“You’re a joke, with your fake sweet persona, but who are you really?” Jessica raised her brows. ”I bet Adam would be interested in who you were before you showed up here.”
I searched her eyes in a panic, feeling like I was falling through the air. Did she know about my past? “Wait. What?”
“Ha!” Jessica smirked. “I knew it! Sweet little Faith has a past. Well.” Jessica raised her right eyebrow. “I’m going to find it, and I’m going to make you wish you never came here.”
My breath caught in my throat.
Adam put his hand on top of Jessica’s, pulling it off my arm. “Jessica, that’s enough.” He growled as he stepped between Jessica and me.
She ripped her arm out of his grasp. “Did you see that?” She smirked. “I told you, she’s hiding something.”
The room began staring at us and whispering. What were they saying? I wasn’t sure how to hold my arms, and I cleared my throat. I wished I could shrink and disappear. The air was heavy, too heavy to breathe in. My throat tightened.
“Jessica, go home.” Adam’s voice left no room for discussion.
“I’m volunteering.” Jessica folded her arms across her chest and raised her brow. “I can’t leave.”
I just stood there like an idiot. Wanting to say something, wanting to run, wanting to scream. I did absolutely nothing.
“Well, then we are leaving.” Adam turned away from Jessica and reached for my hand. I placed my palm in his, and he gently guided me toward the edge of the room, pulling up the roots my feet had grown, and led me to the side.
“I don’t know what her problem is. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, but last time I was very explicit that I wasn’t interested.” Adam shook his head, and I noticed several people lean in closer to hear the one-sided conversation.
Anxiety prickled and climbed its way up my spine. It grew large enough to swallow me whole.
No, not right now! Get your crap together, girl! I rocked slightly, feeling my breath coming faster, but not deep enough to slow my racing heart.
Adam stood in front of me, blocking Jessica from view. He handed me the cup of water, I took it with shaking hands.
I could feel eyes all over the room on me, and the air felt sticky on my skin. I rubbed my throat, trying to clear my airway. I reached for my ring, frustrated to remember it was still gone. Sounds were muffled around me, and I gasped for air, but there was none.
Where was the air? I couldn’t breathe. The walls pressed tighter at every angle.
“Hey, are you okay?” Adam’s voice found its way through the panic in my mind. He took the shaking cup from my hands and lowered so he was at eye level with me.
“Um, yes…kinda…” My breath caught. I needed to get out of here. “I’m just going to get some fresh air.” I stepped out of his arms, head down, and started rushing for the exit. I couldn’t leave fast enough, but I needed to concentrate or I would collapse into panic right here.Just make it outside.
“I’m coming with you.” I felt Adam’s presence at my side. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me to the exit. The pressure he applied at my side held me together.
Chapter Twenty-Three
ADAM
We stepped out of the school dance and into the cold.
“I’m sorry.” Faith gasped for air. Her breathing was fast and shallow. “So many people were staring.” She tipped her head back as if she were trying to clear her throat. “And I don’t do well with confrontation.”
“Hey, you’re okay.” I led her to my truck. At least, I hoped she was okay. Should I take her to the hospital? I could feel her body shaking against my side.
I reached for the door handle but stopped. Would she want to sit in the truck, or was it better to stay outside?
“Sit in the truck or stay outside for now?”
She was still trying to catch her breath. Her jaw flexed, and she cleared her throat. “You should be inside,” she gasped. “I’m fine.” Her hands reached up and pushed weakly against my chest. “Please, just go. Please leave.”
She rocked back and forth as she pulled her arms tight around her torso.
“No.” My voice was strong and final. I reached up and brushed a tear from her cheek, and I searched her eyes. “I’m not leaving.” This was more than some nerves or being upset with Jessica. Ididn’t know what was going on, and hated watching her go through this.
