Page 15 of Saved By Two

“I’ve got it from here,” I say, feeling self-conscious. “Thank you,” I add, feeling like an ungrateful brat.

When he’s sure I have my footing and won’t stumble, he releases his hold and walks back to the doorway, stopping to look over his shoulder. “I’ll be just out here. Call me if you need me.” And then he closes the door behind him with a soft click.

Lowering myself to the toilet, I let out a slight hiss, sore as I relieve myself, remembering how I woke up in a haze with my shorts around my ankles.

Shivering, I check the tissue as I wipe myself, expecting to see blood, but it comes away clean, which surprises me considering the bruising on my inner thighs and how sensitive I am between my legs.

I try to sniff back my tears, but it’s futile. The only time I’ve ever been this emotional was after my mum died. I move to flush the toilet. Blinking through the tears from my one good eye, I take stock of the room's opulence, feeling as though I’m tarnishing it with my mere presence. If this is the guest bathroom, I wonder what the main bathroom looks like. I didn’t appreciate its grandeur when I arrived here yesterday.

But standing here, looking at my horrid reflection, I realise what a fucking mess I am. My jaw and throat are bruised, and my eye is swollen shut. I squint, trying to open it, but give up with a soft hiss as I wash and dry my hands on the fluffiest hand towel I’ve ever used.

Or maybe my sense of touch is just heightened. Who the fuck knows? I feel like this is all some weird dream.

I lift my shirt next, look down at my stomach, and then back to my reflection to see the bruising across my ribs.

As worried as I am about my brother, now seeing myself in the light of day, I’d hate to think what he would have done if he was actually at home when I arrived on his doorstep, all fucked up.

My cheeks heat when I recollect Caleb helping me clean up in the shower, even when I blurted out about what Curtis did to me. Shivering, I try to ignore the feelings it evokes and remember how he and Noah cared for me—practically a stranger.

I comb my fingers through my hair as best I can. Surprisingly, it's not as bad as it could be. Looking down, I notice a new toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.

“Thank god,” I mumble to myself. It's bad enough being here like this, but my dignity is already rock bottom. At least I can keep up with my hygiene despite still feeling dirty and tainted. In my haste to grab some essentials when I left, I didn’t bother grabbing mine from the toothbrush holder.

Once I’ve cleaned my teeth and rinsed my mouth, I stare at my reflection again, unable to recognise the woman staring back at me.

But that’s a moot point. I need to think of what to do next, and fast.

Fuck, what if he finds me?

He’ll try and get me to come back. My mind fills with scenarios of what he’ll do when I refuse, which makes me physically shake. Because if he was capable of all of that before, now that he’s found me gone, he will be pissed. I know if there’s ever a next time, it will be the last.

A soft knock at the door disrupts me from my thoughts, and I let out a startled breath.

“Hey, Jessica. You doing okay in there?”

I clear my throat, straighten my shoulders, and open the door.

My breath catches in my throat. It’s easy to forget how handsome Noah is up this close, and it’s not like I had time to appreciate him yesterday. When they threw the party for my brother, I spent a few hours talking to him and Caleb. Noah was the more chatty of the two. But still, they never once made me feel uncomfortable.

“I grabbed you a pair of my joggers.” He holds them out towards me. “They’re clean, I promise,” he says with a smile.

My face heats with embarrassment because I realise I am openly staring. I take them from him and quickly close the door again without saying a word. I think I hear him laugh, but I can’t be sure.

Slipping into the softest joggers I have ever worn, I roll the waist so they fit a little better. What washing powder do these guys use, seriously?

“Just come down when you’re ready. Caleb made breakfast,” Noah calls out.

I nod and then shake my head at myself because he can’t see me, which makes my head pound even more. I softly rub my temples.

Waiting a minute or two, I try to collect myself as best I can, and then quietly, I make my way downstairs and towards the kitchen. I’m in as much awe now as I was when I came here the first time; their home is gorgeous.

When Caleb sees me, he moves to the counter and flicks on the kettle.

“Morning, do you want tea or coffee?” he asks. His hair is damp and slicked back like he’s fresh out of the shower.

I clear my throat. “Tea, please.”

“Sugar?”

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