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Proud even.
Jesus, do you even hear yourself?
The whooshing in my ears picks up, and it takes me a second to realize it’s not my blood roaring or the leaves brushing, but the ocean.
Shit.
With long, hard, ground-pounding strides, I scramble forward and grab Skyler by his shoulder, tugging him to me.
His yelp cuts off with a gasp as he stumbles back, crashing into my chest. I skid us both to a stop, steadying us, his backpack smashed between us. My other arm braced around his middle.
“Christ, kid. Slow down,” I grumble breathlessly, sliding my other hand down his shoulder, resting it just over his heaving collarbone. It juts out sharply with his harsh pants, and I frown. “You’re gonna get hurt.”Or give yourself a heart attack.
He’s on the thinner side, but clearlyveryout of shape. I noticed earlier too, which is half the reason I figured this outdoorsy stuff was all new to him. His lack of preparedness and fancy, expensive sneakers only compounded my assumptions about him.
But right now, I don’t think it’s so much the exertion doing this to him, as it is something else…something deeper.
From my height advantage, I can make out his bulging eyes as he darts them around. Lips shivering. Cheeks stained red with tear tracks running down them in rivulets.
Well fuck.
Easing my hold on him, I step back so we’re no longer touching. I raise my hands and step around him, not taking my concerned gaze off his face.
His eyes flash to mine, so dark, I can barely make out any brown. Lips pursing, he glances away. His entire body trembles.
“It’s okay,” I say slowly. My voice comes out deeper, rougher than I anticipated. He flinches and I wince, clearing my throat. “Sky, I’m so fucking so—”
“I’m sorry,” he squeaks—like honest to God, hand over heart, hesqueaks.
My lips twitch. I can’t help it. He’s, well, shit, he’s kind of adorable when he’s like this. Not sure what that says about me—actually it says a whole fucking lot, and nothing good—but my own thoughts and feelings are the least of my concern right now.
I only have him in mind.
I can beat myself up later.
Lowering my hands, I clear my head, putting on a stern face as I duck my head to meet his gaze, willing him to see my sincerity. “It’s o—”
“I can’t do this,” he rushes out, voice raspy and barely there. Redness creeps around the edges of his eyes, followed by a thick sheen of tears. “I c-can’t—”
Well fuck me.
He gulps and lifts his head, wildly looking about, neck tendons straining.
“I-I can’t. I can’t, I can’t–” He wheezes, his voice getting choked off.
“Skyler, hey, stop. Look at me.”
Skyler shakes his head. Shit, he’s not just out of breath, he’s hyperventilating.
I grab his shoulder, shoving him down to a squat, and nudge his head forward. I splay my hand across his upper back, above the backpack. “You’re gonna pass out. You need to relax.”
He tries to fling himself away from me, but I just grab him, holding him in place. “Stop. Just focus on breathing. Feel my hand. Listen for the ocean.”
He shakes his head, fingers digging into the earth.
It’s right there, Sky,I silently urge.Listen.
Seconds turn into minutes before he finally seems to be calming down.
