Inhale: Book One (bxb) ✔️

7. Oh, or you could bridal carry me!

Landon Luna

Outer Banks, North Carolina
November 4th night & November 5th day.

"Yes, I will hug you, Landon."

I quickly rolled over on my other side to face Everest, thankful for the small lamp in the corner. It lit up his face and told me he was completely serious about his answer. For those small moments, I'd forgotten what I was so upset about. My eyes were wide, and neither of us made any attempt to move. We only continued to stare at one another like we were tied by that one stare.

At least, we were, until Everest reached toward me and gathered me into his arms. He dragged me closer to him until my nose pressed against his chest. Holy. I'd never melted into an embrace as fast as I did when Everest settled with his arms around me. It was like taking a breath of the freshest air one could find.

Unfortunately, the shock value didn't last as long as I wanted it to.

All I could think about was how I threw my brother to the side and completely disregarded him. The thought of hurting someone the way I hurt my brother was crushing my very soul. I wanted to apologize a million times over, and I wouldn't get my chance until we were in Miami. All I had to do was call my Mom if I had trouble, and she would grant me time with Elijah. But it felt too far away. I was heartbroken. I was feeling far too many emotions all at once, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

I gasped for a breath when Everest rubbed his hand down the base of my spine. The action was rather...intimate and made my insides shiver. He was safe. I'd never hugged Everest before. I didn't think he was going to accept, but I decided to have a brave moment, and I couldn't be more thankful that those words fell out of my mouth. He created security, and I wondered how I went so long without cuddling this close to someone who wasn't Lennox or my brother. They were different. They were family to me. Well, clearly Elijah was family to me, but Lennox, too.

After a few minutes of listening to me cry over something I couldn't fix right now, Everest spoke quietly. "I'm not great at the comforting game." He whispered. "But I can tell you a little more about me if you want."

I nodded against his chest. His heart was going wild. I wanted to ask about it, but I felt that it wasn't the time. "Yes, please. Anything that isn't about how I'm going to approach my brother. I don't want to think about it right now."

"Okay." His hand skimmed down my spine again, sending another one of those delicious shivers through my body. "You know that I'm adopted, but I was adopted when I was fifteen. My parents fostered me since I was fourteen, and it took them a little while to gain permission to do it. A lot of court dates." He seemed to be smiling if his voice was anything to go by. "I didn't know how to interact with other people appropriately. My birth parents were monsters. And that's putting it mildly."

Pulling away slightly, I looked at the hazel in his eyes to show him I was listening. "Did they hurt you?"

Everest didn't move for a moment before he finally nodded. "Yes." My heart shattered in my chest, even if I already knew the answer. "I had very little people skills because they kept me hidden until I was of value to them. But then, I was adopted by my parents, and I asked to be enrolled in school. I didn't know how to react around people. I had panic attacks daily. Luckily, I was in intensive therapy for two hours a day, every day."

"Who...why would anyone ever hurt their child?" I was about to cry for an entirely different reason. "You are the nicest, kindest person I know. Why would anyone hurt you?"

He smiled at me and pulled one of his arms away to catch a tear that escaped my eye. "Evil doesn't care who is innocent, Bubbles. But my parents saved me. They taught me how to communicate properly, as did a team of doctors. You were my only exception. You waved at me every single day, and I was doomed to more conversations when we were partnered together in biology. I didn't mind you being around. I can tell myself that we weren't friends, but we were."