Page 96 of The Saviors: Part One

“Is she okay?” Sean asks when he walks back into the room, and I shake my head. My brain is sluggish, trying to bring myself back to reality.

“Yeah. She used to have them when we were kids. She’ll be okay. Won’t you?” Axel says. He doesn’t wait for an answer, just scoops me off the floor before gently placing me in my bed. He tucks pillows behind me and then hands me the bottle of water. When my hand shakes, he grabs my hand. “Shhh, it’s okay.” He tips the bottle to my mouth and lets me take several drinks.

The bed dips beside me, but I can’t look away from Axel. I’m hyper focused, I know, but finding something to concentrate on helps bring my mind back into focus. Slowly, everything around me returns to normal, and I look over. Sean is lying there with his head propped on his hand, gently rubbing my arm.

“Hey, Gorgeous.”

“Hey,” I say, my voice coming out hoarse. I take another drink of water, and my throat feels itchy and raw.

“You were screaming,” Axel explains.I was?

“I don’t remember that.”

“Do you still have these often?” Axel asks, placing a cool rag on my forehead.

I shake my head. “Not for about a year.”

“Why now?” Sean asks, picking my hand up and lacing our fingers together.

“Too many changes,” I whisper. I don’t want to make Axel feel bad, but I can see his face drop all the same. “How did you get in? I locked the door.”

He snorts. “Gorgeous, we’re criminals. I picked the lock. You’re lucky he-man over there didn’t kick down the door.”

“Thank you,” I tell them both.

“Is she okay?” I hear the quiet voice through the crack in the door. Axel gets up and walks over, talking to whoever it is.

“Nolan,” Sean explains. “He came running with us.” My mouth forms an ‘O’, embarrassed. Sean rubs his knuckles down my cheek. “Don’t get that look. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Damn my easily blushing pale self.

Axel walks back over and sits on the edge of the bed. “What usually makes it better? Still something sweet?” I nod. “Done,” he says with a smile, disappearing from the room.

I snuggle further into the pillows, sipping my water. Sean moves so his head is lying on my stomach, and I start running my fingers through his hair.

His eyes still look so sad. I run my finger across his cheek. “Why so glum?”

“I didn’t know what to do. That noise you were making was ripping my fucking heart out. I hate that you ever had to go through something like that.”

I shrug. “They used to be a lot worse. I’m okay.”

He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Axel pushes back through the door, handing me a bowl with a spoon. I look at it with a laugh. “Cole made it,” he explains. Even after all these years, they still remember my obsession with peanut butter and syrup.

“Thank you, Cole!” I call out.

He sticks his head through the door with a grin. “You’re welcome, Ladybug.”

“Eat your snack, Gorgeous.”

I take a bite and moan in appreciation. “This is so good.”

Axel clears his throat. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” He disappears, practically running from the room.

“What was that?” I ask Sean.

He looks like he’s trying not to laugh. “Nothing.”