Page 68 of Mark

“I bet. He seems like someone to keep a chart,” I tease.

“I think I’m going to pass out,” she rasps. “I don’t feel good.”

“I’ve got you,” I assure her, tucking one arm under Rose just in case. “I had panic attacks as a kid. We were broken into whilst we were asleep upstairs. Every night after, I would have nightmares. Every noise scared me and I would have panic attacks. My sister thought it was funny and would purposely try to scare me. And believe it or not, if we went away, it triggered them even more. New places, new scenes, they can unsettle the mind.”

“I was going to find Jaxon. He went to get me some anti-sickness meds, and then Rose began to cry. I stepped out to check if he was outside because I started to feel dizzy, and the door closed behind me. Then…” She gulps, her eyes closing. “I really need you to take Rose now.”

As she drops back, her body dead weight, I reach for Rose. “Somebody help!” I cry. “Help!”

Doors open along the corridor, and people stick their head out being nosey, but it’s the voice behind me that has my attention.

“Lily!” Jaxon roars, dropping to the floor next to me. Her brushes her sweat-stained hair from her face, his eyes wild. “What happened?”

“She was having a panic attack. She said she wasn’t feeling good,” I explain, tears in my voice as he lifts her up.

I grab the medicine box he dropped from the ground as I stand, grateful I no longer have my sandals on. I follow him into his cabin, watching as he places her down on the bed.

“Can you get her mum and dad for me, please?”

Rose begins to fuss, and he glances over, torn between the two as I drop the medication on the bed. “I will take Rose with me. I promise she will be in good hands. I swear.”

He nods, and I speed-walk out of the room, making my way back to the lift. Inside, I press the floor I need and step back. “Come on, come on, come on,” I chant, breathing out a sigh of relief when the doors open seconds later. I move to the stairs, racing up them to the deck.

Soft, warm air greets me and I see Teagan in Maverick’s lap, next to the other adults. All the composure I tried to keep dissipates at the sight of them.

“Teagan,” I call out, tears in my voice.

She sits up, her eyes drawn to Rose. “Why do you have Rose? Where is Lily?”

“It’s Lily. She, um…” I glance around, realising there are people here who aren’t family. Lily wouldn’t want people knowing her business. “You need to come.”

Teagan and Maverick are already up before I finish my sentence. I turn, nearly bumping into Mark. “What’s going on? Why do you have Rose?”

“It’s Lily,” I whisper, continuing past him.

“Do you want me to take her?” he offers as we move down the stairs.

“No, I’ve got her,” I promise.

Two minutes later, we are outside Lily and Jaxon’s cabin. I slowly follow them inside. Lily is up, her hands clutching Jaxon as she sobs. When she spots me, her shoulders drop and a puff of air slips past her lips. “She’s really okay.”

“She is,” I assure her.

“I told you, baby,” Jaxon soothes.

“What happened?” Teagan asks, running her hand down her daughter’s back.

Jaxon glances at Teagan. “She’s been sick all evening. I think it’s something she ate at lunch. I went upstairs to grab some medication because we gave ours to Faith. I shouldn’t have left.”

“It’s not your fault,” Lily whispers, reaching for him. “It’s mine. Rose began to fuss and I didn’t trust myself to hold her. I came out to check if you were there, but then the door closed behind me. I had left the key on the bed. There were a few drunken men passing and I just panicked.”

“Did they do something?” Jaxon grits out.

Tears spill down her cheeks. “No. I overreacted as usual. I could have dropped Rose,” she cries, her shoulders shaking.

I step closer until I’m in front of her. “You didn’t overreact. They were loud and intimidating. I saw them,” I reply softly. “And you wouldn’t have dropped Rose. You are so acutely aware of your body, you knew what you needed to do. You were already on the floor when I arrived, and I bet if I hadn’t shown up, you would have placed her down. Just like you warned me you were going to pass out, giving me time to take her. Jaxon was there seconds later. I’ve never seen anyone react like that during a panic attack. You were remarkable and strong.”

“I thought they had stopped,” Lily rasps. “My worst fear was blacking out during a panic attack and it’s happened.”