“It’s more physical, son. For the health of…her, we can’t give her more.” That was Ace.
Peyton grumbled before moving to sit on the bed and positioning me to use his lap as a pillow. I froze, which in turn caused my sob to catch in my throat. I took that moment to get full control over my pain as much as I possibly could. Once my head was in Peyton’s lap, he combed his fingers through my hair, humming a tune. Someone set the stuffed fox into my hands, and I grabbed held it like my life depended on it.
Slowly, my sobs lessened and my breath evened out. I was beyond tired. The cut still stung, but I could deal with it. I’d dealt with worse.
I let my body relax against Peyton’s, allowing him to continue playing with my hair
“That wasn’t so bad,” Collin said, sounding relieved.
“You’re kidding, right?” Peyton huffed.
“That panic attack wasn’t as bad as the others,” Collin said, “and she didn’t need anything to calm her.”
“It’s what I did when she was upset when we were kids,” Peyton said quietly. “I had to do something, since you wouldn’t.”
“I can’t overdose her,” Collin said. “I already gave her something.”
“Which didn’t help!” Peyton seethed, still quiet.
“Peyton, drop it,” Ace said. His feet carried him into the room and I felt him pause by the bed before he swiped the hair from my forehead. He muttered something in Italian, which made Peyton ground his teeth.
“What do you suggest we do?” Caesar asked.
Was everyone in here with me?
“Tell her the truth,” Zevon said. “It’d be easier, I think.”
“And have this happen again? No,” Peyton said.
“She needs someone to talk to, someone to trust and confide in,” Collin said, shifting wherever he was. “And that’s none of us.”
“What are you proposing, then?” Ace asked.
“Hannah.”
“Absolutely not,” Caesar said. “She’s been through enough.”
“So has Scarlett. Look at her, Caesar. She’s wasting away. There’s nothing for her to fight for.”
“Not gonna happen, Ace. You saw Hannah break apart at the news just weeks ago. I cannot permit her to see Scarlett this way.”
“You know Scarlett won’t get better unless she gets the help she needs. And no one in this room is capable of that. Momcanhelp. It’s what she does, Dad.” Peyton said, keeping his hand on my head, tangled in my hair. “Give her a chance. Give them both a chance.”
Iwas comfortably warm when I woke up hours later. I didn’t want to move—I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for the rolling and twisting of my stomach. I swallowed, hoping it’d pass just this once.
Luck wasn’t on my side. I didn’t even make it to the bathroom. As if Collin had expected as much, he was right there with the trashcan under my head, ready and waiting. Not much came up, but I was a heaving, mess.
I lifted my heavy eyes up to him, begging him to do something to make it stop.
“I wish I could, Scarlett,” he said. “I’d take it all away if there was a way.”
“Let me die,” I muttered, letting my body fall back to the mattress.
“Don’t say that!” Peyton said, wrapping his arm around me gently from behind. “I can’t lose you, sorella. Don’t make me go through that again.”
“You need to talk to someone. Anyone,” Collin said. “Tell me who you’ll talk to, and I’ll do everything in my power to get that person up here.”
I remained quiet.
