“Thank you,” I whispered, squeezing his hand.
“Great, just follow me this way,” Mandy said.
Liam put his arm around me as we walked down a maze of hallways that all looked identical until we got to a room with a large, heavy door covered in warning signs.
“Do you have anything metal on you?” Mandy asked. “An underwire bra? Belt? Anything in your pockets?”
I shook my head. I’d dressed for comfort in a lacy bralette and mauve sweatpants set.
Her gaze turned to Liam. “What about you?”
Liam shook his head. He was wearing black sweatpants and a black t-shirt, which highlighted his broad muscles. He winked at me when he caught me staring. We put our phones in a small locker and then proceeded into the room.
My chest tightened the moment I saw the MRI tube. I’d never thought of myself as claustrophobic, but I did not want to go inside there. I squeezed Liam’s hand tighter.
“You okay, sweetheart?” he murmured, pulling me closer to his side as we followed the tech to the machine.
I nodded, my mouth feeling too dry to speak.
“Alright, Ms. Anderson, I’ll have you lie down with your head here. We have this cushion that will go behind your knees to keep you more comfortable.” Mandy met my gaze with a friendly smile. She seemed really nice, but from past experience, I knew that the second I started complaining or showing any emotion, her tune would quickly change.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to release Liam’s hand. He stayed close to me as I got on the table, adjusting the cushion and laying a blanket over me.
“Here are your earplugs,” Mandy said. I took them from her and put them on. “And then you’ll hold on to this.” Her voice was muffled as she handed me a plastic button. “If you need anything or get scared, just push this.”
Sure, and then I’ll get screamed at for interrupting the test.
Liam leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, and I instantly relaxed. I wasn’t alone. Liam wouldn’t let anyone yell at me.
“I’ll see you after, baby. I’ll be watching from the control room,” he said.
“Final thing,” the tech said before lowering a plastic cage over my head.
My heart started pounding. “What’s that?” I asked, my voice high-pitched.
“It’s just to help keep your head still.”
Tightness squeezed at my chest as I tried to gain control of my breathing. Before I could say anything, a noise sounded, and I was moved into the machine. The top of the tube felt like it was closing in on me, and the cage meant I couldn’t turn my head. I shut my eyes tight, hoping I could block everything out.
“We’re going to get started,” Mandy said, her voice coming to me through the machine.
A loud clanking noise kicked up, and I clenched my jaw as I worked hard to stay still. I tried to convince myself not to be afraid, but the rising panic in my chest told me my body was not convinced.
“Hey, Westin, please try to lie still if you can,” Mandy said.
A strangled sob left my lips. I did my best to do what she said, but my hands ended up clawing at the cage over my face before I realized what I was doing.
I heard a shout and then Liam said, “We’re getting you out of there, sweetheart.”
The table moved again, and I emerged from the machine. Liam was right there, ripping the cage off my head and gathering me up into his arms as I sobbed.
“I’m sorry.” I pressed my face to his chest and breathed him in.
“Shh.” His grip on me was too tight to be soothing, but it was exactly what I needed to help ground me. “Don’t apologize. It’s okay to be scared.”
“I messed it up,” I said through my cries.
Liam picked me up and my arms and legs wrapped around him. A purr started in his chest, and it made my entire body go soft in his arms.
