Page 26 of Secret Puck
I wait for a few seconds before I try again, this time louder. Rhett’s room is all the way across the apartment, and I have no idea if anyone else is home. I didn’t see Heath when we left, and Mav was going to catch a ride with Adam and Taryn. “Help!”
I slide down onto the floor before my legs can give out and continue banging with both fists. I try counting to focus on something else. One. Two. I’m fine. Everything is fine. Three. Four. Someone will come home any second now.
My hands fall to my lap and I suck in deep breaths. All the fuzzy edges from the alcohol are gone and I’m entirely too sober and aware that I’m trapped in a very dark, small room.
Hot tears roll down my face. I yell as loud as I can through the crying. “Help!”
“Ginny?” Heath’s voice on the other side of the door makes me cry harder. “Are you okay?”
“I can’t get the door open.”
The handle rattles. “It’s locked.”
“I know. It’s too d-dark to see, but I can’t get it open either way I turn it. Could you get Adam?”
“Ginny, I’m going to kick the door open, but I need you to move back out of the way. Maybe step into the shower.”
“O-okay.” I crawl on my hands and knees and sit inside the tub, hugging my knees.
“Are you away from the door?”
“Y-yes.”
A second later the cheap wood door slams in and against the wall and the light from the living room pours in. Heath stands in the doorway frozen as he takes me in, then rushes toward me. “Are you all right?”
I nod even as I shiver and hug my knees tighter. He’s quiet and I’m all too aware of my ragged breaths filling the silence between us. I close my eyes and concentrate on taking slow and even breaths. One, two, three…
“Everything okay?” Rhett asks in that heavy Minnesota accent.
I’m so embarrassed. I wonder if it’s possible to never see any of Adam’s teammates ever again.
“Can you get her a glass of water?” Heath asks Rhett.
My eyes fly open as my space is invaded and Heath climbs into the tub in front of me. He doesn’t exactly fit, and his long legs are bent and flank me on either side. His hands raise to my shoulders and he strokes me gently. “Deep breaths in through your nose.”
Yep, epic proportions of embarrassment.
“Here ya go.” Rhett reappears with water in a big green plastic cup.
Heath takes it and thanks him, while I smile awkwardly.
“Uh, you guys good?” Rhett shifts uncomfortably. “Should I call Adam? I think he went with Maverick and Taryn on a taco run.”
Heath’s fingers continue to stroke my arms and back. “I’ve got her.”
That’s all the convincing Rhett needs to get the heck out of my bubble of crazy.
“I’m fine. Really. You can go now,” I say, chest still rising and falling too fast. “Go back to the girl in your bed.”
“You’re not fine. You’re having a panic attack. And there’s no one in my bed. I left right after you.” He hands me the cup of water. “Try to take a sip or two. Sometimes forcing your brain to do something else helps.”
I do as he instructs, and the cool liquid does seem to help a tiny bit. Enough that I can better appreciate the man in front of me. He’s shirtless, his ab muscles defined even as he sits. Blue basketball shorts hang on his hips, but his bare calves press against my back.
When I finally feel the sharp edges of my fear dissipate, I finish the water and let out a long, cleansing breath. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” A ghost of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. His arms wrap around me again and he rubs my back softly.
“For getting myself locked in and for that.” I point toward the busted door. The trim hangs away from the wall where the lock pushed it away from the frame.
