Forever Breathing (Just Breathe #3) Read Free Page A

water drains back down and I will my legs.
    “Hey, James, how are you?”
    “I’m good. How’s she doing today?”
    “Better with each day that passes. Jack is in there right now.”
    “Good, because I’m going back to land and I need to break it to her.”
    She snickers, “Oh this should be good.”
    I nod, rolling my eyes, knowing she is right on. I head for the sitting area situated in this room. I sit down in a chair and glance around the room. When the water is gone, the walls sparkle as if pieces of glitter are infused in them. The only thing I can relate to is how they look.
    Amber strolls back in after a minute and sits in front of me.
    “They will be right out.”
    I ask curious, “Is she up and getting around now?”
    “Yes, she came out last night to get her muscles moving again. She keeps hassling me about the air though. She wants her fin back.”
    I chuckle, “Amber, if we were keeping her in water, she would ask for air. Thatt sor air.’s just Ever.”
    She smiles, “Sometimes I don’t understand you guys.”
    I laugh, “Don’t even try, especially Ever.”
    Another voice pipes in, “What should she not try?”
    I shake my head and get up, rubbing my hands on my shorts. I glance over at Amber and she gives me a sympathetic grin.
    I gather my sister in a big hug making sure to stay away from her side. I look over her shoulder at Jack who looks so much different now. His face is completely at ease, the misery and worry I was used to seeing is just about gone.
    I push her an arm’s length away and tease, “Hey, I’m so glad to see you up and moving around.  I think you’re going to live now.” I smirk.
    She punches my shoulder and turns back to glance at Jack. He walks up and puts his arm around her shoulders.
    I look from him then back to her and stammer, “I’m really glad Jack is here. Ever, I think I need to go home.” I wait for a reaction and there is almost no emotion on her face.
    She looks up at Jack and back at me, “I think I’ll be okay. I knew you would want to go back.”
    I have to hide my astonishment at her reaction. What happened to my sister? Jack nods his head at me and removes his arm from my sister holding it out to shake my hand. I grasp his hand still not sure if she’s going to tell me she’s only kidding.
    “James, thank you for your support. I promise you that I will keep Ever safe.”
    I shake his hand, really at a loss for words. This went way better than I thought it would.
    Ever steps up, “Actually I think I’ll walk you out.”  She stresses the word, walk and looks back to Jack. He assents, shaking his head at her, “Ever, just be careful. Your side will probably hurt the first time you ‘will’ your fin back.”
    A huge sloppy grin spreads across her face and she walks ahead of me to the door. She looks back at me and the door opens as water rushes in. I will my fin and watch her effortlessly do the same. A wince crosses her face and I hold my breath but the creases in her forehead fade as she swims forward. I look back one last time. Jack and Amber both wave.
    I follow Ever out into the water. Debris is still scattered across every path visible from the battle. Slowly they are clearing it, very slowly.
    Abruptly, Ever turns to face me.
    “I need you to answer something before you go.”
    “Okay. What is it?”
    “Where did Alex go?” Worry crosses her features and she winds her long auburn hair around her hand. I knew she’d ask, I thought she probably asked Amber or Jack already.
    “Ever, we don’t know where he went. No one found his body so maybe he left. Maybe he got out.”
    She takes a deep breath as if she was holding it in, waiting for my answer. The worry doesn’t leave her face.
    “But how do you know? There were lo There so many bodies, how would we know? Jack said the others were dead, did they find them but not Alex?”
    Walking a thin line here.
    “Ever, Jaspen was interested in finding him. He had crews looking for