AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He does immediately.
And just like every time this has happened, I talk him through it.
“Five seconds, okay?” I wait for his jerky nod. “Give yourself five seconds. Feel the burn…feel it all.”
He wets his lips, and then seals them together, neck tendons straining, nostrils flaring as he closes off his airways.
And I count aloud for him, rubbing my thumb over a spot on his forearm. His skin is cool and clammy to the touch. And even though he’s holding as still as can be, there’s a faint tremor to his limbs that is unmistakable, telling us both that the worst of withdrawal is still yet to come. Hell, it’s only been hours.
And still, he holds his breath, waiting until I tell him to exhale.
“Five—”
He gasps, and the heart monitor goes a little crazy as he coughs.
“And let it go,” I whisper.
Minutes pass as he collects himself.
“I need to get your mom,” I tell him, and again go to scoot back, when he stops me.
“Wait.” With jerky movements, he brings his hands together, feeling around his fingers. His eyes widen, and dart around. “The ring. Where’s the?—”
Frowning, I shake my head. “I don’t?—”
He sits up and looks over to where there’s a bag on the counter along the wall, next to the sink. “There. My stuff.”
Oh.
I go grab it and bring it back to him, helping him get it open. He digs through it, ignoring his phone and wallet. When he finds what he’s looking for, he stills, his shoulders slumping with something like relief.
“Here,” he says tiredly, extending his clenched fist.
I open my hand, and he drops the ring I let him borrow over a year ago into my waiting palm. For a moment I just stare at it—at the silver star surrounded by red and blue.
“Mason…”
He swallows with an audible click, and flops back against the bed. “I think it’s…time I…learn to…be strong on my own,” he pants.
I blink, and clench my fingers around the ring, the metal cool against my clammy skin.
Mason’s eyes are screwed shut when I look up at him, and he looks a little more ashen than he did a second ago. Like that mini panic attack and burst of movement wiped out whatever energy he had, that was keeping him upright.
I slide the ring on my middle finger—it’s still too big, so I have to make a fist to keep it from sliding off. Digging out my phone, I’m just about to hit Call on Sherry’s contact, when I pause.
“Mason?”
He cracks an eye open.
I give him a nod. “Whatever it takes, okay? You tell yourself whatever it takes to survive.” A beat. “I need you.”
And if that means staking residence in this limbo—committing to a delusion, a pipe dream, hope…
Then so be it. For him. Whatever keeps him here.
Whatever it takes.
His jaw solidifies, sharpening, eyes blazing back at me. And a hard swallow works its way down his throat.
