Page 91 of Smooth Sailing

“I think yes. If you got it in you to share, I think she feels very alone and that’ll make her feel less of that.”

I nodded.

“Go now. Get it done. Let’s see where she’s at so we know how big a job we got ahead of us.”

I nodded again, pushed out of the couch and headed to Suzette’s room.

I didn’t know if Hugger was a light sleeper and I didn’t want to wake him if he was. I also didn’t want to invade Suzette’s privacy.

So I tried to strike a happy medium, opened the door, stuck my head in, words of greeting on the tip of my tongue.

They died before they were formed when I saw her quickly drop her hand with her phone in it and tuck it under her thigh where she was sitting cross-legged on her bed.

And the look of sheer terror on her face made my mouth get dry.

I slipped in and closed the door behind me.

“What was that?” I asked.

Her eyes darted this way and that, like she was trying to form an escape plan.

I came closer. “Suzette, what was that?”

“You’re gonna be mad,” she said in a small voice.

“I’m not gonna be mad,” I assured her.

“I think I need to go someplace else,” she informed me.

My heart started beating really hard.

“Like where?”

“Somewhere away from you. Somewhere away from the guys.”

I took another step closer. “Are the men frightening you?”

She shook her head and did it hard, her face beginning to crumble. “No. No. They did at first, but they’re all real nice.”

Cautiously, I sat on the side of her bed. “Talk to me, Suzette. What’s happening?”

Her face finished crumbling and she dropped it into her hand.

God.

“Can I touch you?” I asked.

She nodded her head but didn’t take it out of her hand.

I scooched closer, and careful of her injured arm, I drew her into both of mine.

She still didn’t pull her face out of her hand as she cried into my T-shirt. She cried quiet, but there were big gulps and body heaves to share how hard she was doing it.

I let her have at it, and it lasted a really long time.

When it started to let up, I whispered, “Stay here. I’m gonna get some Kleenex.”

I shot out of the room, hit the laundry/storage area that was on the other side of the hall, nabbed a new box of tissues, and hauled ass back.

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