Page 45 of Finish Line

My gaze roams over her exposed skin. Most of her bruises are gone, and the cuts and scrapes have healed nicely. “Your eye is back to normal, too.”

She takes a drink of her Dr. Pepper, not looking at me, but at the ocean once again. “I overheard some of your conversations. You don’t have to stay here with me.”

I have to stop myself from reaching out to her. But I make sure she can hear the earnestness in my voice. “Shelby, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“If that was true, why are you avoiding me?” Tears fill her eyes.

“When I arrived, I promised to give you space. That’s what I’m trying to do,” I say softly. “I don’t want to push you to do something you don’t want, even if I want nothing more than to be near you. But…” Mav was right. I need to talk to her. “Shelby…”

She stands, making me stop what I’m about to say, and walks to the banister. This time, her gaze on the ocean is hard, less lost. She shakes her head. “I’m not making sense. I ran away because I need space, yet I’m pissed off that you're giving me space here.”

She spins around. “Do you think it will work? The idea you were talking about with Mav?”

Hope blossoms in my chest, and I lightly tamp it down. “I’m not sure, but it might. Do you want to try?”

“Yes. If you don’t mind.” Shelby’s voice is a little unsure, but still firm.

“Of course, I don’t mind. I’m here for you, Shelby. I’ll stand here and keep my arms down.” I stand up. “You come to me when you're ready.”

She swallows thickly and walks toward me. The vein on her neck is visible. My heart pumps out of my chest, and I want nothing more than for her arms to be around me again. But I stand still, with my hands at my side, waiting for her, always.

After a few more steps, she stands in front of me. “You come to my room every night to soothe my nightmares. I grab your hand and won’t let you go. I feel safe when you’re with me.”

She opens her arms and wraps them around my waist.

At first, she’s stiff as a board, then she relaxes. She lays her head on my chest, and my heart lightens.

“Can you slowly wrap your arms around me?”

“Are you sure?” I ask in my softest voice, not wanting to startle her.

Her cheek rubs against my chest as she nods. “Yes, I'll tell you if it’s too much.”

“Okay, here goes.” I raise my arms and wrap them around her.

Instead of being stiff, she settles into my arms. I want to pull her closer, but this is good for now. Suddenly, her body starts shaking, and tears dampen my shirt.

“Shelby?” Worried that I triggered her, I loosen my arms.

“Don’t!”

I freeze.

“Please, don’t let go,” she cries.

I relax and tighten my arms back around her, and she lets everything out. I don’t know what that asshole did to her, but if I ever find him, I’ll kill him.

Sobbing, she collapses in my arms. I pick her up and carry her to her room. I gently lay her on her bed, cover her with a sheet, and watch her for a while.

Once I’m sure she’s settled enough, I clean up the dinner dishes. I make it to the kitchen and grab the sink, my grip on it hard enough to snap a piece off.

It kills me inside not knowing what happened to her and that she insists on keeping everything bottled up so damn tight. But she took a big step tonight. She let me touch her, and she let out some emotions.

I can’t sleep upstairs, so I sneak back into her room and sit in the chair, watching her while she sleeps.

Her thrashing around and whimpering awakens me.

“No… Please, not him… Cam!” she screams out.

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