Page 67 of Pucked Together

But I can't. I'm having a panic attack. My lungs are closing in.

I can't breathe.

"Is she ok?" Rina says next to him.

“No. Izzy. I need you to look at me. Look at me, baby sis," he inhales deeply. Releasing Rina's hand so he can take both of mine. “Breathe, Izzy," he instructs.

And as if the captain himself hears me losing my breath, the oxygen masks drop in front of us.

I jump.

Ignoring all the instructions we've been given over the years to put your mask on first before helping someone, Keelan grabs my mask and secures it over my head with a quick tug. Then he turns to Rina, who is fumbling with her own mask from the nerves.

They look at each other for a quick beat.

So many unspoken things moving between them. He leans forward and kisses her before placing the mask over her mouth and securing it, too.

She reaches for his and hands it to him. And if I wasn't already struggling for air in my lungs, I'd be in tears over what I just witnessed.

This can't be it. This can't be how we go.

"Brace yourself," Keelan's muffled voice commands from behind his mask. His wild eyes volley between Rina and me to make sure we oblige.

The plane dips again, and I feel my stomach in my throat.

Breathe, Izzy. Breathe.

But it's not Keelan's voice in my head calming me.

Look at me. Follow my breathing. Breathe, Izzy.

My eyes are closed. My body folded over my seat as the rest of the plane went silent.

And it's Ryker's voice I hear in my head.

Breathe, Izzy.

The plane dips.

Breathe for me.

Breathe for me.

Breathe.

Chapter 21

Ryker

"Sir, you can't go in there."

"Like hell!" I roar to the nurse at the station.

"Sir!" she yells at me.

But it's too late. There's nothing that will stop me from seeing her.

Room 707.