Chasing Serenity (Seeking Serenity) by Eden Butler Page B

late.” He plays with my hair and ignores the slap I give his hand. “I’ll be twenty-four in January. Plenty legal.”
    That’s surprising. Most men his age would have given up on their education. Part of me wants to know what’s taken him so long to get through his studies. “Still inappropriate. I’m not going to jeopardize getting a faculty position next year.”
    “Wouldn’t messing about Tucker do that?”
    I glance at him once, notice how he’s forgotten the books completely. He relaxes on the table, resting back on his elbows. “Tucker graduates in the spring. But he’s not even a consideration.”
    “Why’s that?”
    He doesn’t need to know about my history with Tucker. “You, on the other hand have, what, three more years?”
    “Two. I transferred. Two years is a long time to become mates.” The table moves when Declan inches off of it to stand next to me.
    “I have enough friends, thanks.”
    He lowers his shoulders, returns to the books, scanning the spines. “Come now, you can never have enough friends.” The Americanized term sounds odd spoken through his brogue. His bare arm rubs against me as we work and I don’t think it’s at all accidental.
    “I think you have decidedly too friendly ideas about me.”
    He laughs, then steps behind me so that his mouth is next to my ear. “I won’t deny that.”
    Before I can I respond, the lights overhead flicker once, twice. There is a wheeze and a pop and then the only light in the room comes from the small basement window above the bookshelves.
    No, I think. Not now.
    “Is there a storm?” Declan asks, but I can’t answer. The doors in the stairwell whine as the alarms lock and I already feel the pulsing panic in my chest surface. “McShane?”
    “God…oh, God.”
    He must see my panic, how my eyes have rounded because he reaches forward to touch me, then retreats when I jerk back. My limbs shudder and I back up against the bookshelf before I crumble to the floor.

    “How’s her breathing?”
    “Bad. Her face has gone all pale and she looks like she’s about to hyperventilate. What the feck do I do?”
    “She won’t hyperventilate. Just be patient with her and try to get her to calm down.” Sayo’s voice is composed, level, but I hear her shouting at the maintenance men through the speaker of my cell. Mollie and Layla are asking questions, that much I can make out, but Sayo puts them off, tries to make them quiet.
    Pain radiates in my chest and my heart is a constant drum of aching palpitations. There is no way I cannot be dying. I am dizzy, winded, and when thunder cracks above us in the distance, my mind flashes to the accident, to the winds and pain, blood and loss.
    Dammit, I can’t breathe.
    Logically, I know Declan is here. He’s crouched on the floor, my phone in his hand, but my mind is a flutter of worry. Nothing makes sense. I hear his conversation, hear my best friend on the speaker, but can’t make the words form coherent sentences. Being locked in this small basement, electricity out, a storm raging overhead, has me freakin’ out.
    “Declan, I’ve got to get the maintenance people in line.”
    “You better not be an ass to her!” Layla yells into the receiver.
    “Hush,” Sayo says, then her voice becomes clearer as she returns her attention to Declan. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get the power back on. Oh and just an FYI, Autumn is going to try to escape. Please don’t let her hurt herself.”
    “Right. Okay. Cheers.” I think he disconnects the call. I think he tries to touch me, tentative grabs toward my arm, but he is too large. Too close. I don’t know him. I don’t want to know him. Why is he staring at me? Is he staring at me?
    Escape. I need an escape.  “McShane, please calm down.” Is he following me? There. Right there. Bookshelves. A low ceiling and a window.
    My mind is wracking with impossible, ridiculous scenarios. I need air. I need breath and freedom. I need an