“What does that mean?”
She makes a face that has always reminded me of a frog. “Well, you are a commitment-phobe.”
I don’t hear the rest of what she says. My stomach has twisted too sharply, my eyes prickling too much. I have to focus on breathing because I think I might stop if I don’t.
A firm hand on my wrist pulls me away from her and knocks me mentally back into place.
“Sorry,” I say, but Arc shakes his head as he wraps his arms around me and squeezes me tight.
“Don’t you dare.”
I always knew Mom felt that way about me, but I didn’t think my sisters…
“Look at me,” he tips my head up and makes me meet his eyes. “Do you want to leave?”
I take two deep breaths instead of saying yes. “No. I told Kimba we’d do this, so I’ll stay.”
I drop my head to his chest and breathe in again. I don’t want to turn around. I don’t want to deal with the fluttering anxiety and embarrassment that are bouncing around in my stomach and chest like kids at a trampoline park.
“You’ll excuse us,” Arc says, abruptly picking me up and walking away.
“That’s one way to deal with it, I guess,” I say quietly as he takes me to a small bathroom and sets me on the counter.
When he steps back, he shakes his head. “Do not try to apologize again.”
“I hate when something like that punches me in the gut.”
“Because you can’t punch it back?” he guesses.
“Something like that.”
He takes a deep breath and presses his forehead to mine. “If you want to leave, just think it and I will pick you up and carry you out of here before anyone has the chance to ask what’s going on.”
I laugh at the idea of it. “No. I’m a big girl. I’ll get through this and then we’ll go home.”
I take a deep breath and then another before I square my shoulders. “I’m ready. Let’s go back out and face the dragon again.”
She’s not waiting to pounce.
I think we have Trench to thank for that.
Arc slips his fingers in mine and holds my hand as we make our way back into the slightly more crowded room.
Shock and Risk have already moved on, they’re talking to Laurel’s mate and another man who is watching the woman with a baby talking to Laurel very closely.
“Cindy is Core’s mate,” Arc says softly. “They’ve very recently had a weeun. He is, understandably, protective.”
“Right.” Obviously… babies.
He squeezes my hand. “Please think of something else.”
Like going home and?—
“Notthat.”
“You know I might use that against you some day.”
“I’m sure you will.”
