Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(168)

“What’s bugging you?” Jared searches, looking at the paper I give him, then takes a photo with his phone and pockets it.

“Ohhh, great idea!” Amy comments. She and everyone else takes a picture with their phones.

“Nothing, I’m fine,” I lie.

Amy and Kim head back to the family once we’ve finish, but Jared and Nathan stay.

“I think we should stay the night,” Jared announces.

“Why?”

“You’re clearly having a challenge with the wedding,” Nathan states.

“No, I’m not. I’m just freaking out about what to say for my toast!” I share.

They both stare at me for a moment.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Jared searches.

“No . . .” I whine.

“You sure?” Nathan double checks.

“Yeah . . . I . . . I just need . . . .”

Jared places his hands on either of my arms just below my shoulders. “You know whatever you say will be perfect, right?”

My head slowly lowers down. I can feel the tears swarming in my eyes and blurring my vision.

“Kitten . . .” Jared calls, prompting me by the chin to look up at him.

I let me head lift, but I keep my gaze down.

“Kitten . . . ” he sweetly lures.

Two tears tumble down my cheeks. Jared wraps his arms around me and I instantly curl into him. I feel Nathan do the same behind me.

“I’ll be right there with you,” Jared states.

Nathan runs his fingers through my hair. “Do you want us to stay the night?”


I shake my head.

“Do you want us to stay for a while until you calm down?” Nathan inspects.

I shake my head again as I sniffle. “I just need a bath and some rest,” I announce.

“You sure?” Jared probes.

“Yeah . . . I just need to be alone for a while.”

“Okay, Kitten,” Jared confirms with heartfelt understanding. He hugs me tighter for a few more minutes, kissing me on the side of my head on occasion.

The three of us finally say goodnight and I move to the bathroom to start the water. Just as I’m lowering my body into the steaming, hot water, my phone chirps.

“Hey . . .” I greet with a tired voice.

“Hey, beautiful. You okay?” Joe queries with concern in his voice.

“Yeah . . . .”

“You don’t sound like you are. What’s up?”

“Just tired and I’m freaking out about my toast for tomorrow,” I explain.

There’s no need to hide the truth from him.

“Can I help?” he sweetly offers.

“Yeah . . .” I perk up a little. “Write it for me.”

Joe laughs at my forwardness. “That I can’t do . . . but I can help.”

“What did you write down?” I investigate.

“I don’t have anything written.”

“Then, you don’t have anything either?”

“I have the gist of what I’m going to say. I’ll let the moment pull it all together,” he comments.

“Great . . .” I sarcastically reply.

“You’ll do great,” he encourages.

“If you haven’t noticed, I’m not one for talking, let alone expressing my emotions to even the people closest to me,” I remind.

“That doesn’t mean that you will have a challenge tomorrow,” he cheers.

“You’re too . . .” I pause trying to find the right word.

He’s too chipper, enthusiastic and calm which is a little sickening. How can he be so calm?

“What?”

“I don’t know . . . but it’s not helping,” I inform.

“Well, how can I help? Do you want me to come over?”

“That would be nice . . .” I begin to admit.

I hear a knock on my suite’s door a few seconds later.

“I didn’t say right now.”

“Why not right now?”

“Because I’m in the tub,” I notify him.

Joe clears his throat, but doesn’t say anything for a minute. “How long have you been in?”

“Just got in. Why?” I explain.

I hear him groan and I find myself giggling.

“What’s so funny?”

“You,” I confess.

“How about you text me when you’re done and you can come over like last night,” he sinfully suggests. Before I get a chance to say anything, he ensures, “Just snuggling. I promise.”

“Okay . . .” I quickly agree, perking up.

“Yeah?” Joe sounds a little shocked.

“Yeah.”

“You done yet?” he playfully examines.

“No . . .” I giggle.

“How about now?”

“You’re incorrigible. Give me about fifteen more minutes,” I request.

“Sure. I’ll leave the door propped open. Just come on in,” he discloses.

“Okay.”

Neither of us say anything for a minute. I don’t want to hang up and from the sound of it, or the lack thereof, neither does Joe.

“I’m hanging up now,” I announce with a smile.