Cool? I’d nearly puked. Twice. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
She waved her hand. “Seriously. I’m fine.” Then she cleared her throat. “We haven’t had a chance to really talk, and I wanted to say thank you. For taking me and for breakfast today. That was fun. This morning with Aiden, I mean.” A light pink infused her cheeks.
I grinned. “I know. He’s something else, right?”
She nodded vigorously. “I, um, wanted to ask you. How do you get a guy like that?”
I opened my mouth and then shut it. Okay. That was quite the question, and my heart warmed for her. Man, I hope she and Yara liked each other. It’d be such a great place for Violet to be safe and loved. “A guy like that might be lucky enough to get you—if he treats you right and realizes how amazing you are every day.” Hadn’t anybody ever given her that kind of assurance? I wasn’t used to mentoring kids since I still felt like one sometimes, so I had to struggle for the right words. This felt important, and I didn’t want to screw it up. “You can only be you in this life, and that’s a good thing because you’re awesome.”
She rolled her eyes, but a pleased smile hinted on her lips. “Whatever.”
“It’s true. You just be you. Be strong and smart and make good decisions. The right guy will like you for all that you are.”
“I’ll finish those file folders now.” She chuckled and stood. “Aiden must really like you if getting a cut off finger in a box is a regular workday for you.”
I smiled. “You’re not wrong.”
Her worn tennis shoes scattered glitter as she left.
I took a deep breath, my ears heating. The world narrowed around me. Ah, a panic attack. Made sense. My vision blurred. Why was it when I felt safe, the panic attacks always hit? Confirming that the hallway was empty for now, I quietly pushed my chair back, squatted, turned, and planted my butt beneath my desk, hugged my legs to my chest, and closed my eyes.
I have no idea how long I sat there.
A sound caught my attention, and I opened my eyes to see black motorcycle boots and jeans. Then Aiden crouched, having to bend sideways to see me, his eyes many colors of blue. “How bad?”
I shivered.
He sighed. “That bad.”
Chapter 23
There are times in your life that you know you’re surrounded by good people. Hopefully.
“I’ll be right back.” Aiden disappeared for about a minute and then returned, his motorcycle boots loud on the wood, and this time appearing with even more silver glitter across the tips. He sat, tossing up sparkles. “I sent the kids on errands and locked the door, although there’s a uniformed officer right outside. Pierce must’ve sent someone over.” Then Aiden reached for me, plucking me out from under my desk and onto his lap. “Just breathe.”
I snuggled against his chest. “I’m better now.”
“I thought we were getting the panic attacks under control,” he murmured, his chin on the top of my head.
“Me, too.”
He shifted his weight and put his back to the wall behind my desk, his head touching the windowsill. “The roses and heart were bothering you, and the finger probably just pushed you over the edge.”
I shuddered. “It was so grotesque.”
“Butchered fingers usually are.”
I snorted. My mind wandered and then returned. “The kids didn’t know—”
“No. They had no clue you were hunkered beneath your desk,” he said softly. “I, on the other hand, would’ve appreciated a phone call when that became necessary. Pierce gave me a heads up about what had happened, so I headed over here.”
I blinked. “I can’t count on you to rescue me all the time, you know.”
“Why not?”
Because I didn’t want him to think I was a weak woman who couldn’t handle things.
He leaned back and tipped my face up with one knuckle. “Don’t be dumb.”
