Page 3 of Unexpected Heroine

For now, all I care about is that I’m with James. He’s saved me. He’s in control.

So long as that is real, I’ll be fine.

My alertness returns when he stops at another door and slowly sets me down.

It’s the men’s locker room.

The air in my lungs vanishes as I realize I’m about to be left alone.

He tugs open the door, attempting to usher me in.

I put up a piddly amount of resistance, pointing at the word Men on the door. “I can’t go in there.”

Assuming he’s going to enter without me, I prepare to be left alone. My neck swivels, allowing me to survey the expansive space of the gym. Instinctively, I gather my arms in front of my stomach and shift my back to rest against the wall for some semblance of protection.

He huffs with a tinge of annoyance and tugs me toward the door. “You’re not leaving my side.” He scoops me up again.

“Oh, thank goodness.”

Although this seems like a safe space, I don’t want to be alone.

Maybe never again.

James sets me down again when he comes to a wall of lockers. He enters his code on the keypad to open the door.

Reaching into a bag, he retrieves a pair of sweatpants. “I don’t have a shirt in here. I’m sorry, sugar. I’ll give you mine.”

“No. This is good enough. I’m covered on top.”

“Yeah, but I want that filthy thing off you.”

Same.

But the shirt isn’t the source of the filth.

He kneels in front of me, holding the pants open. I step into each leg with one hand on his shoulder to steady myself. I roll the waistband over twice to avoid tripping over the extra length.

Given my weary state, it’s a strong possibility. A tired Lettie is statistically ten times more accident-prone.

Next, he pulls out some flip-flops. “Glad I keep these here for using the shower. You’d never be able to walk in my sneakers.” He’s still squatting, so he slips them on my tired feet for me.

Seeing him down there, caring for me this way, threatens to split my heart in two.

I don’t know whether the emotion overload is from how lovingly he’s handling me or because of how much I missed him. Regardless of why, I’m seconds from breaking down. A swarm of heavy emotion rises from my gut, strangling my windpipe. The effect is compounded by an underlying fear that this is all a hallucination.

What if this isn’t real?

“James?” My voice quavers, desperation hitting me in powerful waves. “This is happening, right? I’m not dreaming? You really saved me?”

He stands swiftly, cupping my cheeks with utter tenderness. “Yes, it’s real. You’re safe, sugar bear. I’ve got you, and I won’t leave your side. I promise.”

Tears I’m too weak to stop stream down my cheeks. He encircles me, folding himself around my body. I soak up every ounce of solace he offers.

Once I nearly get a grip on the tears, my muscles start twitching as a sudden bout of tremors skirts through my body. My knees quiver, and my lungs flutter in my chest. “Why-why am I sh-shaking?”

“It’s probably the adrenaline leaving your body, sweetness. Don’t worry. I got you.”

He keeps me close until the shaking ebbs.

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