Page 41 of Room to Breathe

My stomach let out a loud growl and I covered it with my hands.

“Should we split a protein bar?” he asked.

“Should we eat one now? Do we need to save them? You think we’ll be out by tomorrow for sure, right? Someone will notice by tomorrow.” I wasn’t sure if it was all the high-knee walks I was doing that had raised my heart rate or the thought that we could be stuck here all weekend. We couldn’t be stuck here. I hadn’t been the best daughter lately, but I was planning to be there tomorrow.

I walked to the sink, filled up our shared water jar, and took another long drink, water dribbling out of the sides of my mouth and down my chin. I set the jar down and wiped my face with the back of my hand. That didn’t calm my racing heart.

“Are you panicking?” he asked. “You’re usually the laid-back one.”

I couldn’t remember the last time my life felt laid-back. Maybe that Halloween party, looking at the stars.

Maybe Iwaspanicking, because instead of slowing down as I leaned into my hands on the counter, my heart seemed to double in speed. I put my elbows on the counter and took deep breaths. It wasn’t working; I was hyperventilating instead.

“Indy,” Beau said. He sounded far away. “It’s going to be okay.” Then I felt his hand on my back.

I jerked away, knocking my elbow into his arm as I did. “Don’t touch me.” I backed into the side of the stall. Pressed against my left shoulder was the paper towel dispenser. And against my righthip, the counter. He stood in front of me, both hands in the air in surrender.

“I’m stuck,” I said. “I’m trapped. I need to get out of here. I need my phone back. My life back.”

He took several steps back, his brows low in concern. “We’ll get out. We won’t be in here forever. And you’re not trapped. You have the whole bathroom.”

The bathroom wasn’t that big, and all the walls felt like they were closing in on me.

I rushed forward, brushing by him to the door. I tugged on the handle. I twisted the lock ten or twenty or thirty times. I tugged on the handle again. I looked at the brick, wondering if I could break off the handle with it. Behind me there was noise, followed by the water running.

“Indy.” Beau’s voice approached. “Here. Put this wet paper towel on the back of your neck.”

I spun around, pressing my back into the door. “Why?”

His eyes were soft, worried. “Because you’re having a panic attack. It might help.”

“I’m not,” I said, even though my heart was racing and my face felt numb and my breathing was too fast.

“Rule number two,” he said.

“What?”

“We accept help from the other person if we need it.” He took a step forward, eyes wide in a question.

“Okay.”

Relief changed his expression as he took several more steps forward. He held out the paper towel and instead of taking it from him, I lifted the hair off my neck.

“May I approach?” he teased.

I nodded and he did. He threaded the paper towel through my lifted arm and around my neck. There he pressed it against my skin. Water dripped down my back. We met eyes and held them for several breaths. I dropped my hair, letting my hands fall back to my sides. His hand was still cupping my neck, my hair now over his hand.

“Better?” he asked. He was so close.

My heart was racing, but my breathing had evened out and feeling was returning to my cheeks. “Yes, thank you,” I said, but neither of us moved.

He seemed to be staring straight into my soul. I had no idea what he was thinking. My eyes stung with emotion. I had no idea whatIwas thinking.

“I miss you so much, Indy,” he whispered.

Chapter 18

Then