“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to stare.” Elissa’s cheeks flushed. “Where did you get that highlighter? It is absolutely gorgeous.”
All the tension left Iz’s body and a wide smile bloomed on their face as Iz touched their cheek.
“Isn’t it? I found it on Insta and fell in love with it.”
Ryan’s own muscles relaxed as Elissa and Iz exchanged makeup recommendations. A poke at his right arm drew his attention to Mateo.
“I like her. Iz has been dying to tell someone about that damn highlighter. She couldn’t have asked a better question. How the fuck did you find her?”
“I’m starting to think divine intervention, to be honest.”
“Here, give me your phone, and I’ll find it for you,” Iz was saying.
Elissa pulled out her phone and went to unlock it. The color drained out of her face.
“Oh, oh crap. I’m sorry, I have to go.” Her voice quavered as she gathered her clutch and keys and hopped off the bar stool. The keys rattled as her hands shook.
Ryan stood and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s my brother.” Tears welled in her eyes, and he could barely make out her words. “He’s having an asthma attack, and his meds aren’t working. I gotta go.”
“You’re in no condition to drive. Give me the keys.”
“No, I-I couldn’t. That’s nice, but?—”
“Elissa, you shouldn’t be driving,” Teo said in his therapist voice. “It’s okay to accept help.”
Elissa’s gaze darted from Teo to Ryan, and she swayed as she tried to decide. Ryan wrapped a hand around the one holding the keys and smiled reassuringly. Some of her panic fled, and she let go of the keys.
“Thank you.” She stared into his eyes for a heartbeat.
“Anytime, beautiful. Lead the way.”
She straightened her spine and unlocked. Her voice was firm, now, all traces of vulnerability gone. “Leo, I’m on my way. Breathe with me. In, two, three…”
twenty-five
it’s what i live for
Elissa gave Ryan her parents’ address and left her phone on the entire way home. They pulled into the driveway twenty minutes after she’d seen Leo’s text.
“You can come in and wait. I should be?—”
“I’ve got you, Elissa. Go take care of your brother. I’ll keep the car running and get you to the hospital if you need me.”
If she wasn’t so scared about Leo, the warm, gooey feeling his words sent careening through her brain would warrant further investigation. But she was, so she smiled wanly before running into the house. Leo sat in the recliner in the living room, hands folded on top of his head. She heard the wheezing as soon as the door slammed behind her.
“What did you take?” she asked.
He pointed at the coffee table where an array of medications sat in a jumble. Elissa sorted through them.
“How many puffs of albuterol?”
Leo held up two fingers.
“When?”
“Thirty minutes.” His voice was soft, and he had to catch his breath after uttering those two words.
