Dropping my hands, I try to compose myself, but it’s hard. My lip is trembling, just like the rest of my body. Nash grabs my chin between his thumb and forefinger and turns my head to him, his gaze sad as he searches my eyes before leaning in to give me a quick peck on my lips. “You’re not alone, Sloan. I’m here. I’ve got you.” He strokes my cheek with his thumb, and I want to believe him so badly.
But I know better.
He’s herenow. But where will he be tomorrow?
“Everyone says they’ll stay until they leave,” I whisper, thinking about Saylor again. Maybe he didn’t leave intentionally, but that doesn’t change the outcome.
At the end of the day, it’s just me.
Alone.
Nash wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to his chest. “I’m not everyone.”
I bury my face in his chest, tears soaking through his shirt. “I don’t know if I can do this, Nash. It’s so dark, and I feel so lost.”
He holds me tighter, his warmth and presence a lifeline in my darkness. “You can, Sloan. You’re strong. You drove here in a shitty van from the other side of the country by yourself. You’re a total badass. And you have people who care about you, including me.”
What else is he supposed to say right now? Because he can’t possibly mean that.
I’m breaking down on him like a crazy person in the middle of the night. I take a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Nash leans down and presses a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Don’t be sorry. Everything will be all right. I’ve got you.” He leans back down and pulls me with him, arranging me so my head is on his chest and my thigh is over his waist while he strokes it over my leggings. With his lips against my hair, he mutters, “Try to sleep. I’ll hold you all night.”
I cling to him, desperately seeking solace in his embrace. The dream has left me shattered, but maybe, just maybe, I can navigate the darkness and find my way back to the light.
I know Nan would have wanted that for me.
FORTY-THREE
“Nash!Wake up. I told you I need you to watch Lio again today.” Hunter’s booming voice comes through the door, jolting me from sleep.
I feel warm and safe, and as I finally blink my eyes open, I realize I’m lying in Nash’s arms. Our bodies pressed together, my head tucked under his chin, and our legs tangled.
This is so nice.
A loud knock echoes from outside the door, prompting Nash to pull me closer, squeezing me tightly. “Five more minutes,” he mumbles into my hair before gently kissing my head.
The cozy, warm feeling enveloping me dissipates like a bucket of ice water thrown over me when the door swings open and Hunter enters. His eyes widen as he finds me in Nash’s bed. There’s a flash of irritation in his eyes, but he quickly masks it.
“Good morning, Shortcake,” he greets me.
“Morning,” I mumble, feeling my cheeks flush as I attempt to disentangle myself from Nash. However, he holds me even tighter.
“We’re down in five, okay?” Nash mutters, his drowsiness evident.
How can his raspy voice and tousled hair be so damn sexy?
“Let me out,” I whisper to him, and after some cute-as-fuck groaning, he reluctantly lets go of me and turns to continue napping.
“Nash,” Hunter hisses, growing increasingly agitated. “You know we have to get to the hospital. It’s a forty-minute drive, and we have to leave now.”
“Hospital? Are you okay?” I ask, standing from the bed, still fully dressed in the leggings and shirt I wore to bed yesterday.
“Yes, everything is fine,” Hunter reassures me gently before raising his voice to address Nash again when he hears him snoring softly. “For fuck’s sake!”
“I can look after Lio until Nash’s ready,” I tell him, placing a hand on his forearm.
Hunter’s gaze shifts from me back to Nash. “Fine. That would be amazing, thank you. But let Lio in Nash’s room to wake him if he takes too long.” He turns to leave the room, and I do too, closing the door after myself.
