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I was tempted to drop some cash on the table, but the way people were crowding me, I didn’t think it would make it to the waitstaff and there was no way I’d ditch the bill.
“Is that Faith Waters?”
“I think that’s her.”
“That’s definitely her.”
“I just read that she was back in town. Where’s the hottie she’s supposed to be dating? Do you think he ditched her?”
“What if they broke up? That would make him single. I wouldn’t mind getting a chance with him. You’re sure he’s not here?”
“Do my boobs look good in this? Do you think Sebastian is a boob guy? Maybe not if he was dating Faith.”
“You can’t do this to me.” The table crasher really knew how to make his voice travel. Charlie and one of the waitstaff saw the man out of the restaurant until his shouts could no longer be heard.
Thank goodness for small miracles. But panic started to set in as I felt hands on me and people asking for photos.
I kept my head down and found the nearest staff person while the cacophony of requests came from all around me.
Finally I managed to make it to the bar. “Excuse me. Can you close my bill?” I pointed to my table.
The bartender’s eyes lit up in recognition. He cleared his throat. “Sure thing.”
I handed him a hundred as I felt someone pushing in from behind.
My breaths became shallow.
It was fucking mayhem around me. Suddenly, Charlie swept through the crowd and grabbed my elbow. “We gotta get you out of here.”
I leaned into him as he pushed through the oncoming crowd. It seemed as if the entire bar decided to descend upon me.
“Come on, I just want a photo.”
Flashes came from different devices until finally we were outside, a rush of cool air hitting my face. I rushed over to the wall and planted my hands on my knees.
A gentle hand remained on my arm. “We need to keep moving, Faith.”
I nodded as I tried to gulp down the air. I pulled at my collar and felt no relief.
A sharp whistle pierced my ears, and I realized Charlie flagged a taxi for us. The yellow cab came to a stop immediately, and Charlie let me go just long enough to open the door before returning for me.
“Just a few steps and we will be out of the fray,” he assured me. I went in first and Charlie shut the door behind me before jogging around the back and getting in on the other side.
My breaths were shallower than ever, and the rising panic clogged my throat. I tugged on my collar again and found no relief.
Charlie placed a gentle hand on my back and pushed me forward. “Head between your legs. You’re having a panic attack.”
“Is she okay?” the driver asked.
I vaguely heard Charlie respond. “Obviously not. Keep driving. Take a roundabout way to make sure nobody is following us.”
I stared at my feet as Charlie repeated calmly, “Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. In…and out. In…and out.”
I pinched my eyes closed and focused on my breaths. In my mind I imagined a balloon filling up and then deflating. Expanding and contracting. That soothing picture in my mind made the world slow down just a little. Let more air refill my lungs.
It could have been five minutes or five hours later, I had no idea, but suddenly the car stopped and someone—Charlie—unbuckled my seatbelt.
I held out a hand. “I can do it.”
