Page 36 of The Truth of Our Secrets

Chapter fourteen

Madyson

My heart won’t stop racing as I charge down the street. Of all days to get stuck on the subway, today was one of the worst. Jayce isn’t answering his phone and Britt’s goes straight to voicemail.

It was the longest thirty minutes of my life.

All I can think about is Jayce. I fling open the gallery door and call for him. I can’t see him, but he wouldn’t leave without locking the door.

He’s not in the bathroom and I open the door to the breakroom so hard, it bounces back and almost hits me.

Jayce is on the couch with his head in his hands.

“Love, I’m so, so sorry.” I’m panting, trying to catch my breath. “Are you okay?”

He nods, but he’s flush and not meeting my eyes.

“There was…I was on the subway. The train stopped. Couldn’t get to you. No service. So sorry,” I babble, cradling his head in my arms, pulling him into my abdomen. “I would never leave you like that.”

There’s movement by the wall and I shriek.

It’s Emmet. Emmet’s here. And Jayce is here. Together. Maybe they’re the reason I got stuck. A little divine intervention to bring them together.

Emmet holds his hands up. “He was having some sort of a panic attack.” Slowly, he steps toward the door. “I was trying to help.”

Jayce’s anxiety is my priority, but I beg him not to leave with my eyes.

I kneel in front of Jayce and gently remove his hands from his face, replacing them with mine.

“Hey. Don’t worry about the promo spot. I’ll cancel it and if they can’t reschedule, it’s fine.” My thumbs run across his cheekbones.

“I did it,” he croaks.

My eyes widen in surprise, and he clears his throat.

“Emmet stood next to me and I got through it. Britt said it was good. I don’t think I sounded angry.” He turns to Emmet for confirmation.

Emmet's head tilts with unasked questions as he deciphers the meaning. “No, you sounded normal. Maybe a little stiff, but then again, you usually have a stick up your ass.”

I glare at Emmet. This is not the time for his jokes, but Jayce barks out a laugh and shakes his head.

“The stick is Emmet sized, so sue me for being uncomfortable.”

Emmet raises an eyebrow. Jayce breathes out, “Fuck,” so low I can barely hear it. He didn’t mean for it to sound sexual, but I can’t un-hear it or stop the delicious image forming in my mind.

A true fantasy.

It takes a second to catch up. He can’t stand Emmet. I’ve been trying to find a solution so Jayce accepts Emmet in my life. Judging by the glance between them, they just need a small push.

“He helped,” Jayce confirms and my stomach flips with anticipation.

“It was nothing.” Emmet’s eyes are on the floor and he’s shifting his weight back and forth between his feet.

“That’s not true.” Jayce’s voice gains strength.

Now I’m lightheaded.

It’s crazy. No one has ever pulled Jayce out of his panic but me.

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