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"Pix--" I went to speak, but she pulled the black sleeves of her sweater over her palms and slammed them over her mouth

"You touched my back," she whispered "I can’t be touched on my back Why did you touch my back? There should be ten, but there’s only seven It’s not enough He’s right It’s just not enough…" Her voice was frantic as she spoke shit to herself, and it rose into a high-pitched tone

Lexi stumbled back until she hit the countertop, but her incessantcloser, and like hell I wanted Axel to know about Pix being here… especially acting like this He wasn’t gonna understand any of it Wasn’t gonna approve of ed Lexi in my arms and pressed my forehead to hers "Pix, breathe One… two… three… four…" I carried on and saw thelike hell to follow the rhythet the kid We need to , and I watched the door, waiting patiently for it to open, trying to think how I could hide Pix

"I’ht my attention back to her

"Fuck, I’m sorry, Pix," I whispered and tucked my head into the crook between her shoulder and neck, just breathing in the scent that was all her

I caught Lexi’s hand lift, shaking furiously as it moved behind me I was shocked when it landed on the back of my neck, and I released a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding

"It’s okay It’s okay I just panicked," Lexi said slowly, and I knew she was trying to convince herself asback ainst her ot, Pix I know that’s a fkin’ terrible excuse But I just forgot"

Lexi closed her eyes, inhaling deep through her nose, and when her eyelids fluttered open, she seemed a little better

"Austin?" My h the trailer as the wind outside began to howl and tree branches began scratching at the s in the storm

If the weather had ever depicted the mood of a situation, then it couldn’t have been ht now

"Si, Maaze off my Pix Lexi’s eyes stayed locked on mine too