I grabbed onto Caleb without thinking. My fingers dug into his shirt, clutching him.
My skin still burned where Jeremy’s hands had been. The sensation lingered—phantom pressure along my wrists, my ribs aching as if I’d truly been pinned down. My muscles trembled uncontrollably, weak and spent, and a dull soreness spread through my limbs. Sweat soaked my hairline and slid down my temples, my heart slamming so hard against my chest it made me dizzy.
It was just a dream!
Caleb wrapped his arms around me instantly, firmly, pulling me against him. One hand cradled the back of my head, the other pressing flat between my shoulder blades.
“It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice thick, strained with something deeper than calm. “You’re safe. It’s over now.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and let myself collapse into him, my body finally registering that I was safe. My pulse throbbed painfully in my neck. My mouth was dry, my fingers tingling as though the fear was still trapped inside my bloodstream. When I finally pulled back, just enough to breathe, I saw his face clearly.
The lamp beside me cast a warm, golden glow over his features, but it couldn’t soften the look in his eyes. They were dark with worry, jaw tight, brows drawn together. There was something else there, too—something sharp and aching. Pain. Helplessness. And beneath it all, a fierce, unmistakable protectiveness.
“I’m okay,” I said, filling the silence. “I’m okay now.”
He searched my face like he was cataloging every breath, every tremor, every crack in my composure.
“Are you sure?” he asked quietly. His eyes lingered on me as if he was bracing for me to break again. “You don’t look fine.”
“I… I’m okay,” I said, even though my body disagreed, even though my hands still shook faintly in my lap. “Just a bad dream.” It had been a while since I’d had a nightmare like this.
He didn’t believe me. I could see it in the way his gaze sharpened, the way his shoulders squared like he was preparing for a threat he couldn’t see.
“Nyah,” he said softly, holding my shoulders again gently. “What aren’t you telling me? Is someone trying to hurt you?” He tilted hishead, trying to catch my eyes, his thumb brushing my arm in a slow, soothing motion. “Let me help you,” he said in a firm voice. “Whatever it is, I can help you. I’ll keep you safe. I’ll keep Lucas safe. I promise.”
The word promise made my throat tighten. “Water,” I said, needing the space and the distance.
“I’ll get it.”
As soon as he left the room, I hurried into the bathroom and splashed water on my face. I needed to let go of this fear, and Tyrone was the only one who could help me.
Caleb returned with a glass of water, and I gulped it down.
“Nyah… I’m right here. Talk to me.”
I stepped back before he could see too much and before the truth spilled out. “It was just a nightmare,” I insisted, forcing steadiness into my voice. “Nothing more.” I couldn’t risk anything happening to him if he knew the truth.
I walked toward the kitchen, forcing myself to breathe, trying to pull myself together. Caleb’s eyes stayed on me—watching, assessing, as if he could see straight through the calm I was trying to manufacture.
“I’m fine,” I said softly. “I promise. You don’t need to worry.” I tried to sound convincing enough that he would leave, even though my body still felt shaky.
He looked unconvinced, his hesitation written all over his face, but he didn’t push for an explanation. Instead, he told me to call him if I needed him—any time.
After he left, I locked the door and went to the side window, peering out into the street. I waited for his car to emerge from the visitors’ lot, my eyes darting along the road in both directions, tension coiled tight in my chest. When he finally drove away, I went and checked on Lucas, who was sleeping peacefully.
Sleep evaded me for most of the night as the past refused to stay where it belonged—buried and silent. It hovered, pressing at the edges of my mind, demanding to be remembered.
27
CALEB
On the weekend, I picked up Nyah and Lucas, and we walked into Audrey’s Restaurant together. I had planned a surprise breakfast with Elle, Donna, and their families. I thought maybe keeping Nyah surrounded—keeping things light—might help.
I knew she wasn’t fine.
No matter how calmly she said it, no matter how carefully she held herself together, I could feel it in the space between us. Something was wrong, and it had been wrong for a while. What was she not telling me? Why could she never open up about herself—about her past, her emotions… about anything that truly mattered?
The nightmare she’d had wrecked me.
