Page 111 of Lost & Found

I punched him on the arm, not wanting to hear him say he’d made other women scream down at the club.

“Come on. Lose control with me.”

Lose control? Shit, that was what I was already doing, wasn’t it? My stomach flipped. The ideas he planted with his innuendos were going to be the death of me. I shifted my weight, nerves rising like static beneath my skin.

For me, panic attacks had a specific taste. Metallic and sharp—and I could almost sense the ghost of one forming at the edges. Only Sebastian had ever seen it happen.

Not even Marcel.

I’d learned how to swallow them. Shut them down until I could get to a private place and manage it alone. The roller coaster creaked as another car climbed.

Why did I put it on the list to begin with?

The stubborn Caruso blood surged.

Because you want to grow.

“Fine,” I huffed. “Will you hold my hand?”

Rich laughter ripped from his chest, and I joined him.

“God, that sounded pathetic didn’t it? Where’s Kinsley when you need her? Am I right?” I asked.

“I will hold whatever you need me to. And if you’re girl Kinsley were here, she’d be patting the seat on the ride and hissing at you to get your ass moving.”

Our feet carried us into line. Each step forward made my pulse jump. The wait wasn’t long, which somehow made it worse. I watched people climb in. Heard the click of restraint locking into place. Heard the first scream as the car launched.

We were next. The attendant held up a hand. “You’ll go on the next round.”

I exhaled loudly. Luck was giving me a moment to breathe. Pasha chuckled beside me.

“You know what that means right?” he teased.

I shook my head, too busy trying not to faint.

“Front row seats.”

My eyes snapped to his. I tried to slip past him. He caught my wrist and hauled me back gently but firmly. “Absolutely not. You. Me. Front of the car. We’re going to see it all. Experience it all.”

“I’m going to throw up on you,” I informed him as adrenaline flooded my bloodstream and another round of screams echoed above us. He leaned close, brushing his thumb across my bottom lip.

“If you do, I’ll never let you live it down. Your face is so white. I have to document this,” he said, already whipping out his phone.

“Lev—don’t you dare.”

Too late. He snapped one photo. Then another. Then angled the phone lower and grinned wickedly. “This one’s going in the secret folder. Your nips are showing through my shirt.”

“Delete them,” I hissed, trying to swat the phone away, but he leaned back just out of reach, laughing.

“Absolutely not.”

He tucked it away just as the cars thundered past us again for another loop, wind whipping around our legs. The shrieks echoed loudly, and I rushed into his arms. He held me for a moment and then turned me around so my back lay against his chest. I sighed and relaxed into him. He leaned his chin on my shoulder.

“You’re too adorable, you know.”

“I’m nauseous is what I am,” I mumbled.

Trent and Hannah were behind us. A group of kids surged forward in excitement, misjudging their turn. In the shuffle, Trent stumbled and bumped hard into Pasha.