Page 146 of Hold Me Until Morning

I guessed I’d rather think something bad of him rather than think that something bad might have happened to him. Because there was a speck of alarm that stewed in the periphery. A warning that flared.

I nearly bolted off the couch when headlights finally cut through the night and lit up behind the front windows.

Relief heaved from my lungs, and Lolly chuckled a low sound as she pushed from the couch. She turned and set her hand on my cheek.

Her gaze went soft and sincere. “Demand respect from him, Hailey, always, but keep your heart open. I know that jerk did a number on you, and I don’t want you missing out on something great because you’re scared of a repeat.”

“I think I’m scared of everything right now, Lolly.”

Her thumb traced over the apple of my cheek.

Warmth spread with the same love and care she’d covered me with over the years.

The way she’d always been there for me. Taking care of me like a mother, filling the spaces that could have remained hollow and turned bitter, but instead, she’d turned them into beautiful memories.

“You’re fighting, though, and that’s the one thing that matters,” she said. “Fight against the chains. Fight against what’s cruel and wrong. Just don’t fight against the things that might bring you joy.”

Setting my hand over hers, I leaned into her touch. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know where I’d be right now without you.”

Her grayed eyes swam. “You’d be just fine, that’s where, but I sure am glad I get to be here to experience all of this with you.”

The lights cut out from the front, and she sent me a slow grin. “I think that’s my cue. I’ll be in my room if you need me, though that man seems to have things handled.”

I shook my head behind her as she shuffled for the hall, my heart aching and full, and I whispered, “Goodnight, Lolly. I love you.”

“I love you more, sweet child.”

Once she disappeared into her room, I stood from the couch, far too eager to see the man who’d only been gone for a couple hours.

I slowly edged to the front door when it seemed to be taking him far more time to come inside than it should have.

Tendrils of that worry spread, vines that slithered across the floor to wrap around my ankles and curl up my legs.

I hesitated for a few seconds before I gathered my courage and told myself to suck it up because I was being ridiculous.

Unlocking the door, I slowly opened it.

The lamp that hung on the wall sent a yellowed glow over the porch, and I frowned when I found Cody sitting on the white wicker loveseat that sat against the exterior wall on the right.

He was leaned far forward with his head drooped between his shoulders.

“Cody?” I whispered it.

Anxiety bottled my senses.

Something sticky that slicked over my skin in a flash of awareness.

Something wasn’t right.

I could feel it.

Taste it.

He lifted his head.

A gasp ripped up my throat.

Blood was smeared across his face, streaked where it looked like he’d used his shirt to try to wipe the evidence away. No chance of that since it was dried and caked and matted in his hair.

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