Seeking her comfort, Mia rested her head into Aspen’s shoulder.
“And furthermore,” Aspen continued, “life’s all about balance.Youcanhave it all.You need to just hold onto the reins and see where the journey takes you.Just go for it.”
Mia paused a moment, absorbing the solid round of advice Aspen offered.She then tilted her head so she was looking up into Aspen’s own moss-colored eyes, a smile touching her full lips.The only sounds in the bakery were the whooshing of the oven motor and the clunks of the air conditioning unit.
“You first.”
Aspen could feel her own smile falling faster than a person coming out of a store only to find her car smashed and no one in sight.
Checkmate, you little rascal.
Chapter 5—Wolfe
The powerful currentsof water continued to pull Wolfe down no matter how violently he thrashed his limbs to gain control.At least he thought he was being pressed lower into the depths of the water; Wolfe couldn’t fully grasp his surroundings.He only focused on locating the small, garbled voice of a child calling his name.
He couldn’t move.Why couldn’t he move?His muscles were stifled both from fear and the merciless torrent of water pummeling him.He forced his arms to push and pull through the water that felt more like sludge.
Keep pushing.
Keep seeking.
Wolfe listened carefully to pinpoint the whereabouts of the little girl, but the sound of her voice began to fade.The whimsical lilt in the child’s voice slowly diminished until the only sound Wolfe could hear was the pounding of his own heart.
I’m too late.
Toofuckinglate.
“Noooo!”Wolfe roared.
He jackknifed into an upright position in his bed taking in massive gulps of air.He couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen and quickly escalated to hyperventilation mode.
Wolfe ripped at the sheet that had pooled around his waist and slung his legs over the side of the bed.He rested his forearms on his thick thighs and bowed his head.
Slow breaths.Deep, slow breaths, he mentally demanded of himself.
Wolfe worked to clear his mind of all the shit that stacked up in there and focused on his breathing.
