Page 46 of Finish Line

I jump up and go to her. “I’m right here, beautiful. Wake up.”

She jolts up to a sitting position. “Cam!”

She darts her head around before her eyes find me. They are huge, her pupils blown out, making her eyes look almost black.

She dives for me and hugs me tight to her. “Tell me this isn’t a dream. Please, this can’t be a dream.”

“It’s not, beautiful. I’m right here with you.” I kiss her hair.

“Roger kept on stabbing you, and you died. It was horrible,” she cries.

“It’s just a nightmare, beautiful. I’m right here.” I rock her.

“Please don’t leave me. Stay here, don’t go,” she begs, her body vibrating with the aftereffects of her terror.

I hold her tight to me. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Her body relaxes, and I adjust us, so my back is against the headboard with her head on my lap.

Light puffs of air escape her parted lips, and I sweep a piece of hair off her forehead, giving me a better view of her face.

I tip my head back and try to fight sleep, but eventually, it drags me under.

Morning light shines through a crack in the curtains, beaming into my face, causing me to wake up before she does.

Shelby’s still fast asleep. After that nightmare, she didn’t wake up again. For the first time since I’ve been here, she slept more than a couple of hours, so I don’t move a muscle until she wakes up.

Eventually, light moves across the bed and falls across Shelby’s face, causing her to rouse.

Her body stiffens before she jerks back, rolling away from me toward the other side of the bed, stopping just short of falling off its edge.

“It’s all right,” I say.

She looks at me, taking in my position against the headboard and where she lay seconds ago. “Did you sleep like that?”

“Yeah, you had a bad nightmare. You reached out for me, and once you calmed down enough, you fell asleep on my lap.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you wake me or move me?” she says apologetically.

I shrug. “You seemed comfortable.” Then I wink at her. “And I enjoy you touching me.”

A slight blush rides her cheeks, so I change the subject. “I’m going into town today. Would you like to come with me?”

She chews on her bottom lip.

“I’m not planning on being out for long. I’m going to pick up something for Christmas dinner.”

“When is Christmas?” she asks.

Carefully, knowing how the holiday upset her before she left, I tell her, “Two days from now.”

“Don’t you want to spend it with your dad?” Insecurity radiates from her.

“No.” I’m still pretty pissed at him for dragging me away from everyone after I was released from the hospital, only for him to leave almost immediately back to the racing circuit. “I already told him I wouldn’t be around. He’s always in Florida this time of year and goes to his girlfriend’s house.”

“Your dad has a girlfriend?” She sounds curious.

“Yeah, I don’t know why, but he tries to hide it from me like I’m some small child who would be upset because she isn’t my mom. Honestly, I don’t care. She has two kids from another guy, and Dad has never taken me to meet any of them.” I shrug, a little hurt by the fact he’s playing happy little family with them while ignoring me unless it’s to criticize or demand I do something.

---