Page 18 of Worshiping Faith

“That bullshit about not wanting to see it won’t fly,” she says, voice strong, unrelenting. “I will not have jealousy tearing us apart. You are okay with it, you wanted it, or you are not. If shit goes down and we get out of a tight spot and someone hugs me or kisses me in relief, you’ll fucking deal.”

My legs feel like stone, my vision starting to tunnel.

She’s still talking.

And my god, she’s so fucking amazing.

“I want it,” I say. The words feel like they’re floating away, slipping from my mouth before I can catch them. I take a step toward the bed.

The second step, my knees give out.

The room tilts, no, I tilt, and then I’m hitting the floor, the impact rattling through my skull like a distant explosion.

Her hands are on me before I can process the fall.

Soft. Warm. Her scent, sweet, delicate, surrounds me.

“Dax?”

A smack to my face.

“Talk to me, Dax!” Her voice is panicked. Wild. “Trip, get in here!”

I hear static. A walkie cracking to life.

“On my way.”

Good. That’s the fucking point.

Trip’s footsteps hit fast, heavy. Then he’s there, grabbing me by the arm, lifting me like I don’t weigh a goddamn thing. The room swings, my vision narrowing, black creeping at the edges.

“On the bed,” Faith orders. “What’s going on?”

Trip keeps his grip on me, steady as ever. “You good?”

I nod, and he doesn’t ask twice.

Then he’s gone, no wasted breath, no hesitation.

Faith, though, she’s still here, still watching me too closely.

“I skipped breakfast and lunch. Busy,” I mutter.

Her expression tightens. She’s not buying my bullshit for a second. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

I catch her wrist before she can stand. “I’m good. Just need a second.”

No argument. No fight. She just climbs onto the bed, and curls up at my side, exactly where she belongs.

“You need to rest,” she murmurs. “You were shot.”

She knows me too fucking well.

I exhale, my body finally giving in to the exhaustion, but my mind is still locked on her.

On the way she ran to me first.

On the way Trip moved without question.