Page 79 of Get A Fix

“Then you should⁠—”

“I need you to wear that for a bit, all right? Just for now so I can breathe.”

“Why can’t you breathe?”

“I dunno,” he rushed out. “I’m having trouble.”

“Are you guys coming?” Bitsy called back to us.

“We’ll catch up to you,” I promised. “We just need a minute.”

I didn’t know if they walked away. I was solely focused on Ash.

“You’re right,” he said, slipping his hands around the sides of my neck. “I came to this wedding for a reason. To meet people like Ainsley and her family and connect with them. Not everyone related to my father is horrible, and look at your Gemma. I was right. And of course, Bitsy”—he gestured after her—“getting married, starting her life, she’s worth knowing as well.”

“I agree.”

“But I’m suddenly having trouble sticking to my plan because I don’t really care anymore.”

“Why not?”

“I mean, I care about Ainsley and her family,” he amended quickly. “I really liked them. I really did. Don’t get me wrong.”

“I was certain you did,” I said, loving him all flustered, explaining himself as he puzzled out whatever was in his head, though I knew he’d been worried for a second over what he said. Even if he hadn’t liked Gemma, he would have said he did for me. “They’re all great.”

“Yes. Yes they are. And you’re crazy about them, and they’re important to you, so they’re important to me too.”

Which basically validated what I’d thought. “But meeting more people,” I filled in for him, “spending that time, you’re not invested in that anymore like you thought you’d be.”

“That’s exactly right,” he said, pointing at me, starting to pace then. Because I’d seen him do it before, and it meant he was formulating ideas, working out a problem, I smiled at him.

“And that’s because of what?” I prodded.

“Because of you,” he declared in a very accusatory manner.

“Me?”

He growled in frustration, and I laughed at him.

“You’re driving me crazy,” he muttered.

“And why is that?”

“No, don’t ask me like that.”

That was surprising. “How am I asking you?”

“Your voice gets all silky and low and all come hither when you’re bantering with me.”

I could not have kept a straight face for anything. “Does it?”

“Does it,” he parroted, giving me another slight growl.

“You’re adorable right now,” I informed him.

“See, normally I meet someone,” he began, ignoring my comment, “have sex with them, and then we part ways.”

“Why?” I asked as he paced.