No Bounds: Book II by Michelle Woods

Author:Michelle Woods [Woods, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-27T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

“Breathe, Evie. Just breathe.”

The bedsheets have been cast aside, sweat soaks the back of my oversized sweatshirt, and the blooming discoloration under Lana’s left eye gets more and more obtrusive by the minute.

I breathe heavily, eyes burning with unshed tears, and a broken sob climbs up my throat and breaches past my lips.

Lana reaches across the divide between us and barely touches my thigh before I bolt from the bed. My foot catches in the sheets, and I struggle with them for a second, giving Lana the smallest window to stop my departure. But I’m hell-bent on getting myself into the bathroom. She was only able to graze my wrist with her fingertips. I’m already through the door and pushing it closed, sliding down against it and onto the floor.

I hear Lana’s footsteps approach, softly, cautiously, and then stop. I can picture her face clearly: concern, sympathy, regard, love, empathy, and solace.

The door nudges behind me; Lana fiddles with the knob.

“Evie, open the door,” Lana says calmly.

It’s too late to lock the door now. But Lana won’t shove the door… she’ll wait. Stay right where she is, close by, until I need her.

The door nudges against me again.

“Let me in, love,” Lana urges gently, her voice low and soothing.

“Just give me a minute,” I say, hating that I sound so weak.

“Please.”

I swallow hard, my lungs still struggling to regulate my breathing, my heart racing.

I don’t like her seeing me like this.

“Let me in,” Lana repeats. I feel her words whispered right into my ear through the door. The deeper meaning of it helps me on a whole other level.

She’s saying, don’t hide from me. Let me into your mind. Let me walk through your hell with you.

I move slightly to let Lana slip in if she opens it a bit.

Immediately, Lana pushes in carefully and drops down beside me.

“You’re all right, Evie. I’m here,” Lana murmurs, holding my hand and keeping her lips near my ear.

My heart fumbles a few beats, trying to get the rhythm right. My eyes fill with tears again, and Lana reaches up and wipes them away.

“You’re safe.”

The sweetness and unwavering love that Lana continuously shows me makes me melt. After about ten minutes, I take a cleansing breath and rub my tired eyes before looking at Lana’s equally tired ones. I stared at the bruise I guiltily take credit for.

“You’re gonna have a nasty shiner,” I say remorsefully.

“I’ll live.”

“At least let me go down and get you some ice, or it’ll swell,” I say, getting up.

Lana quietly follows me downstairs and into the kitchen, where I open the freezer to get an ice pack. I grab a dish rag and wrap the ice in it before directing Lana to sit on one of the stools. I hold it up under her eye and press delicately. She flinches, and her hand comes up to cover mine.

“I’m sorry.”

“I know,” she says.

I’m sorry I’m such a wreck.

§§

“She’s complicated to analyze, and it’s taking longer than I would like.

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