She took the candy with wide eyes. “I didn’t get achance.”
I removed my jacket and handed it to her. “Put that on,” I said, then went to reception for paper towels and ablanket.
Once I had what I needed, I made my way back to them. Georgina, in my oversized blazer, frantically chewed gummy bears and looked as if she was having a whispered argument with Luciano. They went silent the moment I was in hearingdistance.
I unfolded a royal blue blanket and shook it out. “This should work for now,” I said, handing it to her. “I can go to your place and get you a change of clothes if youlike.”
“It’s okay,” she said almost cautiously as she covered herlap.
“How about a mochalatte?”
“I’ll handle that,” Luciano said, getting up. “There’s a twenty-four-hour deli a couple blocks from here.Sebastian?”
“Black coffee is fine. My treat,” I added, getting my wallet from my back pocket. I didn’t think I’d ever live down the fact that Georgina’s best friend had seen me snap at her in the café. I sighed, thinking he’d probably volunteer to contribute to my next exposé, and gave him a twenty. “If you don’tmind.”
“Not at all,” Luciano said before walkingoff.
I dragged my chair forward to sit facing Georgina. “Are you okay?” Iasked.
She swallowed audibly, then relayed the details of her evening as remotely as she seemed able. Through a series of staccato hiccups, she attempted to hold back tears when she got to the part about how terrified Bruno had looked. “I almost couldn’t help him,” shesaid.
I put my hand over her blanketed knee. “It sounds like you did everythingright.”
“He had too much activity yesterday. I should’ve known better. And when it was time to act, my mind went completely blank. I almost fucked it all up,Sebastian.”
“But youdidn’t.”
She shook her head, her gaze distant. I could practically read thewhat-ifsrunning through herhead.
“Don’t,” I said sternly, my eyes darting between her gold-flecked ones. “If yesterday was anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I practically forced you to go out withme.”
“No,” she said vehemently. “I didn’t mean it like that. Everything you did for us was p-perfect . . .” Her chin wobbled. “I’m the one who should’verealized.”
“Georgina, look at me.” She instantly turned her gaze to me the way she had at my demand the night before. She’d needed to know I was there with her then, and I’d make damn sure she knew it now. I wasn’t going to abandon her when things got tough. “Bruno had fun. What was the point of saving his life if he can’t enjoy it? Because youdidsave him. You are, and always have been, Bruno’shero.”
She swallowed in a way that looked painful. “I keep picturing him lying on a cold metal slab, possibly fighting for his life back there. We don’t know what . . . or if he’s even goingto. . .”
I took her chin in my thumb and forefinger. “Are you ready to give up onhim?”
“No,” she chokedout.
“Then I demand that you stop thinking of the worst-case scenarios. It isn’t helpinganything.”
“Demand?” sheasked.
“And Irequestthat you stop trying to be strong and let me take over for a fewminutes.”
After a few silent seconds, she nodded, whispering, “Sebastian.”
“It’s okay. Let it out.” I thumbed the corner of her mouth. “Nobody’slooking.”
“You’relooking.”
“I don’t count. Not only have I seen you cry, but I’ve been the cause of it.” I fucking hated that. I wished I could do that whole morning over again. It was the only thing I’d change about our time together so far. I moved to the seat next to hers and pulled her into my arms, against mychest.
Her entire body shook as she inhaled a breath and exhaled a sob. And then another. “I misshim.”
“He’s not going anywhere.” I squeezed her even more tightly, my mouth pressed into her hair. “It’s all right. I’mhere.”
