Nothing made any sense.
My thoughts kept misfiring, and standing made me dizzy.
I managed to summon the barest of strength I had left in my legs to shift myself backward until my back felt the cold marble tiles on the wall. With no choice but to surrender to the menacing weight on my shoulders, I slid down the wall until I landed on the floor and collapsed on my side in the fetal position.
A dull pressure crept behind my eyes, causing my vision to flicker and blur, while a faint, shrill noise barely rose above the sound of rushing water from above.
It was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
My brain was scrambled, and any attempt to move my hand that was right in front of my face failed. Everything in my sightline warped into a foggy haze until eventually darkness clouded my vision and pulled me under its wrath, robbing me until there was nothing left in me to give.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jaxon
After a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up fresh supplies for the next few days and a dozen long-stemmed red roses from Ariel’s Floral Bar, I was finally on my way to the lake.
The thought of proposing to Lily tonight was so very tempting. Before Vegas, I’d researched ring styles and, on a whim, purchased an engagement ring set with three sparkling diamonds that I felt best represented our love: past, present, and future. But I’d ultimately handed it over to my mom for safekeeping, so Lily wouldn’t accidentally stumble upon it before the timing was right.
It wasn’t that I doubted we were each other’s future, but rather I just knew she wasn’t ready for that official step yet. While I was antsy and ready to commit my life to her by diving right into the deep end, the reality was that she’d only been back in my life for two months, and there was something to be said for taking your time and celebrating every moment. We both knewthat day would come, and I didn’t want her to feel any unnecessary pressure from me.
The smell of smoke started wafting in through my car’s vents and broke me out of my thoughts. While it wasn’t an unusual occurrence out in the woods, we usually were alerted when there was going to be a controlled burn, and I hadn’t seen anything in the books.
“Siri, call Jameson’s cell phone,” I said, asking my phone to call my brother.
The Bluetooth cut off the music with a click, followed by a chime to confirm. Siri then replied in her robotic voice, “Calling Jameson’s cell.” There was a slight pause before the speakers played the ringing dial tone.
Jameson answered on the second ring. “Damn, bro, you need pointers on how to increase your stamina?”
“Fuck you.” And yet I wasn’t surprised in the slightest that that was what he’d led with.
“I just assumed it was an issue for you since I happen to know you hadbigplans and all tonight.”
“I’m on my way to the lake now.”
“Aw, and you made time in your busy schedule to call me while en route? Sweet, bro, sweet.”
“Jesus, you can be exhausting sometimes.”
“So Ari’s told me, but it’s only because I’m obsessed with her?—”
“Enough! There’s a reason I’m calling, since I know you’re working.”
“All right, what’s up?” His voice turned serious.
“I’m not sure if someone is having a bonfire, but the smell of smoke drifting downwind from the lake is getting stronger the closer I get, and I wanted to give you and the crew a heads-up.”
“Much appreciated. I’ll send a team out to scope the area.”
“The last thing we need is a brush fire.”
The moment I turned onto the stretch of road leading to our home, the reality of what had emerged above the tree line hit me like a debilitating blow to the chest.
“Agreed. I’ll?—”
Anything else he said was drowned out by the thunder of my heartbeat in my ears. With my breath trapped behind my ribs, I started to hyperventilate. Each inhale and exhale came in quick, short, jagged bursts. Extreme panic surged through my veins, causing my knuckles to turn white from the death grip I had on the steering wheel.
“Jaxon?”