“He just left. They’re all gone. It’s just you and me.”
She nodded and looked back to her drawer, searching for her fluffy llama pajama top. “I’m sorry I bailed. I really wanteda shower.” Her finger trembled as she dug through the tops. Where was it?
“Are you okay?”
That quiet question made fresh tears gather in her eyes. She hated them. She didn’t want to cry. She wanted to rage and shout. God, she was tired of this. “I’m not sure. I wasn’t the one stabbed in the back, so I should be.”
“You still went through a lot, Addison.”
She pushed more clothes aside, noticing from her peripheral vision that he was moving toward her, closing that small bit of distance between them. “I’m sorry I’ve dragged you into this. I’m sorry that you have to deal with this and me and all my problems when you have enough on your plate. I’m sorry…” She couldn’t catch her breath, the air whipping in and out of her lungs.
Strong arms suddenly wrapped around her body from behind and covered her hands. “Addie, it’s okay to not be okay. You shouldn’t have gone through what you went through tonight.”
“You were part of it too.”
The muscles in his arms tensed. “If the asshole were here right now, I’d kill him.”
The quiet fury in his voice made all the fine hairs on her arms stand on end.
She closed her eyes, allowing the feel of his body surrounding her—his warmth and strength—to soothe some of the panic that had been sitting in her chest since she’d found Ellis.
“What can I do?” he whispered.
She shook her head and turned before pressing a palm to his chest. She meant to push him away, but for some reason, couldn’t. Maybe because she liked his closeness. Maybe because he made her feel safe, something she hadn’t felt in hours.
“Nothing. This is my problem.”
“Addie—”
“You were right to break up with me.” Jesus, the words hurt. Like razor blades against her throat. “You need to focus on you and your healing. I’m setting you back.”Selfish.The word flashed in her mind. He wasn’t just protecting her…he was protecting himself. And by fighting it, she was setting him back.
His hands went to her hips. “That’snotwhy I did what I did.”
“It should have been. And I should have left Amber Ridge after the first warning. Maybe then, Rhett wouldn’t have gotten involved with this guy and been killed, and Ellis wouldn’t have been hurt. Tomorrow, it could be you.” Her heart jackhammered at the thought.
“Addie—”
“But I can’t go back to Bozeman, in case he follows me and puts my parents in danger.”
“Addie—”
“I need to go somewhere else. It will give you the time you need to work through what happened. And maybe this person will forget about me.”
She’d thought there was no space between them, but he stepped closer. “Look at me.”
She didn’t want to, because he had the power to make her forget everything she needed to focus on. Getting out of Amber Ridge. Keeping those she loved safe. But when his thumb slipped beneath her shirt and grazed her skin, she inhaled sharply and looked up. And those intense eyes made her feel everything she knew they would.
“You’renotgoing anywhere.” He said the words slowly. Firmly. Like that was the only way she’d hear or understand. “I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have asked for a break. I got scared, and I’m sorry. But I’m hoping like hell you’ll forgive me.”
She searched his eyes. “I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.” Her voice cracked in the middle of her words. “I don’t wantyouto get hurt.” Physically. Emotionally. Hurt in any way. ShelovedNoah. And if anything happened to him…
“The only thing that will hurt me is losing you.” His hand slid up her side before cupping her cheek. “Don’t leave me.”
She closed her eyes and leaned into his palm.
“I missed you.” Her quiet words slipped into the air, soft but also so incredibly heavy.
He lowered his forehead and touched it to hers. “These last few weeks have been hell without you.”
