~LYDIA

My heart hammered loudly against my chest, and even though I was trying to hide how nervous I was, it seeped into my bones and wafted out of my body in waves.

Joey must have noticed how scared I was, because he reached forward to take my hand in his.

"Hey. Calm down. Close your eyes and take deep breaths, my love," he said softly. Following the sound of his voice, I did as he asked.

And while my anxiety did not totally go away, I still felt... a tiny bit better.

"Good girl. ...