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Eli’s already shaking his head. But I cross to Harper and pull her back against my body.

“Not today, princess.” Maybe not ever. “Today is for resting.”

Eli meets my gaze over Harper’s head. He gives me a subtle nod. If we have to, we’ll get all the footage taken down, but for now, we’re here to take care of our girl.

CHAPTER 35

The Testimony

Harper

All I seem to do anymore is wake up and then go back to sleep. Kenz stayed for a little while until it was obvious I was fading again. Then we went back to Caden’s room, where I took a nap.

We had dinner. Mom checked me over and found nothing concerning. She rebandaged my feet. When we returned upstairs, the guys put on a movie and that was it for me. It’s frustrating not remembering anything, but even more frustrating how tired I am.

But every time I wake up, I’m safe in someone’s arms. Which is good.

When I open my eyes, the light creeps in around the edges of the curtain. It must be morning. For the first time, I feel rested when I wake up. I’m in Jack’s arms with him curled around me protectively on the bed.

His breathing is even, and I don’t know if he even realizes I’m awake. He managed to get some extra sleep before Homecoming but probably not enough.

He’s also injured and needs the sleep to heal. My heart skips a little. I was there when he was hurt. He told me he was with me.

When I try to turn to face him, his arms clench tighter around my waist, and he lets out a low growl. It wasn’t a playful growl, but an aggressive one.

I freeze. No one is on the bed in front of me. There’s no sound from anyone else in the room.

“Jack?” I whisper, but he doesn’t respond. I don’t know what to do. He’s not awake.

The edge of the bed shifts next to my feet, and a hand touches my leg. I jump a little.

“Easy, little nympho. It’s okay.” Caden rubs my calf for a moment and my muscles release. “He’s probably remembering the van when he couldn’t hold you.”

I blow out a breath. Would I even remember that part? Is that one of the memories playing keep away in my mind?

“Jack.” Caden’s tone is light and gentle. His hand never leaves my leg. “Hey, man, time to wake up.”

Jack squeezes me lightly this time. His arms relax just a little like having Caden nearby helps him. His breath flutters my hair near my ear. But he doesn’t wake.

“We just need to give him a moment.” Caden moves slowly until he’s lying in front of me, staring up at the ceiling with his arm tucked under his head. He’s already in jeans and a t-shirt. “When he wakes, he’ll realize what he’s doing. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I could lie here all day if that’s what Jack needs. “It’s weird not knowing.”

Caden turns his head, and his green eyes search mine. But he doesn’t ask for clarity.

I blow out a breath. “We went through this really traumatic thing, and I feel like I just sleepwalked through it. I’ve had some flashes of emotions, but that’s it. My friends and my boyfriends were traumatized. I want to be there for them and you, but how can I if I don’t even know what happened.”

It’s too much. I figured I’d have those memories back now. That I would remember everything. That like Jack, I would cling to him for all I’m worth and never let him go.

I’m here. He won’t go through it alone, but part of me needs to know. Part of me wants my memories. It’s just another thing Zach and Tanner took from me.

Caden brushes his knuckle through the tear slipping down my cheek. “Maybe your memories will come back. Maybe they never will. But you survived, little nympho. And they all survived with you. That’s what matters. Not remembering every detail.”

My brow furrows. “But what about the case against Zach and Tanner? How can I help if I don’t remember?”

If Zach and Tanner get by with a hand slap because I’m not able to remember what they did, that would be on me. They both tormented me, but it’s always been my word against theirs. They need to be locked up.

“I doubt they’ll need you to testify at the trial. They’ll have plenty of evidence without putting you through that.” Caden tucks my hair behind my ear. “Besides, you were drugged. Even if you could remember, the defense would jump all over that fact. Call you unreliable. None of them will get away with this. You being drugged is evidence. They were sloppy. Went too big.”