Page 93 of Bluffed By the Offense

I step inside the seatrain, looking around to assess the carnage after today’s distribution.

Marcus steps in behind me.

“Grab that stopper and …”

My sentence is cut off by a gust of wind, catching the open door and slamming it shut behind us. Darkness fills the space and I start to hyperventilate. I hear the latch on the outside fall, sealing us inside.

Marcus turns on his phone flashlight. I cover my eyes when the light aims straight at me.

“Cass?”

“Yeah?”

“You okay over there?”

“No?”

He’s at my side in a moment. Arms around me as if he intuitively knows I’m spiraling. He tugs me into his chest. I still can’t breathe, and that’s not because he’s got my head tucked under his massive biceps.

I wrap my arms around him, fisting the back of his shirt and clinging for dear life.

“Hey. Hey. Shhhhh,” he says. “You’re okay.”

My breath comes in shallow gulps and my heart feels like it’s going to pound out of my chest.

“I’m claustrophobic,” I practically choke out.

“Okay. Okay. My brother is too. You’re okay. Close your eyes and pretend we’re in an open field.”

I do as he says.

“There’s a whole lot of air in here,” he says. “And I even see cracks in a few places. That means fresh air is getting in every second.”

My breathing starts to level out.

“That’s right. See,” he says, his voice gentle and melodic.

“Your voice is nice,” I say, knowing I’ll regret the admission later.

“Oh, yeah?” he says. “Fantasy QB and a nice voice? You’re losing your edge, Carter.”

I don’t correct him. I practically want to beg him to say my last name on repeat right now.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get my edge back when you get me out of here,” I say.

“Promises, promises,” he says with a low chuckle that ripples through his chest and settles me even more.

“I’m going to lift one of my arms,” he says.

“No,” I say without thinking.

He can’t lift his arms. I need him to contain me. He’s the only thing holding me together right now.

“Just one,” he says, laughing softly, not at me, I can tell.

“Don’t let the effect you’re having on me go to your head,” I say. “I still think you’re the worst.”

“And I think you are too. We’re good, Carter. I just need to make a call so Trey can come and break us out, okay?”