“Tobias!” I hear a faint shout through my music. My eyes widen as I lock eyes with Gwen.
She looks terrified, looking down at my hard grip around her fragile wrist.
“Shit!” I gasp, letting go. I yank my headphones out and shove them into my pocket. “Dammit, Gwen, I’m so sorry.” Only my heart isn’t slowing down…if anything, it’s speeding up.
“No, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just thought—” Her eyes narrow. “Tobias, are you okay—”
My vision tunnels, sound drops away, and everything goes black.
***
My eyes flutter open as the sun beams through the window panes.
Wait. Window panes?
I sit up, realizing I’m on the couch back at home.
How’d I get here?
“Ah, there you are.” Gwen smiles, walking in the room with a food tray. I take in the delicious smelling warm cinnamon roll, paired with a glass of orange juice, scrambled eggs and two slices of toast.
Woah.
“You’ve got perfect timing.” She smiles, setting the tray down on the coffee table.
“What happened?” I ask, looking around, still trying to piece everything together.
Gwen lets out a long breath, sitting down to join me.
“Honey, I’m afraid you fainted.”
Swallowing thickly, I reach over to drink a long sip out of the orange juice.
“I’m so embarrassed.” I finally say, wiping my mouth. “How many times are you going to have to find me in such a way?” I let out a small, strained laugh.
She gives me a sweet, sympathetic look, moving my damp hair out of my eyes.
“Wait? How’d you get me here?”
There’s no way Gwen could’ve carried me.
“Thankfully you were in and out a few times. Delirious, sure, but enough to walk with me until we got to my car.” She sighs, sitting back. “The cops helped me after that.”
Oh.Right.
I nod my head. “My surveillance team.”
Gwen’s forehead crinkles as she looks away. “Yeah…Tobias, I want to talk to you about that. Should I be staying here with you? Do you need some company while Elijah’s away?”
I sit up. “No. No way, I’m sorry. I—”
“Honey, I’m just worried about you. The restaurant. Elijah.Yourdad—”
“He’snotmy dad.” I cut her off. Anger roiling in my stomach. “He’s…nothing.He’s a problem…and I’m handling it.”
“Who said you have to handle it alone?” She grabs my hand firmly, and it reminds me how good it feels to have someone genuinely care about me.
I look away, fighting the tears I feel stinging behind my eyes.
