Page 84 of Saving The Shortstop

“I was so scared,” she sobs, clawing at me. “I was so scared.”

My arms wrap around her, holding onto her tightly. “Me too,” I whisper honestly.

I’ve lived through some darkness, but nothing has ever had me as scared as I was today. Because I’ve never loved anyone else as much as I’ve loved Haven King.

“I’m right here, Short.” I rub her back, never wanting to let her go. “I’m right here.”

Noah and Coach rush through the door, but she doesn’t lift her head from my sweatshirt to see them, so instead, Noah kisses the top of her head, and Coach stands behind her, placing his hand on her back.

When Noah sees Gigi standing at the end of the hallway, crying by herself, he walks toward her, pulling her against his chest. She was here the entire time, and I know she must have been so scared too.

Coach walks toward the door when an officer enters, but I don’t drop my arms from Haven, and she shows no signs of moving either.

“I love you,” I murmur, kissing her hair.

Today isn’t going to be a day she simply gets over. It’s going to take time, that much is certain. But it could have ended very badly, and I know I’ll never take Haven for granted. Not for a single second.

THIRTY-SIX

HAVEN

Hot water pelts against my body as I stand under the showerhead, wanting to wash away everything about today. The police took Tabor into custody, though it’s clear he’ll be going into a psychiatric hospital. The expression on his face when he surrendered haunts me, and even though I shouldn’t feel bad for a man who held me at gunpoint, I can’t stop myself because truthfully, it was sad seeing him that way.

I half-ass wash my hair, unable to form enough strength to properly do it even though Dallas brought all my bath products to The Tower because I couldn’t stand to stay at The Nest any longer. After everything that happened just hours ago, that was the last place I wanted to be. I don’t know when or if I’ll ever be ready to go back because every time I see my bedroom, I’m afraid I’ll imagine Tabor, pressing that gun into my spine while forcing me to pack my bags.

The sound of the door cracking open startles me, and my heart instantly begins pumping faster.

“You okay, Short?” Dallas asks, and I relax, though it’s going to take a moment for my heart to settle.

“Yeah,” I say, reaching forward and turning the shower off before I slowly pull the curtain back.

He grabs a towel and takes a few steps toward me as I step out of the tub. He wraps it around me gently, careful not to move too fast. I hate that now he feels like I’m fragile.

And I hate even more that I really am.

“There you go,” he whispers, wiping my face. He helps dry me off more, and I stand here, frozen in place and completely numb. “Come on, your clothes are in my room. Don’t worry, everyone is in the living room.”

He wraps the towel around my body before taking my hand and leading me out of the bathroom and down the hall to his bedroom. When we walk in, I sink to the bed silently.

“Shit, I grabbed your clothes for tomorrow, but I forgot your pajamas.” Dallas cringes. “I can run over and get you⁠—”

“No,” I say weakly, interrupting because the thought of him leaving right now sends me into a panic. Even in the shower, he promised me he would be right outside the door. “Don’t go.”

My eyes find his, and he nods. “Okay,” he whispers. “What about a pair of my sweatpants and a T-shirt? Would that be good?”

“Yes,” I answer. “Thank you.”

Shortly after, he stands in front of me before kneeling down. “Can I help you get dressed?” he asks, and I know he’s scared now. Scared to hurt me. Afraid that I’m fragile and he’ll make things worse. He’s treating me like I’m going to break, and I hate it.

I nod my head, and hesitantly, he first pulls the sweatpants up over my legs, sliding them under the towel. He works slowly, keeping his eyes on mine the whole time. Once my sweatpants are on, he brings a T-shirt over my head, not removing the towel until the shirt falls over it—like he hasn’t already seen what’s underneath, though I do appreciate him being so gentle right now.

Leaning forward, he presses a kiss to my forehead. When I don’t move to get into the bed myself, he slides his arms around me and lifts me higher onto the mattress before setting me down then grabbing one of my huge plush blankets he brought over from The Nest and placing it over me.

“Thank you,” I say weakly. “Will you lie with me. Please?”

He drops onto the mattress beside me before pulling me back to his chest. I feel safe in this moment, but I know that when he has to leave or I have to finally face real life without him beside me, that feeling of security will be gone.

Tabor took it, and I don’t know when or if I’ll ever get it back.