Page 102 of Return Policy
There’s no blood.
There’s no body.
“Sophia?” My heart pounds painfully against my ribcage.
“No one is hurt,” she mumbles, continuing to shake. I bend down, scooping her up in my arms. I bring her to the truck, placing her on the passenger seat, then haul myself on the foot bar and buckle her in.
“Baby,” I whisper. “Look at me, please.”
Her glassy green eyes stare straight ahead, and I take her chin gently between my fingers, tilting her to face me. She blinks a few times, the tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Can you hear me?” I ask, and she nods gently, struggling for air. “Good.” I run my fingers through her hair. “Breathe, baby. Just like we practiced.”
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
“Good girl,” I tell her, and her lips quirk slightly upward, eyes still vacant.
I drag my hands all over her body, scanning for any injuries I might have missed. “I’m not hurt,” she says quietly, relieving an atom of my anxiety.
Using my thumb, I wipe a tear off her cheek. “So what’s got you so shaken up, baby?”
“I…” She looks down, fiddling with her hands. “I think I was having another panic attack… Car accidents just freak me out a little.”If my sister died in a car accident, I’d definitely be afraid of them too.
“I’m so sorry that scared you.” I snake my arms around, hugging her tightly, and she hiccups into the crook of my neck. “Trust me, it was just a little fender bender that Theo will be paying for… thoroughly.”
“I’m sorry.” She sniffles. “I must look ridiculous crying over this.”
“Hey…” I take her face in my hands. “You’re not ridiculous. Tacos fall apart, and everybody loves them.” She forces a weak smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Also, I’m really proud of you for being able to recognize you were having a panic attack.”
“I’d like to thank eight years of therapy for giving me the knowledge to diagnose my tsunami of emotions.”
“You’re perfect.” I rest my forehead to hers. “How about we ditch the party and head home? We can cuddle and watch that vampire show you love so much.”
She laughs weakly. “The great Elijah Anderson is willing to skip a party for little old me. Who knew he had it in him?”
“Sweetheart, I’d skip playing in the damn Super Bowl if you needed me. I’m your man now. Get used to the star treatment.”
* * *
“You feeling better?” I ask Sophia, dragging my fingertips along her arm as we lie tangled in my bed.
“Yes.” She releases a shaky breath against my chest, squeezing me tighter. “Thank you.”
“I’m still so sorry about earlier.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“Yeah. It was Theo’s, and I’m gonna knock him into the middle of next week for upsetting you so bad.”The horse tranquilizer is back on the table.
“I promise, it’s okay,” she says weakly. “It just freaked me out. But that’s a me thing, not a Theo thing.”
I lean down, kissing her softly. “Okay. I’ll let Theo live to see another day. But he’s on thin ice.”
