“What’s going on?” I croak through the sandpaper in my throat.
His eyes shoot down to me and a look of relief spreads through his features. I guess he was scared for me, I wonder how long I was out?
“Oh Aly Kat, you’re okay!” He shouts and I wince. A guilty grimace comes over his face and he leans in closer to whisper much softer, “I’m sorry, I’m just so relieved to see you awake.”
“What happened, Jay?” I ask again, a rasp to my voice.
He appears nervous and instead of answering me, he gazes up and away from me to someone else.
I slowly turn my head to see Nic and Jeremy watching us from across the room. My neck is incredibly stiff as I try to move it. It looks like they’re having an intense discussion with just their eyes but it’s hard to tell from here. What don’t they want to tell me?
I can feel myself getting worked up and nervous. My heart starts beating faster and my breathing comes shorter until I’m on the verge of a panic attack.
Jeremy shoots out of his seat, landing at my side and reaches out a hand towards me but at the last second thinks better of it and pulls it back.
“Aly, you have to relax, okay? We will explain everything and it’s all going to be okay. Deep breaths, breath with me.”
Then he starts taking deep, emphasized breaths in and out, encouraging me to join in. I try to copy him and eventually I come down some, to the point where I’m no longer on the verge of completely losing it. Why is Jeremy helping me?
“You’re in pain,” Jeremy says, not a question but a statement then peers over at Nic.
Nic looks surprised by this too but he leans over and rests a hand on my head until I start to feel better and can think easier.
“What did you just do?” I ask Nic.
Instead of answering my question, he asks me one of his own.
“What do you remember, Aly?”
“I remember getting here and being nervous about what you had to tell me. And since I still don’t know and I was clearly just unconscious, I’m more concerned,” I respond.
Nic nods and gazes back at me with a soft smile.
“I’ll explain everything in a minute, let’s wait for Kiran and Ajax to come back. When you started waking up, they went down stairs to make something for you to eat and get water. They should be back any minute, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
Jay nuzzles closer to me and drops a kiss right on my lips, chaste and sweet. His expression is a little manic as he observes me. How long was I out for him to be so worried? Even Jeremy is worried, so it must have been bad.
“It’s okay Jay, I’m here. I’m awake so it’ll all be okay,” I’m reassuring him, even though I’m the one in the dark but I have an urge to erase the panic from his eyes.
Kiran and Jax pick that moment to come back in the room and when they see I’m awake they rush over.
“Oh baby, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Kiran says while he drops next to me on the floor.
Jax sits next to him and holds out a glass, “here Aly, drink some water.”
I attempt to sit up in Jay’s lap but he’s got a death grip on me so it takes him maneuvering me to make it happen. Once I’m up, I take the glass from Jax. The cool water feels incredible on my throat and I’m grateful they thought to get it for me.
My stomach chooses that moment to rumble out loud and I give a sheepish look to Kiran who’s holding the food.
“Here,” he passes over a plate, “it’s some toast with peanut butter and jelly. If that doesn’t sound good I can always make something else. I think we have…”
But I cut him off, “this is great, perfect really, thank you.” I lean forward and give both him and Jax a kiss on the cheek before settling back against Jay.
I take a few bites of my toast, then stare at Nic expectantly. He sighs before joining us all on the floor.
“This is going to be a shock, but please just hear us out before coming to any conclusions, okay?” He asks.
