Page 65 of Clean Point

‘How ever did you escape?’

‘Elena distracted him for a moment, and I snuck out,’ he said. ‘I had a feeling you’d be here instead of the court.’

‘I figured I’d destroyed enough rackets for one camp,’ I joked, but it wasn’t even like I was angry. It felt like somebody had thrown a bucket of water on the raging fire that had been fuelling me for the last few years, all my fight extinguished.

I let out a heavy breath, knowing I was safe here, watching the waves roll in with him. ‘I could’ve stopped this, Nico. I should’ve stopped it.’

‘You had your reasons.’

‘What if he does the same thing to somebody else?’

His hand found mine, fingers rough as his palm slid against my own and squeezed ever so tightly. ‘He might not. Jon’s going to find out who, and then we can go from there.’

I nodded, knowing he was right. ‘I … I knew I’d have to face him some day, but … I thought I’d at least have more than a few days’ notice.’

I closed my eyes, now able to face the truth. ‘Nico, I’m … I’m scared.’

‘He won’t be able to get to you,’ he promised.

‘He’ll always get his way. That’s why I ran, why I did all of this.’

‘I won’t let him.’ He shook his head, a stern look on his face. ‘He’s done hurting you. You ran when you needed to, but now, you’re strong enough to fight. I’ll be with you the entire time.’ Something flickered in his eyes as he bit his lower lip, releasing it before he spoke. ‘You aren’t alone in this.’

I breathed in the salt air, choosing to believe what he said. Whether it was my fault or not, he was right. I wasn’t alone.

‘You’ll be there?’ My voice was a stupid fragile thing, my mind cast back to the night before.

I only care that you’re okay and safe.

He smiled softly. ‘Even if it means I can’t leave your side.’

A single laugh escaped me, before I tilted my head looking at him. ‘I wouldn’t go that far.’

‘If it kept you safe, Scottie, I would.’ There was no humour left in his voice, his lips pressed into a firm line. Then, his body relaxing somewhat, he lifted the hat from his head and placed it on mine.

‘You keep leaving me with your lucky hat.’ I smiled, despite the size a little too loose on my smaller head, comfort, safety and the smell of his shampoo almost overwhelmed me.

He tilted his head to me, a knowing smile. ‘I don’t need it anymore. I’ve got you, katsarída.’

I loudly huffed, breaking the tension. ‘Not that nickname again.’

His smile was incomparable, teasing me with the name I hadn’t heard for weeks, as he leaned back into the sand.

‘Are you ever going to tell me what it means?’

He hummed, looking uncertain for a moment. ‘I’m not sure we’ll be friends after.’

‘It can’t be that bad, right?’ I urged, eyes glancing over his face, taking in the tight restraint on his face. ‘Right?’ I repeated,in a much smaller, less confident voice.

‘Look, I was being a dick when I said it. I didn’t really mean it.’

I thought back to the plane journey here. I felt like a different person, somebody who was holding onto a secret so tightly they could hardly breathe. Being with him, working and growing closer, I’d never been able to be so open with somebody, and feel comforted in the knowledge that I was truly safe with them.

‘Yes, you definitely did.’ I laughed, calling him on his bluff. He grimaced, but I pressed on. ‘Just tell me.’

He let out a deep breath. ‘It means … cockroach.’

‘Excuse me?’ I stared at him, slack jawed and confused.

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