’m sorry I made your first day here such a mess…” I start, but I’m cut off with his finger on my lips.

“You’re welcome, Beautiful, but no more apologies. I’m just glad you’re feeling better,” he says, moving his hand to cup the side of my face, running his thumb along my cheekbone under my eye.

He glances over my shoulder to where Devon went to sit on my bed. He’s been unusually quiet. I half expect to turn around and find him laid back on my bed asleep, but he’s not. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed watching us with—pride? When he has both of our attention he jumps up and wraps us both in his bear hug.

“I’m so damn happy you’re both here!” Then, he looks up at Brady. “And you are NOT going anywhere! Right, Sky?” he says, looking down at me.

“Um… no?” I answer a little confused. “Why would you be asking me that?”

Devon smirks. “Because Brady was pretty upset earlier, thinking he caused your panic attack. He was crying and all ‘I can’t make her feel uncomfortable in her own home.’ and shit,” he mocks Brady playfully.

Brady shoves him back and laughs. “I was NOT crying, you shithead.” Then, he looks down at me more seriously. “I did say I wouldn’t make you uncomfortable in your home, and I meant it. Please be honest. I can find somewhere else to stay if having someone else in your space is too much.”

“NO!” I practically shout, making us all jump. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m…” I almost apologize again, but I stop myself before either of them can. “I mean, you don’t have to leave. You’re like family to Devon which means you’re important to me, too. I’ll adjust. Please don’t go,” I say, looking up at him earnestly.

“Okay, I’ll stay. Iwantto stay.”

“Whoop!” Devon hollers, making us both jump again. “Now thatthatshit is settled, Sky needs to shower and get dressed. We’re going out.”

“I don’t know…” Brady and I both start at the same time, but Devon cuts us off.

“Bullshit. I’ve walked through enough panic attacks with both of you to know that after the nap, food and drinks help. So, Sky, you go shower and get dressed. Brady, you can put your stuff in my room until we get your room ready to be an actual bedroom. You can go get dressed in something other than basketball shorts and I’ll shower and change when Sky’s done in the bathroom. No arguments. This is happening!” he says with a finality that I know Brady recognizes as much as I do.

We both shrug and grin before they head out to the living room. I throw off the afghan and put on my bath robe before heading to the bathroom for the shower I never got to earlier.

Brady

I throw my duffle bag over my shoulder and pick up my two suitcases just as the bathroom door shuts down the hallway. I follow Devon to his room and set my suitcases down by the door, throwing my duffle on top of them before turning to face Devon.

“Are you sure about this, man?” I ask, not quite sure whichthisI’m referring to.

He studies my face for a minute before answering. “Yeah, I’m sure. We’re going to dinner, having drinks and you’re staying here. Did I cover it all? Or is there more?” he asks, studying my face again. “Naw, there’s more. Spill it. What’s on your mind?”

I grip the back of my neck and breathe for a minute, trying to get my thoughts to come out as words. Then, I drop my hand and look at Devon.

“Obviously, your relationship, friendship, whatever with Skyler is important to both of you. I’ll admit when I saw you two in the coffee shop yesterday, I thought you were perfect together. I also thought I was in deep shit because I wanted her the second I saw her and I can’t turn it off, man. She’s like a damn magnet. Are you sure that I could be something to her too? I don’t want a fling. You know that’s not my thing. But I don’t know that she could let me in the way you are with her. I don’t know if I’m making sense.” I huff, confused by my own thoughts.

“You’re making sense. To me, anyway. I know you. To anyone else you probably sound like a blubbering idiot.” Devon laughs, dodging my halfhearted slap to the back of his head. “Yes, I know you can be something to her too. She doesn’t have the emotional capacity for halfhearted acquaintances anymore. With her, you’re either in or you're out and I’ve never seen her letanyonein on the first day she met them. Hell, the first year, besides me—and it took me months and kicking some asshole’s ass before she let me hold her, even as a friend. That was also the first time I saw her have a panic attack.

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