One person’s bad decision would now affect so many for the rest of their lives. It sure the hell would affect James. He set his helmet on the tank of his bike before throwing his leg over. James’s legs felt as heavy as his arms had just a moment before. Why was his body reacting this way? What was wrong with him?
Catching his heel on the bike, James nearly fell back on his ass.
Windmilling his arms did no good as he lost his footing.
There was nothing he could do but prepare to crash to the ground.
Firm hands grabbed him under his armpits as someone growled into his ear.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
No! Not now. James couldn’t handle this. His body shook as he had no choice but to allow the other man to hold him up.
“Are you drunk?” Jacob demanded.
James cleared his throat. “No.” He tried standing on his own. His legs were not cooperating. The shaking didn’t stop.
“James!” Jacob shook him harder and James’s head snapped back. “Are you seriously drunk?”
He shook his head. He wanted to defend himself. James wasn’t even old enough to drink. Not that he wanted to. And with what he’d seen that night, he would never drink and drive.
“I can’t believe this,” Jacob said angrily. His fingers bit into James’s freezing flesh. It hurt.
“Stop,” James pleaded. He hated how hoarse and soft his voice was.
“What?”
“Please stop,” James begged. “I…can’t.”
Jacob’s fingers tightened briefly, then he helped James to stand on his own two feet. James dropped his head as Jacob released him.
“What’s going on?” Jacob demanded.
James opened his mouth then closed it again. How could he explain when he didn’t know? Everything was wrong. His skin was too tight, his head hurt, and why couldn’t he see right?
“Fuck!” Jacob hovered in front of him.
James whimpered. The only sound that he could manage.
Hands cupped both sides of his face. Warm and rough.
“I need you to breathe for me,” Jacob said quietly. “In through your nose and out through your mouth.”
He was breathing, wasn’t he? Of course he was. If he had stopped breathing, he’d be dead just like… He caught a sob. James didn’t want to think about it.
“No,” Jacob said firmly. “Breathe with me.”
Blinking his eyes, James realized that his vision was blurry because he was crying. Once he could focus, James watched the way that Jacob’s chest rose with each breath.
James attempted to copy him.
“That’s it. Good,” Jacob encouraged. He placed James’s hand on Jacob’s wide chest before covering James’s palm with his own. “Just like me.”
Was he doing it right? James just wanted to do something right.
“Again,” Jacob urged.
It was easier to do when James concentrated on the wide chest in front of his eyes. White shirt with black writing spelling outSurf City University. Scott had a shirt just like that. Thinking about his brother made more tears fall.
