Page 50 of Tinsel in Telluride

“Do you like it?” he whispers.

I dip my head toward him and murmur. “It suits you.”

It makes him look like a rugged book boyfriend. The kind that use their scruff to tickle your thighs. Especially up here in the mountains. All he needs is a flannel instead of his bougie designer jacket.

Mouth moving faster than my mind, I blurt out, “It makes you look less like an uptight prick.”

Shit. Why did I say that?

Heat fills my cheeks, and I press my forehead to my lifted forearms as if that will make me shrink and disappear.

“Noted.” Luca’s chest rumbles with a chuckle and his hand tightens on my back, pulling me closer to him. “One more thing, Little Thief.”

“Hands.” I wiggle mine in front of him. “Thank you for warming them.”

“You’re welcome.” He gives them a gentle squeeze and releases them. “Now I want you to let me see those beautiful blue eyes of yours and take four deep breaths with me.”

Pulling from whatever manic bravery I have left, I tip my head back. His eyes connect with mine, and I’m surprised there isn’t an ounce of pity, only encouragement.

“In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

I accept his instructions, and latching on to his life-giving gaze, he becomes the roots that ground me.

With each slow breath, my chest loosens. The weight of my worries lifts. The panic morphs into safety. Until finally I’m able to fill my lungs completely.

“Good,” Luca coos, a steadfast reassurance.

Feeling a little more settled and a lot less like I’m going to pass out, I step back and take control of my hands. I slip them through the sleeves of my coat, wrapping myself in a hug. It’s nowhere near as soothing as Luca’s embrace, but it gives me the space to recalibrate and remember where I am.

Luca’s eyes never leave me. He watches me like a hawk.He waits with infinite patience until I give him an appreciative nod.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

A wince of dread flickers over my face. “If I say no, will you leave it alone?”

“All signs point to not a chance in hell,” he says with the barest hint of a smirk.

I drop my shoulders in defeat, my gaze falling to the floor, and I wish it would open up and swallow me whole. This isn’t how this trip was supposed to go.

None of it.

Not Luca and I fighting.

Not his friends welcoming me.

Not Zach having the time of his life with this new family.

I suck in a breath and hold it, staving off the panic that is all too willing to slither its way back in.

“Hey.” He steps toward me and brings a finger to my chin, lifting it so I have no choice but to meet his gaze. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, but talking about what set it off can help.”

My brow furrows. “Excuse me?”

“The panic attack.”

“Is that what that was?” I consider my spiral and all the times Indie and I have helped Willow through her panic attacks. She’s never said it felt like a heart attack. More like overwhelming racing thoughts. Which absolutely checks out, but the rest?I’ve never experienced that before.

“Was it your first one?” His kindness shines through once again, and as much as I like it, I’m not sure what to do with it, or how long it will last before the pendulum swings the other way.

---