Shrugging, I gesture to the notes. “What about them?”
Rory points at them, but his focus is on me. “What do they mean?”
Nausea roils in my gut. A chill creeps up my back, causing every muscle in my body to tighten. “John put a heavy emphasison remaining…pure until marriage, especially when I became a woman. He’d quote scripture, send me to chastity camps in the summer, if I wore shorts or a skirt, he’d measure to make sure the hem was only three inches from my knee, and he’d have me read books about being a good homemaker. I practically hadThe Good Wife Guidememorized.”
Rory rears his head back. “The hell?”
Luke looks like he’s ready to kill some people. “That’s fucked up.”
The muscles along Hunter’s jaw tense, his voice sounding gritty. “You can’t be serious?”
I don’t have an answer for them. It’s the truth. That was my life. I know it’s despicable, but at the time, I thought John was looking out for me. When he was taken away, it was like finally being able to see. I realized that no decent father wants their daughter to marry a controlling, entitled man, going from one warden to the next. A loving father doesn’t tell her to live her life cowering to an angry partner and catering to their every want and need. A good father teaches his daughter to be strong, to think for herself, and to fix things on her own.
“Thank you for trusting us,” Hunter’s tone is gentle as he wraps an arm across my shoulders and pulls me close.
I breathe in the comfort he offers me, allowing it to strengthen my soul and remind me that I don’t have to live the life that John tried to force on me.
“Let’s get you off the floor, Dream Girl.” Rory stands, offering me a hand.
Placing my hand in his, he lifts me to my feet, then guides me out of the closet and into the bathroom. He turns the handle in the shower, and steam slowly builds, climbing up the glass shower walls.
Placing his lips on my forehead, Rory whispers, “We’ll let you wash up.” Then he walks out, leaving the bathroom door cracked.
Slipping out of my clothes, I let them drop to the tiled floor. As I step under the hot water, I relax my shoulders and let the heat loosen my muscles. A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips.
I’ve chosen my own life.
Washing myself quickly, I rinse off and shut off the water. As I wrap a towel around myself, I find a small stack of clothing waiting for me on the counter. When I dig through the pile, I find a green silk sleep top, matching shorts, and panties. I dress and make my way out of the bathroom.
I don’t see Rory or Luke, but Hunter sits on the edge of my bed, wearing a pair of boxers and nothing else, the comforter pulled back. He’s hunched forward, and his elbows rest on his knees. I can’t help but admire the sharp lines of his body, the rigid muscles that make up his form.
When he finally looks up, our eyes meet. A sense of security warms my body as he reaches his hand out to me. I take it, and he pulls me close, positioning me to stand between his legs. He peers up at me, his eyes scanning every inch of my face.
“I’m okay,” I assure him.
Hunter nods and rises to his feet. He lifts me into his arms and spins, laying me down in the middle of the bed. He takes up the space next to me and turns me on my side so my back rests against his chest.
My eyes are closed for just a few seconds when I hear Rory say, “I haven’t had a sleepover since I was a kid.”
With an expression of disbelief, my mouth hangs open as I get an eyeful of two bare chests. “Are you really about to squish together on my bed?”
Rory shrugs, lifting the covers and waving his hands at the small amount of space. “Why not?”
A rush of air escapes my lungs in doubt. “There’s no room.”
“Sure there is—” Luke starts.
“Just get in the damn bed. I’m tired,” Hunter snaps.
“You don’t have to be grouchy about it.” Rory frowns comically and gestures for Luke to get into bed first, then Rory settles in second.
Luke moves all the way forward, leaving little space between our bodies. He clasps my hands in his. “We’re here for you, Trouble. You’re not alone anymore.”
CHAPTER 30
RORY
Savannah throws her head back against the seat. “Do I have to be blind folded for this?” She rolls her head from side to side; her eyes covered with the silk fabric I placed on her earlier.
