Page 187 of Under the Waves
“I’mkidding. No, not really. Your mom’s the best,” he winked at me, “and I really do need that washing back, man.”
“Stop hitting on my mom, you’re grossing me out. And why are you even getting her to do that? You can do your own washing, you idiot.”
Jakson chuckled before shaking his head and pushing me away. “Seriously. Go back home to Poppy and your mom, Jasper. I can pack up the equipment from here. There’s hardly anything left to tidy up anyway.”
“But I’m the captain, I should be the one—”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Cap,respectfully, shut the fuck up. I’vegotthis. I promise.”
I glanced at him. “You sure?”
Jakson Calloway just grinned at me.
“Go get your girl, stupid.”
62
Poppy Wells
Vienna had patched up every open cut and scar on my body, and somehow, I’d felt comfortable enough to let her. Except, the entire time, I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew—knew just how I’d gotten those wounds. Knew exactly what my own mother had done to me. If she did, she didn’t let it show, and that just made my anxiety spiral even more so than it already was.
“The most important part is to rest, okay?” Vienna said softly, “and if you need to cough, you can hold this pillow against your chest to lessen the pain. But it’s important to try and breathe as normally as you can, yeah? You’ll be grand in no time, sweetie. I just know it.”
Hugging the pillow to my chest, I bared a smile. “T-thank y-you.”
Vienna returned my smile and startedto pack away the medical kit when she hesitated, turning back to me. “I…Poppy, I know this is not my place to ask but I just…you’re okay? At home, I mean. No one…no one’s hurting you or anything? Because if they are, I promise you, Poppy, I can help you.”
She knows. She knows. She knows.
My heart rate fucking skyrocketed.
“I—”
The words were stuck in the back of my throat.
I couldn’t get them out.
I couldn’t breathe.
Icouldn’t…
“Hey, sweetie, you’re okay,” Vienna hushed, hopping up onto the countertop next to me and wrapping an arm around my back. Her fingers brushed lazy strokes up and down my arm. Over the bandages, carefully and delicately. “You’re okay, sweet girl. I’ve got you.”
The boulder sitting on my chest started to loosen.
Muscles in my throat started to relax.
Air filled my lungs and Ibreathed.
Yet Vienna stayed by my side, quietly comforting me as my body worked through the panic in its own time.
“Nothing’s going to hurt you in here, Poppy. I promise you that.”
I sniffled, letting my head fall against her skin. “You’re a great mom, you know?”
I wish you were mine…
She laughed, the sound vibrant and comforting. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest, thank you.”