“Great, let’s go. I’m going to turn you around before I move. Whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand, okay?”
“Okay,” I say, adrenaline pumping through my veins and taking over. Maybe this won’t be so bad. His arms move to my shoulders, and he guides me to turn around in place, so I’m still hidden behind his hulking body. The second he takes my hand, he squeezes and that’s the signal to go.
We both launch forward, taking off and flying toward the opposite end of the alleyway, away from where we can hear footsteps trying to follow. Muttered curses come from behind us.
“Fletch! Who’s the girl?”
“Are you seeing someone?”
“Miss, are you sleeping with Ryan Fletcher?”
Jesus Christ. Who in their right mind thinks it’s okay to ask someone that question?
Ryan’s hand tightens in mine, reminding me he’s right here. But the more we run, the more my lungs start to burn. Constricting.
No, no, no. Now is definitelynotthe time for this.
We turn corners and duck down adjoining alleys until my labored breathing is struggling to keep up with the brutal pace Ryan is setting for us. Clearly it was a terrible idea to run with a professional fucking baseball player. I might actually die.
My steps start to falter and stumble as I try to keep up with him. “Ry…an.”Gasp. “I need…”Wheeze. “A minute.” I pant as my lungs grow tighter until it’s a struggle to gasp down even the smallest breath.
He must hear the pain in my voice because he tugs us down behind a car parked nearby. His gaze traces over my face, taking stock of my current state. What he finds seems to cause him worry because concern slowly seeps into his eyes until it drowns out any other expression.
“Isa, what’s wrong?” It’s his turn for his voice to come out panicked. I’d laugh at our switch if I could actually breathe.
“I just… need to…”Wheeze.“Catch… my breath.” I try to pull in deep breaths but each one feels like broken glass and makes me sound like I’m a small animal. I’m that penguin fromToy Storywith the broken squeaker. Except for me, it’s defective lungs. “I’ll… be fine.”Inhale. “Could use… some water… though.” Every word comes out choked and pained around the invisible grip around my lungs.
“Isa…” His eyes are filled with fear. He wants to help me but doesn’t know what he can do.
“I have… asthma.”
“Fuck, Isa! You should’ve told me!” He reaches out and rips the purse that miraculously stayed in place on my shoulder as we fled. Ryan rifles through the bag, pulling things out and throwing them on the ground beside him. Once he’s reached the bottom of the bag, he finally looks at me again. “Where’s your inhaler?”
I nibble on my bottom lip nervously and focus my attention on the cement in front of me as if it’s much more interestingthan the conversation we’re currently having. Ryan’s thumb and index finger gently pinch my chin and lift my head, forcing me to meet his gaze. I can pick out all the emotions swimming in his eyes: panic, fear, and the newest one, agitation.
“Isabella. Where. Is. Your. Inhaler?” The question is firm and makes me wince knowing he’s not going to like the answer.
“Don’t… have one.” I squeeze out around my gasping breaths.
His eyes widen at my admission. “What do you mean youdon’t have one?”
“Insurance… not covered… expensive.”
He releases my chin and runs both his hands through the long strands of his hair, mussing it more. “Isa,fuck, you can’t justnothave an inhaler.”
The vise on my lungs is slowly starting to loosen and it’s becoming a little easier to breathe. “I know, Ry. But it rarely… flares up like this. Only when I overexert myself. And I know… my limits.”
His face is stricken at my words. I already know he’s blaming himself for this. The flare up. Running. The paparazzi. I reach out to grip his hand in mine and give it a small squeeze. “Ryan, I’m fine. I can already breathe a bit easier. I just need to take it easy and maybe get some water.”
“You should have told me,” is all he says, looking down at our hands with a broken look on his face.
“Why, Ryan?”
He looks back up at me like he’s surprised I asked the question. “Why?Because if I had known, I could’ve come up with another plan to get out that didn’t result in giving you an asthma attack.”
“Ryan, seriously. I’mfine. This is why I didn’t tell you. We needed to get away, and this was the best option.” I let out a defeated sigh. “I don’t tell people because I can do everything Ineed to in life without it ever being an issue. Like I said, I know my limits. I hate feeling like I’m weak because I have a pair of ineffective lungs that like to turn on me.” I reach out to cup his cheek. He leans into my touch, gaze softening. “I’m okay, Ry.”
He looks at me for a few beats longer just to be sure I’m telling him the truth. He must finally come to the conclusion that I am, because he relaxes. He takes my face in both hands and leans his forehead against mine, breathing me in. “I was just so worried, Isa. I don’t want to be the reason you’re hurting.”
