Page 21 of Don't Leave
There’s no room to breathe in here.
My fingers rise to claw at my throat.
“I need to get out of here,” I gasp.
Before I lose it.
With a nod, his fingers wrap around mine before towing me toward the front door. “Let’s get some fresh air. That’ll make you feel better.”
Luke doesn’t wait for an answer.
A couple of inches above six feet with broad shoulders, he’s a force to be reckoned with and easily clears a path for us. He’s a defenseman and used to pushing people around on the ice.
Unlike everyone else who has shown up tonight, Luke isn’t wearing a costume. With the flickering lights, loud music, and unrecognizable people, it’s a relief to see a familiar face.
As soon as he pulls me through the front door, I suck in a breath, filling my lungs to capacity. The cold night air hits my cheeks, cooling me and calming my racing thoughts. He walks us down the front porch steps onto a cement walkway that cuts through the front yard until we end up on the sidewalk. Only then does he stop before turning me toward him. His hands settle carefully on my shoulders. I wait for the normal wave of anxiety to crash over me.
It never hits.
Even though I don’t know Luke well, what I do understand is that he’s safe.
He’s already proven that.
He jerks his head to the house. “What happened in there?”
His gaze intensifies, searching mine. Even in the darkness, they’re brimming with concern. It only makes me feel like a paranoid freak for thinking his motives were nefarious. My mind tumbles back to our conversation at the Union.
And the tentative friendship that has sprung up between us.
But…
He also implied that he wants more than just friendship. I’m not sure I should tell him about Cole disappearing upstairs with his ex-girlfriend. Even thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach.
I draw in another deep breath before gradually releasing it. “I was feeling a little claustrophobic. It’s not a big deal. I’m fine now.” I lift the corners of my lips into a slight smile. “Really.”
His eyes probe mine as if he knows I’m not being truthful with him. “They let way too many people in there. You can barely move.”
My muscles relax. Discussing the crowd feels safer than revealing the real reason I had to leave. “Yeah, it’s ridiculous.”
He clears his throat and shifts his stance. “Where’s Cole? I’m surprised he’d leave you alone.” His voice drops, becoming lower. “Especially in that crowd.”
I hesitate before giving him a partial truth. “I went to the bathroom and when I came back, I couldn’t find him.”
But I did find him.
I found him climbing the stairs with his ex in tow and that knowledge is eating away at my insides. Are they still upstairs together?
He pushes his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Did you try texting him?”
“Yeah.”
“And he didn’t respond?” Surprise riddles his voice.
It makes me feel as if I need to rush to Cole’s defense.
“He texted and called but I didn’t hear it. It’s so loud inside the house that you can barely hear yourself think.”
A thoughtful expression flickers across his face. “If you’re feeling up to it, we can head back inside and look for him.”
