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“Skylar?”
It’s too hot. I need to go outside, I need?—
“Skylar.”
I look up to see River sitting next to me, his green eyes wide with concern.
“Skylar. You’re safe. You’re safe,” he repeats, his voice gentle. “It’s you and me. No one else.”
I don’t realize I’m crying until he wipes a tear from my face. “You did it,” he continues. “It’s done.”
“I can’t be here any longer,” I whisper. “Please. Take me out of here.”
But the press conference isn’t done. I don’t even know if River is able to leave.
“Okay,” he says, taking my shaking hands into his. “Where do you want to go?”
“H-home,” I stutter. “Please.”
His spicy scent envelops me as he cradles my head to his chest. I breathe him in, tears falling down my cheeks as I silently cry.
“You’re safe,” he repeats, rocking me gently. “You’re safe.”
I don’t even remember getting into his car.
I barely register stepping through my front door and collapsing into River’s arms as I sob.
33
RIVER
I promised Skylar I would play nice with Vincent for her.
But I’m going to kill this motherfucker.
Having her at the conference was not a good idea, but Landon and Vincent didn’t want to hear it.
They don’t have the panic attacks like she does.
They don’t understand it like I do.
“Breathe, baby,” I whisper as I hold her on the couch. “You did it. It’s over.”
Eventually, her breathing calms, and she stops clutching at me as tightly. “Shit, you shouldn’t have left,” she says, her eyes wide. “You should still be there!”
I snort. “I hate those things, anyway. I don’t like to play nice for no reason. That’s more Landon’s thing.”
“What about what Landon said about the press? Did anyone see us in that room?”
Her scent clouds with worry, sour mixing with the saltiness of her tears.
“Baby, no,” I tell her. “No one did.”
“But what if I messed up by running out? Shouldn’t I have met more people?”
I want to wipe the worry off her face.
“You had a fucking panic attack. You needed to get out of there.”
