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“I don’t want anyone else.”
“Good.” He flashes a tight smile. “We’ve been around this sort of party before and it didn’t bother you so much.”
I shift my gaze to my lap. “Yeah, but my feelings are way, way bigger for you now. And—”
He cuts me off with a kiss.
Loud, orgasmic shrieks pierce through the noise of the clubhouse. Shouts of approval follow.
Laughing, I pull away from his embrace. “And this is way more, uh, in-your-face.”
“I can’t even tell anymore.” He shrugs.
Jigsaw elbows him in the ribs.
Rooster throws him a glare and signals one of the bartenders over. “You got a few bottles or cans of Sprite back there?”
“Sure thing,” she drawls. “Coming right up.”
A few seconds later, four cans of ice-cold soda thunk onto the bar next to me. I glance down as a short stack of plastic cups lands on top of one of the cans like a party hat.
My vision narrows as I stare at a bead of water rolling down the side of one shiny, green aluminum can.
The noises around me fade in a sucking rush. My heart slams against my ribcage. Sweat dots my forehead. Suddenly, I’m right back in the log cabin kitchen with no hope of escape.
Breathe. I can’t get any air.
“Shelby?” Rooster’s voice sounds so far away. “What’s wrong?”
I squeeze my eyes shut but that only intensifies the helpless feeling. Air—I can’t draw in any air.
My hands flap uselessly around my face while I gasp and wheeze.
“Shelby.” Rooster cups my cheeks. My eyes pop open. He’s close. So close, staring into my eyes like the calm inside a hurricane. “Breathe, baby. It’s okay.” He takes a long, deep, exaggerated breath, encouraging me to do the same.
Tears roll down my cheeks.
Someone squeezes my hand. “Relax, little songbird. We got you.”
The frantic drumming in my chest won’t settle down.
“Shhh. Breathe with me. Come on,” Rooster encourages. “You’re okay, Shelby.”
I suck in a long, ragged breath. My lungs burn in relief.
“There ya go,” he praises. “In and out. Nice and easy.”
I take another breath.
And another.
All the sounds and scenery come rushing back with a wallop.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I lean over and rest my elbows on my knees. God, I hope no one else noticed my freak-out.
Rooster runs a soothing hand up and down my back. “You’re okay.”
I sit up, blinking at my surroundings. No one’s paying attention to our trio. Rooster’s studying me intently. Jigsaw’s watching me with a serious expression I haven’t seen on his face often. They’re arranged around me in a way that provides a pocket of privacy.
My mouth twitches into a shaky smile. “Phew. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” Rooster runs his hands over my arms. “Can you tell me what brought that on?”
For a second, my mind’s completely blank.
“The Sprite.” Shivers run all over my body. “That asshole ruined my favorite soda.”
Rooster
So much for a night of relaxation and letting go. First, the sex show from my brothers. Then Shelby’s panic attack.
Although, if she was going to have one, here was probably the safest place to do it. No one noticed. And even if they did, no one would dare say anything and make her uncomfortable.
“She okay?” Jigsaw asks as I step into the hallway.
I leave our bedroom door open so I can keep an eye on Shelby in case she needs me. For now, she’s a small, still bundle under the heavy comforter.
“I think she’ll be all right.” I close the door until it’s only open a crack, hoping our conversation won’t disturb her.
Jigsaw’s antsy, rubbing his hands together, curling them into fists, shifting from foot to foot. “I should’ve cut more fingers off that son of a bitch.”
“I’m really regretting turning him over to Jackson now.”
“I know why you did it, but yeah. It sucks. What if that happens to her while she’s on tour? Thank fuck she was here. With us. With you, I mean.”
I fight to keep the smile off my face. This is why Jiggy’s been my best friend for so long. He’s ready to dismember anyone who hurts his family one second, worried about my girl’s feelings the next. Under all his scary indifference, he’s a sensitive soul. Way, way down.
“Her doctor said something like this might happen. I’ll see how it goes. If she has another episode, I’ll call one of the doctors she recommended.”
“You two are so couple-y now.”
I wait for him to add some detail to the observation. “Your point?”
“Nothing. It’s good. You still planning to go get the thing tomorrow?”
“Yeah, if you’ll give me a ride.”
“What are you going to tell Shelby?”
“That I have an errand to run. She’ll be safe here.”
“She doesn’t know?”
“Nope.”
“All right.” He slaps my shoulder. “Text me in the morning.”
“You gonna go downstairs and check out Pants’ sack again?”
“No, dick.” He waves his hand at the bedroom door. “You want me to sit by the bed and watch you two sleep?”
