Page 97 of Make Me Trust Again
Terrified.
Her lips move, but I can’t hear her. Can’t focus on her words from the damn ringing in my ears—the sound of screams.
That pressure against my hand tightens, pulling me back to the present.
I look down and find Rose’s delicate hand clasping onto mine. I turn my hand, wrapping my fingers around hers, and squeeze back as I slowly lift my gaze.
My palm is sweaty, my shirt clinging to my chest as I hold onto her.
My lifeline.
My thumb slides over her pulse point. Her heartbeat is strong under my fingertip. That’s what I focus on. The steadythump-thump-thump.The way her lips move, her soundless words.
Breathe for me.
I suck in a sharp breath.
And then another one.
The world slowly comes into focus.
A body brushes against my side, and then I can feel the familiar weight settle on my thigh.
Shadow.
I lift my free hand, letting my fingers sink into Shadow’s fur. She turns around and licks my hand, the familiarity of her presence calming me. I struggle to push back the memories, but Rose doesn’t waver, doesn’t pull back.
“I’m here. You’re okay. Just breathe for me.”
My whole focus is on the steady rise and fall of her chest, the feeling of her warm palm clasped in mine. I force my fingers to relax, so I’m not crushing her.
“—om!” Kyle’s loud voice snaps us out of the trance we were under.“Shadow— Oh, she’s here! She just left when the fireworks started, and I got worried.”
He stops by our side, his eyes narrowing as he watches me.“Are you okay?”
“I—” My voice is rough, the words stuck in my throat. I swallow hard. “I have to go.”
“Chase, wai?—”
Sliding my hand out of Rose’s, I push to my feet and get the hell away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ROSE
“Are they here yet?”Kyle asks, bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement. I’ve lost track of how many times he’s asked this same question since he woke up today.
I wipe my hands on a towel, trying to fight my smile.“Patience. They’ll be here?—”
The doorbell rings, making me pause.“—now.”
Kyle’s whole face lights up and, before I can blink, he dashes for the door.
Letting go of the towel, I shake my head and follow after him. The door is wide open, and the two boys are talking animatedly.
Savannah looks up when she hears me approaching. “This is another level of excitement.”
“Tell me about it. Kyle couldn’t sit still for more than five seconds, and he’s been asking the whole morning when you’d come.” I tilt my head to the side. “You wanna come in for a drink?”
