Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

Jax

Liam pulls me away from our group of friends, leaving Sophie and Maya to chat Elena’s ear off while we wait for our Escape Room appointment.

“I wanted to tell you that it makes me happy to see you no longer flipping your shit every week. Love looks good on you.” Liam passes his debit

card to the employee.

Instead of coming back with a snappy comment, I place my hand on Liam’s shoulder and give it a squeeze. “Thanks. I’m sorry I haven’t been the easiest person to get along with this year.”

The employee leaves us alone, mumbling something about checking if our room is ready.

“That’s an understatement. But with you taking the human equivalent of animal tranquilizers, I can’t blame you. Speaking of those pills, are you still using them?”

I cross my arms. “No.”

Liam’s eyebrow raises. “No like ‘No, I’m not taking them,’ or ‘No, I enjoy them from time to time like indulging in ice cream’?”

I chuckle. “No. I’m done with that shit. Permanently.”

He lets out a loud breath. “Thank fuck.”

“I still keep them around for any out-of-control panic attacks, but I switched medications.” I ignore the urge to tell Liam about Tom and my therapy sessions.

“Will you promise me one thing?”

I lean against the counter, needing something to support me for whatever Liam is about to throw my way. “What?”

“I’m happy for you and your relationship. I really am. But I want you to reassure me that even if it doesn’t turn out well, you won’t fall back into the cycle of pills and partying.”

I frown. “Not good how?”

“Relationships take work. They’re not easy.”

“And?”

“And for someone like you, I worry that you might return to self-destructive ways to cope with the negatives in your life.”

“I promise you that I won’t, even if my relationship doesn’t work out or shit gets hard. I’m done with Xanax. And partying isn’t as fun anyway without you and Noah.”

Liam pulls me in for a hug, surprising me. “Good. Now let’s go kick ass and show Noah we’re the smarter ones. He’s all high and mighty, thinking he will win.”

The employee shows up a few minutes later to usher us into a hallway.

“Okay everyone, you’re going to put on these blindfolds, and we will help guide you into two dark prison cells. Split up into two groups with who you want to be locked up with. An alarm will sound, and the lights will turn on, indicating you can take off your blindfolds. Do not take them off until then. Search for clues to help get you and your friends out of the cells. You’ll have one hour. If you need a clue, use the walkie talkie your group leader has.” He passes us each a black blindfold.

“Reminds me of good times, right, Sophie?” Liam winks as he waves the blindfold in front of her face.

“You’re embarrassing me!” Sophie blushes and stomps to my side. “I’m joining Jax’s team now.”

“We’re all on the same team.” Noah scowls at the orange jumpsuit we were asked to put on.

Elena holds on to her blindfold with trembling hands.

“Are you okay?” I tap her hand.

She looks around before whispering, “I didn’t know we were going to be in the dark.”

“Do you want to not do it?”