I sat down on the ground and plucked at some grass that was growing up through a crack in the concrete. A noise somewheredown the street startled me, and when I looked in that direction, my panic subsided when I saw it was just a squirrel.
I watched it hop down the road, flicking its tail and making a chittering sound, and then it disappeared around a corner. A shrill cry drew my attention to the sky, and I watched in awe as a large gray and white bird soared past.
I’d never been able to stop and study things when Hunter and Hayes would take me out. There’d never been moments where I could just pause and take in the world around me.
Moments where I could justbe.
“It’s all clear.”
Cain’s low voice rumbled behind me, and when I turned to look up at him, he was holding out his hand.
There was something about him that slipped past my walls and smothered me in the gentlest, most comforting warmth every time he looked at me. Every time he spoke to me. Like I instinctively knew he wouldn’t hurt me. I’d never felt that with anyone before, and it was as calming as it was unsettling.
I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet, pushing away the disappointment when he let go.
I followed him inside, and when he glanced back at me, his eyes flew down to my feet. “Oh, shit, you’re not wearing shoes. Damn it. Okay, stay right there for a second.” He started walking away, and I took a step. He whipped around and pointed a thick finger at me. “I mean it. Don’t move, I’ll be right back.”
He muttered something to himself as he turned and walked off down an aisle.
I glowered at his back until he disappeared, then looked down at my feet.
Shoes? I didn’t need shoes. I’d never worn shoes. It had never mattered before.
The crunch of his boots had me raising my gaze to his large form, and then my eyes dropped to his hands.
He was holding a ratty pair of shoes. They were brown, stained, and there was a hole in the toe of one.
“These’ll have to do for now, sorry. I can make you some that fit better when we get back.”
He got down on one knee in front of me, holding a shoe open near my left foot. His eyes were level with mine, and he nodded at the shoe. “Go on. Put your foot in.”
I didn’t want to—and I did. Because he’d found them forme.
I lifted my foot and immediately lost my balance, but Cain was there holding my arm, steadying me. “Put your hands on my shoulders.” He slid his palm down my arm and placed my hand on his shoulder for me, the warmth of him searing into my skin. I set my other hand on his opposite shoulder, curling my fingers over the hard muscle. “Good. Like that.”
He took his hand off mine and curved it around my ankle, guiding my foot into the shoe. It was a little big, and it felt really strange. Bulky. Scratchy. Heavy. I didn’t like the feel of the material scraping against my skin, smothering it.
But he’d gotten them for me. They were mine now.
I didn’t protest when Cain tightened the laces and tied them, didn’t say anything when he put the other shoe on and tied that, too.
When he stood and rested his hands on his hips, looking down at my feet with a soft smile, I decided I could put up with how strange it felt if it meant he was happy. That he would keep looking at me like that.
“How’s that? Feel okay?” His dark eyes searched mine, glinting in the dim light.
I nodded.
“Good. If your ankle gives you any trouble, call for me, okay?”
I nodded again, knowing I wouldn’t.
He let me wander around while he searched for what he needed. I didn’t find a stuffed rabbit, and there wasn’t much inhere, but I did find a book. I flipped through the thin, worn pages and listened to the distant sounds of Cain rooting through stuff on the other side of the building.
I jumped when a triumphant “Ha!” rang out loudly from across the room. Heavy footsteps headed my way, and Cain was smiling when he turned the corner. He was clutching something shiny and orange coiled tightly in his hand.
“Found it. Fucking found it, I really wasn’t expecting there to be any left.” He glanced down at the book in my hands. “You can take that, if you want. Here, I’ll put it in my pack.” He held out his hand for the book, and after a moment of hesitation, I pressed it into his palm. He slung the pack from his back to put away the book and the coiled wire, cinching it tight when they were safely stored.
“Alright, mission accomplished. Ready to head back?”
