Every Breath After: Part 1 (Lost Boys, #3)

by Jessie Walker

Her mouth twitches. “Oh?” I nod, and then my face crashes down with a scowl. “People are mean to him too.” Momma’s eyes crease, and her mouth thins. “I’m sorry to hear that.” I shake my head. “It’s okay,” I rush out. “It’s not gonna happen again. He has me now.” She smiles, tilting her head. “What?” Her eyes are red now, like she might cry. She shakes her head. “Nothing, just… I’m proud of you, kid.”

“And then someday, there will be this guy, and he’s gonna come along and-and push all the right buttons. You’re gonna fight it. Be stubborn as always. But fuck, he’s gonna fall so hard. And you’re gonna fall so hard right back, because…because he won’t give up. He’ll never rest until you let him in.”

He nods against the pillow. “Just gotta…hold my breath and count to ten, right?” He wets his lips. “Every breath after that…it’ll be a little easier.”