Hazel slowly lifted her head, andGod, the view was devastating. Her face all red from crying, her beautiful eyes tainted with hurt. She looked like someone who had been ripped open from the inside.
“I’ll never be late again,” I whispered, as she finally met my eyes.
“Luke,” Hazel said, her voice so small I nearly missed it, her gaze flooding with so much relief, it broke me in half. I pulled her into my arms, just as she was reaching for me, and held her like I was holding the last good thing I had left.
“I’ve got you,” I murmured into her hair, kissing her temple. “You’re safe.”
Her voice was cracked, torn from the weight of her tears, and yet her words cut through the storm of rage inside me, clear as glass.
“Please... take me home.”
* * *
After I checked her for injuries, which Hazel assured me she didn’t have, I drove us through the empty streets toward her apartment. My fingers closed over hers, squeezing gently, as if I could somehow protect her from everything that had happened. She stared out the window, silent, her body still curled inward like she hadn’t figured out how to be part of the world again. I knew I couldn’t force her to talk. She needed space.
We were walking up to her floor when Hazel stopped abruptly in front of me.
“What is it?” I asked, climbing the few steps separating us.
She looked down, shaking her head, pinching the bridge of her nose as though it could keep her from falling apart.
“Hazel,” I whispered, placing my hands on her shoulders and rubbing them gently. She opened her eyes, which had started to fill up with tears again. My chest tightened.
“I...” She exhaled a heavy, broken sigh. “I forgot my stuff. My phone, my keys, everything.” Her voice quivered, and I felt her shoulders tremble with each whispered word. “I... I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” I murmured, gently cradling her red, tear-streaked face in my hands, my thumbs brushing over her soft skin. “It’s okay.” I put my arms around her, feeling her small sobs shudder through me as she buried her face in my neck.
“And the café, Thomas, I have to call Thomas. Oh my God, I left everything there,” she was starting to spiral, shock finally hitting her hard.
“Shh, sweetheart,” I soothed, and she gripped my arms suddenly and sobbed louder.
“And Mady. She doesn’t know I’m—”
“She does,” I whispered. “I texted her. She knows you’re safe.” I pressed my lips to her forehead and tightened my hold around my sweet girl.
“Hazel, look at me.” She hesitated, but finally raised her gaze to me. “We’ll call Thomas and explain everything. And Alex lives nearby, I’ll ask him to patch up the window for now, and tomorrow we’ll fix everything up, okay? You don’t have to worry about anything right now.” Her breathing slowly started to subside as I held her gaze, trying to calm her down.
“Come stay with me tonight,” I said, gently placing the loose curl behind her ear. Her eyes widened, hiding a world of emotions behind them. But mostly exhaustion. “Let me take care of you. Just for tonight. Please.”
After a moment, she nodded, and I pulled her into my arms again. This time, she hugged me back, her shoulders softening, her body melting into mine, as I tightened my hold.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely there. I smiled, lacing my fingers with hers, a silent promise in my eyes.
And then I took her home with me.
Where she belonged.
48
Luke
We came to my apartment and I sent her to shower as soon as we stepped in.
“I’ll find some spare clothes for you. Extra towels are on the shelf.”
I didn’t have much that would fit her, but luckily, in the farthest corner of my closet, I found some old training pants that I had when I was sixteen, and added the same shirt Hazel made fun of on the trip. The clothes wouldn’t exactly fit her, but at least she wouldn’t drown in them.
I slipped into the bathroom to drop her clothes on the washing machine, but just as I turned to leave, a quiet sob stopped me. My hand tightened on the door handle, while every particle in me fought not to step into that shower. I leaned my forehead against the door and closed my eyes, imagining holding her.
