AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What the actual fuck?
My chest is hurting, and my entire body tingling with anxiety. I know what this is. I haven’t had a panic attack in years, but I’m close to hyperventilating. I don’t understand it, but the room is starting to spin right now. Then I feel my phone buzz in my pocket.
Jon:Breathe.
I look up and find him staring at me, sympathy in his gaze. He seems to understand.
I draw in a deep breath, then a second and third. By the time I release the last breath, my pulse is calmer, and I don’t feel like running away screaming.
Jon:Freddy sounds like an eight-year-old.
A laugh escapes me.
Me:Right?! He definitely complains like one.
Jon:Are these meetings always like this?
Me:Not sure. This is my first one.
“Avery, I think we can wait to vote on this next month,” the mayor says. I look up at him and nod.
“I’ll post some ideas on the JSE for everyone to read.”
As I make my way to my seat, I glance at Jon, who is watching me, his gaze moving over me as if to check for any injuries. I settle in my chair.
“You were daydreaming up there.”
I glance at Liv. My grandmother was the only person in my family who knew about my panic attacks. They started when I went to college, and I didn’t want anyone else to know. I haven’t had one since I was twenty, so that was a little weird.
I don’t respond, but I realize Jon might have been the only person in the room who recognized my freak-out.
Me:Thank you.
Jon:You’re welcome.
I expect a smart remark about me moving out, but it doesn’t come.
Me:Aren’t you going to tell me that I must move out because you know my secret?
Jon:All of a sudden, I don’t feel the need to get rid of you.
I smile, my entire body lighting up. This isn’t good, this feeling he gives me, but at the moment, I can’t bring myself to get upset by it. In fact, it’s damned nice that he seems to get me.
With a happy sigh, I concentrate on the rest of the meeting, knowing I can deal with Jon and all my feelings later.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Jon
Dinner is longer than I’m used to. My grandmother insists we go toThe Mason Jarfor dinner, and of course, she holds court there. I could be an ass about it and insist on leaving, but I’m enjoying the night. My mother and Ted seem to fit together well. When he gets up to go to the bathroom, my mother smiles at me.
“So, how are you liking Juniper Springs this time around?”
“Okay.”
“Wow, no comment about how your house was stolen by a woman and her cat?” Her tone is darkly comical.
“Cats,” I say absentmindedly. Sadly, Avery is not here. Liv, Mason, and her kids are, but she apparently went home. She never answered me after the comment about kissing her, and I hope I didn’t step over my boundaries with her. I want my house, but I don’t want her to feel harassed.
