Page 34 of Shattered Hearts

“—was spectacular,” Macie announces behind us.

Turning my head, Macie rushes towards Sawyer, throwing her arms around his neck.

“Hey, Macie Moo,” Sawyer chimes, hugging her awkwardly from his seat.

A satisfied huff comes out of her as Macie sits beside Reid, essentially on top of each other, while Sadie takes the empty one beside Cole. Cole’s attention is immediately lost on my cousin, who politely chats with him, but I can’t hear their conversation when Aspen runs out with Holden behind her.

“Not too close to the fire.” His fatherly voice comes out.

Aspen giggles, running up to Grayson, who scoops her into his lap, a grin splitting his face. “Come here before you’re in trouble, cheeky monkey.”

She chuckles, all bubbles and starlight, as Grayson blows raspberries on her neck and arms. The squealing drowns out the rest of the voices. My gaze is stuck on them. Grayson, all smiles and gentle with Aspen, who is having a hard time breathing with the amount of tickles. Her little hands try to push him away, but Grayson swats at them, not letting her go.

“Stop!” squeaks Aspen through gorgeous laughter.

“Never,” Grayson says.

My smile grows for a moment as my hand instinctively falls to my stomach, grazing my jumper. My toes wriggle at the sight of them, then I catch Holden’s deep blue eyes. They’re staring right at me. His gaze drifts to my hand rubbing my stomach.

I drop my arm, letting it hang for a moment before folding them across my chest. I blink away as heat blooms across my neck and cheeks, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. My heartbeat leaps into my throat, and my pulse pounds heavier, as if someone is hitting my veins with a hammer.

I shut my eyes, closing off the world for a moment as I try to collect myself before anyone here realises I’m on the brink of anxiety.

Holden saw me. Does he know that it meant something?

Crap.

Chapter Thirteen

Grayson

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a bit of colour drain from Laynie’s face. Anxiety instantly spikes through me as she stands and hurries back inside.

Without hesitation, I’m up and following her.

The moment I step inside the living room, it’s quiet and dim, but I hear something.

Laynie.

Moving towards the staircase, I go to head up to my bedroom where maybe she’s stealing one of my jumpers yet again. But then I hear a noise come the bathroom downstairs. Pausing with a hand on the banister, I turn to leave when the sound loudens. Is she…?

Swallowing, I stop out the front of the bathroom. She’s heaving air, and I know that sound too well. I’ve seen her panic before, taking short breaths and breaking apart.

My fist raps on the door a moment later.

There’s silence, and I repeat the action, not wanting her to be alone.

“Laynie, it’s me.” I hope that’s enough for her to let me in. But the door doesn’t open. “Laynie, please open up. I’m here to help you.”

She’s quiet for a beat before I hear her small voice murmur, “Please just leave. I can’t—” The words catch on a sob.

My heart pounds in my throat as I knock one more time. “You can’t what?”

Another whimper sounds behind the door. “I can’t—can’t—”

Not waiting another moment, I push it open. Laynie grips the edge of the timber bench. Her head is hung between her shoulders, blonde hair falling like a curtain down her front. She sounds as though she’s breathing through a straw. Strained and wheezed.

My hand is on her back, rubbing her jumper smoothly. She peers up at me through the mirror. Blue eyes brimmed with pink, lashes thick and stuck together with tears. I watch one slide down her cheek. Her hand comes up quickly to swipe it away.