Page 85 of Tempting Fate

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jamie

I suppose I understand why Em would want to leave, but if he doesn’t have to, then would he?

“Yeah. I thought—I didn’t think I’d stay here past the year, anyway. Well, not at first, but now—”

“He’ll be okay,” I say, aware that I suddenly sound a little desperate. I can’t help it. The front door closes, meaning it’s just me and Nick and Em here. All the confidence and anger I had earlier are gone. I need someone to tell me it will be okay.

I need someone to tell me it will be okay that Patch has realised he has two mates—because he does, doesn’t he? We’re both his—and isn’t willing to fight for us. He hasn’t told Em that, and I don’t think Em knows what being his mate means, so he’s going to leave here and move on and I’m sure Vince said something, once, about wolves who’ve met their mates never falling in love again, and did I do that to Patch to begin with? Has he been doomed since the moment he met me?

“Jamie! Jamie, fuck—” Em’s hands are on my face and Nick is standing nearby, but then he falls to his knees next to me. “Breathe, okay? I think you’re—I think he’s having a panic attack.”

“Yeah, it’s…” Nick reaches out and puts his hand on my arm. The touch is firm but not too tight, and the familiarity of the move grounds me, just a little. Em lets go and I whimper; he takes my face in his hands again. “Tell me what you hear, Jamie.”

“I—My—” My blood is rushing in my ears. I’m breathing too fast. A car is coming down the street. “A car.”

“Good. What else?”

“Tap. In the kitchen. Dripping.”

“What can you see? Three things, remember?”

“Em.” I’m looking into his face. He looks panicked himself. I drag my gaze to one side. “Curtains. The chair.”

“Okay. Feel?”

“You. Em.” My breathing is slower, but my heart is still racing, sweat rolling down my spine. Em strokes his thumb over my cheekbone and I want to cry. “I don’t—I don’t know what just happened.”

“It’s okay,” Nick says. He squeezes my arm but doesn’t let go. “You’ve all been through a lot today.”

Em nods like he agrees, but he doesn’t say anything. I squeeze my eyes shut. I should have taken Nick seriously when he said Em was sneaking out at night. If I’d followed him, I might have prevented this.

Now, I can’t do a damn thing about it but let them both be ripped away from me. How is that fair?

“No one’s going anywhere tonight,” Nick says, as though he can read my very thoughts. “Or this morning, at least. I already emailed work. Do you want me to use your phone to email your boss, too?”

I nod. “Y-yeah. Please.”

“Okay. Em, what do you need?”

“I don’t—” Em slowly lets go of my face and I don’t make a sound this time, but I do lean towards him. “I need to call Cate. She’s going to be so worried.”

“And you’ll get some sleep after that?”

Em’s lips quirk. “I’ll try.”

“Good.” Nick squeezes my arm again, then gets to his feet. “Right. I’ll make us all hot drinks. Get yourselves in bed or whatever. If you shut your door, I’ll leave the drink outside.”

He heads off into the kitchen and when Em stands, I do, too.

“I’m going to…” He gestures in the direction of the stairs, then trails off.

“Yeah. I—” My face flames, but I can’t accuse Patch of being a coward and then be one myself. I know what I need. “Can I come and stay with you when you’re done?”

Em jerks back and frowns. I don’t realise, at first, how he might take what I’ve asked for. When I do, my stomach sinks.

“I’ve said I’ll stay in the house,” he says, voice clipped and curt. “I’ll do that.”