Page 52 of Finish Line

“Sure, beautiful. When you wake up, we can have dinner, then watch a Christmas movie?” he asks.

“Sounds wonderful.” I curl up on the couch.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHELBY

The days turn into weeks.

Then weeks turn into months, and before I realize it, the end of March arrives.

Three months since my escape. Ninety days cut off from physical contact with everyone except Cam.

The time away helped more than expected. Cam now touches me with no need for me to initiate contact. I talk to the guys weekly, and we’re working a lot out. I still haven’t told them everything that happened, but I need to.

They deserve to know.

Since he arrived, Cam’s started remote learning, while I dropped out and plan to take the test for my GED later. I just can’t concentrate on school like I should.

Cam’s birthday is in two weeks. I plan to invite everyone down here for the weekend and tell them everything that happened after we celebrate Cam’s birthday.

Before I can chicken out, I bite the bullet and call Nick first to find out his opinion.

“Hey, sis, what’s up?” he greets me.

“I need your advice,” I say. “Cam’s birthday is in two weeks, and I’m considering having everyone come here for a birthday party.”

“That’s a great idea. The guys will be happy to see you.”

“I’ll be happy to see them, too.” I listen to the background noise on his phone to gauge if now is a good time before I ask, “I was also thinking about telling everyone the full story about what happened to me.”

Nick takes a sharp breath in.

Before I lose my courage, I continue. “You should know. You deserve to know, but I don’t want to tell the story over the phone or Facetime. At the same time, I don’t want to ruin Cam’s birthday or everyone’s time here.”

“Telling everyone in person would be best. It could help heal you more, but only if you’re ready.”

God, I love Nick. He’s the best friend and brother I could have.

“And, Shelby, you won’t ruin his birthday. Just tell us when you’re ready. I don’t care if it’s in the middle of him blowing out his candles. Cam wouldn’t want you to hold back a second longer than you need to.”

Nick’s image lightens the topic, and I chuckle at the idea of Cam, his cheeks puffed up to blow out the candles on his cake, but he’s frozen like that.

“We can be there for a week. It’s spring break, so it’s perfect timing. We have to be back on the eighth of April.”

“Which is Cam’s birthday, so we’ll celebrate it before you leave. And I forgot about spring break, so yeah, that’ll work. He’s out grocery shopping, so I’ll talk to the twins and Luke. Then, can you all plan to be here on the third?” I ask.

Nick laughs. “No, school is done on March thirty-first, and if I know the guys, they’ll want to fly in that night.”

It wouldn’t surprise me if they skipped the last day. “Okay, I won’t have time to call Sam and Paige before Cam returns. Will you find out if they can come?”

“Are you okay with them being there for everything?”

“Yeah,” I say. “I filled Paige in on the vague details. Plus, she was amazing to me while the guys were hypnotized. She deserves to be here, too.”

“Okay, I’ll take care of that,” Nick says.

“I better call the guys. Cam’s going to be back soon,” I tell him. “I love you, brother.”

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