They’ve helped me process my reactions to Sawyer, to thistown. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect any relationship, let alonethisone. When I returned to Blue Ridge, it was temporary. When I arrived, I hated Sawyer.
Before tonight, I thought I figured out what I wanted. To stay here, with him.
But now? Even when we were younger, at least he showedfeelingstoward me, even if they were the wrong ones. Tonight was different. Sawyer’s never been that cold.
Because I hurt him.
My chest pulls tight. I don’t want to lose him.
I already have.
I shove the invasive thought away. It can’t be true. Not that quickly, not without a fight.
Turning to Tess, I sit next to her and put my arm over her shoulders. Sawyer comes back with a glass of water and the first aid kit Gia keeps under the kitchen sink. He kneels in front of her.
“Tell us what happened,” he says, voice so warm for her.
He begins tending to cuts I hadn’t noticed on her bare arms and legs, reminding me of the way he cared for me during the blizzard. I blink and focus.
Tess sniffles. “It was CJ. He showed up completely wasted. I opened the door without looking—I was so stupid.”
“No,” I say vehemently. “This isn’t your fault.”
Tess hiccups. “He shoved his way in and broke my phone.” She lets out a humorless laugh and looks at me. “I was talking to my brother.”
Sawyer stands, phone already in hand and shoving it toward Tess. “Dial Nash’s number.”
She does, and Sawyer steps away, phone to his ear. Even though he’s only ten feet away, I want to go to him, stay close.
“What happened?” I whisper.
Tess’s eyelashes flutter. “I couldn’t get out, so I ran inside. He followed. I made it to my bathroom, and locked the door. He was banging and shouting, then it was quiet for a long time. At least an hour, maybe more.” Her voice starts to wobble as Sawyer comes back. “I knew he hadn’t left, so I stayed in the bathroom. Then, he started talking to me through the door. Really sweet-like. When I didn’t give him the answers he wanted, I swear he was going to break down the door, he was so mad.”
I pull in a deep, shaky breath. “How’d you get away?”
”Broke the bathroom window.” She laughs, an incredulous, almost prideful laugh. “I just jumped out!” Her voice is high-pitched, maniacal. Then she turns serious again. “I’m so sorry to involve you. I remembered what you said last—last time this happened. I remembered Gia’s address. Two Emerson Ave. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“This was exactly the right thing to do,” I tell her.
The doorbell rings again, and Tess lets out a startled shriek.
“It’s your brother,” Sawyer says.
Tess’s eyes go wide. “Oh no, he’s too busy to deal with my mess.”
What?
As Sawyer leaves to answer the door, I take her by the hand and make her meet my eyes. “Tess, listen to yourself. You’ve got to let Nash in.”
She shakes her head. “But I’m fine.” She tries for a smile, and it’s nothing short of horrific.
Something weighty falls into place in my brain with a satisfyingclick. Tess has kept a part of herself hidden. Not for the same reasons I’ve done, but the end result is the same: she’s isolated herself from someone who cares about her.
I put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Tess, listen to me. Nash cares about you. We all care about you. You aren’t a burden to the ones who love you. Let him in. He deserves that much. ”
My heart lurches as Sawyer’s words come back to me in full force.I love you so much.
He deserves more, too.
