Page 80 of Catching My Dreams

“Ella,” Riley shouted before they could make it a step outside. She ran up the steps and carefully wrapped her arms around Ella. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied, but her blurry vision and the crack in her voice told another story.

Riley pulled back and sent her a pained smile. “Why don’t I believe you?”

Ella let out a watery chuckle. “I’ll be okay,” she said, but even that felt like a lie.

“You better be,” Riley said, and Ella was surprised to see the genuine fear in her eyes despite her teasing tone. “I quite like you, you know.”

“So do I,” Asher said, walking up behind his girlfriend.

Riley moved out of his way, falling back to let Ella’s best friend envelop her and Archie in a hug.

“I wish I could get my hands on that asshole,” he said with a sigh, his arms squeezing tighter.

“Noah got in a punch,” she told him.

“Good,” Asher replied, hugging her for several more seconds before reluctantly stepping back. He sent Noah a grateful nod, and then Chris was taking his place.

“You okay?” he asked Ella.

She forced a smile. “Peachy.”

“Liar,” he said, his eyes lowering to Archie. “How’s the little guy?”

“He’s alright.”

Noah moved closer to Ella and scratched the top of Archie’s head. “He was barking up a storm when I got here. Would have probably mauled Brett if he’d had the chance.”

“Absolutely,” Ella said, leaning into Noah. “But luckily, you arrived to save the day.”

“If I hadn’t left my keys behind…” He wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his chin on her head.

Ella didn’t want to even consider what might have happened if he hadn’t returned to the house. Maybe Brett would have left after giving her his message. Or maybe he would have done worse than backhand her.

She didn’t want to know.

“We got lucky,” she agreed in a murmur.

“What do you say we go get you settled in the pool house?” Riley said. “You can have a shower, and then we can get some food in you.”

A shower was precisely what Ella needed, and she was grateful that the other woman had seemed to know it. She wouldn’t begin to feel better until she’d washed Brett’s touch from her face and her wrists.

Ella’s eyes started to fill again, with gratitude or because of Brett, she wasn’t sure. She nodded, knowing her voice would betray her if she used it.

“Will you wait for the police officer while I drive Ella to the house?” Noah asked his stepsister. “She’s bringing out some stuff for Archie.”

“Of course,” Riley replied. “We’ll meet you guys there.”

“See you guys in a bit,” Chris said, stepping aside to let them pass.

Noah guided Ella down the steps, his hand a steady and comforting presence on her back. She focused on his touch, pushing everything else aside. As long as he was there with her, she could feel the illusion of safety.

“Is it okay if we take my car?” Noah asked. “I can come back with Chris later to get yours if you need it.”

“That’s fine,” she replied. “I won’t need mine.”

Because she would be too scared to go anywhere alone. Because she was too jumpy to be driving anywhere anytime soon.

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