rs La

hina P

s voice came through my phone,

ting my dress.

tedly told her I was too busy. Between work and raising April alone, dating wasn

feel lighter and keep you yo

deserve my time? What kind of gentleman keeps a wo

ce, Phina. He's a ge

-dressed man entering the luxurious ho

er ear. My fingers instinctively reached for my inhaler. Two qu

ied. "Oh, he's going to

cited than me? If you like him so much, why

riend and I love him." She said,

you." She continued, cleari

Becca, what did you jus

us. Talk to

eached my table. I ended the call, placed my phone dow

saw hi

llow, erratic. A familiar panic clawed at my lungs, t

re. No

calm, but my vision blurred. The world aroun

No

e suffocating weight on my chest. Tears burned my eyes. M

ot happen

Breathe," I whi

or the inhaler in my bag. I wasn't re

reaths and thankfully,

ing gently in slow, soothing mot

t v

nd my stoma

reall

r from seve

fallen for a

hared one passi

nowingly father

hallucinating. Maybe my oxygen-depr

ned them, he w

ndsome. Still with the

lly wa

top it. Before I even knew what I was doing, I thr

d in surprise.

on, gripping him tig

le

oke volumes. He d

in stabbed

e. Why w

en girl. A mess. A complicati

other. A woman who had fought to build a life for herself and

, wiping at my eyes before a

oice steadier than I felt. "

a moment before no

d. "My name is Elian, by

k to that night. His touches that made my stomach sing a

nd, feeling him again after a long time

m, familiar in a way t

e. "I appreciate your patience. I had some

few minutes," I teased, tr

down my spine. "I apologize,

ten what it felt like

ke it," he said, his

d. "You or

g our orders. But as the waite

e met b

ath hi

tion I had been waiti

ave that day wi

ed. "What do you

even called a doctor. But w

face. "I'm sorry, but I have no idea

were lik

n't re

ad no idea

, forcing a smile. "Never mind. I mus

, my heart

h my brain. I grabbed the glass of wine a

aken. I will ma