Page 94 of Deceptive Games

Was I crying? Why couldn’t I breathe?

“Copy me, Hot Shot,” he soothed, the panic consuming me more when I couldn’t catch my breath. “Feel my breath? Try to copy my breathing. Come on, breathe in.”

It took a few attempts, but once his forehead was pressed to mine and I could feel his warm breath on my face, I managed to get a few breaths in when he did.

“Good girl, keep going,” he encouraged, his hands dropping from my face to my biceps to rub up and down my arms as he leaned back so I could get fresh air.

Where the fuck had that come from? I rarely had a panic attack like that.

“Sorry, I don’t—” I started saying as I tried to stand.

“Don’t apologize. Sit for a second until you’re calm again. I won’t tell anyone and ruin your street rep,” he teased lightly, embarrassment washing through me at knowing I’d just been completely vulnerable in front of Skeeter’s rival.

I should’ve left when he arrived, but he was so stupidly easy to talk to.

“I can’t. I have to go. Skeet?—”

“Fuck Skeet. If you’re sitting out here alone with your thoughts instead of running to him, then he’s an asshole. I don’t want you driving until you’ve gotten your emotions together,” he warned, dropping down onto his butt in front of me to give me some more space, his warm hands leaving my skin as the cool air washed over me. “I won’t tell anyone I was here with you. The only person that even knows is Marco, and he won’t say shit either.”

“Marco knows?”

“Yeah. He’s in the parking lot keeping an eye on my bike. We were riding together,” he replied, tilting his head at me. “Do you deal with panic attacks often?”

I shook my head, glancing behind me as if Marco was going to sneak up on us.

“Not like that, no.”

“Are you going to be able to get yourself home? We can follow you if you want?” he offered, and I shook my head again.

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine.” My breathing was more balanced, and I wiped at my cheeks to get rid of the tears. “This is awkward.”

“Hardly. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot lately. Give yourself some grace,” he answered as he stood, offering me his hand. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“Why are you being so nice? Is this some kind of plan to?—”

“No. This is me helping you because someone fucking has to and I’m not going to leave you crying in the dark on the roof,” he said calmly. I reached out to take his hand, letting him pull me to my feet.

He made sure we had our things before leading me inside the school and through the same way I’d come in, my eyes narrowing at how he knew the right path to take.

Had he been following me more closely than I thought? Why hadn’t I heard their bikes?

We exited into the parking lot and Marco glanced over from his phone, lying across his bike with his feet on the handlebars.

“Hey, Princess,” he purred, running his eyes over me but pausing on my face. “What’s wrong?”

“None of your business,” I huffed, turning to face Hunter. “Thank you.”

“Any time. Put my number in your phone in case you need me,” he said sternly, and I scoffed.

“No. I’m not?—”

“Put it under a fake fucking name or something if you’re worried. What if you need help and Skeet doesn’t answer?”

“He would.”

“Really? Considering you opened up to me and not him says a whole lot about your relationship. If you can’t turn to him, then call me. I’ll answer.”

Hesitation filled me, knowing this was a bad idea. He was the enemy, I couldn’t get involved with him. Turning to the Devils for help when I was rubbing shoulders with the Psychos was a really stupid idea.