Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(96)

The back of my hand launches at her arm.

“Ouch,” she mumbles. “Did that help?”

“Yeah,” I confirm.

“Here,” Joanna offers, handing me a bottle of water.

“Thanks,” I accept.

Once I’m able to stand, Maggie gives me room to pee. She offers some mints to help with the residual taste of vomit in my mouth before we leave the bathroom.

“You okay, Kitten?” Jared checks with a worried look on his face.

I nod, not wanting to expose the contrasting smells and tastes from my mouth.

“She just needed to let out some tension,” Maggie suggests.

“You sure?” Jared searches, holding me by the shoulders.

I nod again, but my hands begin to strike at his arms and torso.

“Kitten,” Nathan defends.

“Serves me right,” Jared comments, taking the weak beating that I’m inflicting.

“Can we go now?” I ask.

“Nope,” Nathan sings.

“Fuck,” I mumble. Wincing, I apologize to Pop-Pop and Joanna for my language.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Pop-Pop soothes. “I actually expected worse.”


We all laugh.

“Ready for the next round?” Nathan inquires.

Everyone smiles and agrees but me.

The next form of torture my friends have planned are the go-karts. Jared and I pair up again, being the only two to ride in a two-person car while everyone else rides solo. The fact that we aren’t going to be deliberately bumping into everyone helps a little, but when we take to the track, the tension returns when I realize how much faster we’re traveling over the ground. I keep my face covered most of the time, peeking out on occasion between my fingers.

On our way back to the hotel, we stop off for a late lunch. It takes me a little while to eat, barely starting my meal until everyone else is halfway done. We shower and change when we get back to the hotel before heading out to the casino floor to gamble a little until we have dinner. Pop-Pop and Joanna return to their room not long after dinner and I decide to do the same when my friends choose to extend their evening. Jared and Nathan escort me back to my suite, double checking that I’m okay. I just tell them that I’m tired from all of the excitement of the day and want to relax and maybe hit the spa.

What feels like five minutes later, my body begins to tremble and sob as water pours out of my eyes. I laugh at myself for my uncontrollable need to cry after the trauma, slash fun, I had this morning with my friends. Sadie is not with me, Anna is watching her, which is most likely the main reason for my outburst.

My phone suddenly buzzes and without thinking, I answer it. “Yeah,” my voice shakes and cracks.

“Emma, what’s wrong?” Joe asks with a worried tone.

Sniffling, I mumble a bunch of nonsensical words explaining what’s going on and how I think it’s stupid that I’m crying. Five seconds later, there’s a knock at the door. Not thinking, I blubber into the receive for Joe to hold on while I see who’s at the door. My stinging, watery gaze falls upon Joe’s concerned face as the door opens. Without a word, he steps into my room and wraps himself around me, carrying me to the bed. We lay together not talking until my crying subsides.

“If I knew this would have been the effect, I would never have agreed to today with Jared and Nathan,” Joe admits, wiping away my tears.

“I’m fine,” I object.

“Emma, no you’re not,” Joe argues.

“It’s just a release from all the stress from earlier and other stuff too,” I sniffle.

Joe’s lips find mine. “You sure?”

“I really did have fun after a while,” I confess with a giggle.

“Really?” he probes, not fully believing me.

“Yeah,” I agree. “I kind of regret not trying to drive the things myself. Not that I know how. That’s what I think I’m more upset about, really, than anything else, other than Sadie not being here.”

“Would a late night run help?” Joe asks.

“Yeah, actually,” I admit.

“Good,” he says. “Get dressed and I’ll be back as soon as I’m done changing.”

“Okay,” I agree.

Joe kisses me several more times, hesitant to leave.

“I’m good,” I assure.

I clean up my face and change quickly, eager for a run. Joe knocks on my door just as I’m getting my sneakers on. When we make it to the lobby, Joe turns and looks at me.

“What?” I ask, confused by the expression on his face.

“I had and idea, but I’m not sure if you’ll like it,” Joe replies.

“What?”

With a smile, he questions, “Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” my mouth says faster than I would have preferred.

Joe takes my hand and leads me to a car that is sitting at the far left side of the hotel driveway. When we get closer, I see Hunter and Taylor standing next to it.

“Where are we going?” I inquire.

“Do you still trust me?” Joe checks.

I nod.

About twenty minutes later, Hunter pulls up into a dark parking lot. My eyes squint to read the sign that is lit by a dim light at the far end of the driveway. Though it’s dark, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as the surroundings start to become vaguely familiar.