“I’m going to take her upstairs,” someone said.
I clawed at my scarf and jacket, feeling too restricted, like I was choking.
His voice crackled in my ears. Reverberated through my skull. Every part of him infiltrated my senses.
“We’ve got this Aimes.”
“You’re my best friend.”
“We’re going to be together forever.”
“Aimee, I’m your partner and hopefully a friend —“
“I didn’t know it was possible to love someone this much.”
“You’ve got this Aimes.”
“You’ll always take my hand, won’t you?“I want you with me at every step.”
“Is Eloise going to be mad that I’m now your best friend?”
“Be prepared to fight to the death for that role.”
“We got this Aimes. You got this.”
My brain wouldn’t shut up and by the time Eloise had got me to the room.
I’d left most of my layers on the ground behind me. I couldn’t breathe and I stared at my best friend with wide eyes. Eloise grabbed my hands to keep me from scratching myself, because I still felt like I was suffocating. All the years of our lives together played nonstop in my head.
CHAPTER 32
lukas
I’d just reachedthe top of the run when Zara called.
Petyr gave me a disapproving look, but acquiesced. Zara was hysterically sobbing, and I couldn’t understand a word she said.
“Bean, give the phone to someone else,” I said, fighting the panic I could feel rising in my chest.
I didn’t know why my sister was distraught, and not being in a position where I could quickly and easily get to her had me stressed.
“It’s Orion.”
“There had better be a good reason my little sister is in tears. I left her in your family's care,” I bit out.
Petry moved closer, concerned etched on his face. He loved Zara and often spoiled her absolutely rotten, so he would care if she was hurt. I held up my finger as I listened to Orion.
“She’s fine, physically. I said something that sent Aimee spiraling—in a way I haven’t seen in months. It stressed Zara out. She’s with my mom and Annalise.”
My pulse quickened.
I’d known something had been up with Aimee. The few moments we’d been able to steal with Petyr cracked down on training—they’d been a little strained. It was like she was onedge. Zoning out, looking around constantly. The dark circles were back under her eyes — she looked haunted. Anytime I saw her, she was tense and her body would only let go when she could touch me.
Ever since the night we first had sex, something had changed. I’d thought it had been for the better—that maybe she was finally moving past the guilt, and I’d been honest when I said I wanted to be a safe harbor for her. Though the fearful part of my brain had me wondering if maybe us moving at the pace we were, had an adverse effect.
I wanted to make the most of the time we had here, set a foundation that would weather the possibility of long distance, but maybe it was too fast.
I could see Petyr out of the corner of my eye and fought the urge to blame him for putting the pressure back on and for making me remember my priorities outside of Aimee. That I was here for a reason, and it wasn’t solely her. And for a moment, I hated him for it. I hated my dream, and success and everything that came with it.
