Page 40 of Fool Me Once

I can’t fucking take it anymore. I can’t stand to hear her this scared and sad.

“Gem,” I say softly as she flails, her entire face crumpled with tears rolling down her cheeks. “Gemma, it’s me. Wake up.”

Her body is covered in sweat, and I feel like my whole entire soul is being mutilated just from witnessing this and knowing that she had to live this fucking nightmare in real life.

Her eyes fly open, wide with panic, and she sits up in bed. Once she realizes I’m here, another emotion takes over.

Shame.

“You’re okay, baby.” The words slip out before I can stop them. “You’re safe.”

Her chest rises and falls as she pulls in more shaky breaths, trying to calm herself down.

“Smith,” she croaks out.

“That’s right; it’s me.” I nod, moving my hands to her cheeks. “Just breathe, okay?”

I fight back tears of my own, just wanting to be strong for her. I’m supposed to be the one person she can lean on right now, but even I feel like I’m in over my head.

I don’t know how to fix her, but I know one thing: I’ll never fucking stop trying to help her.

“Can you stay with me?” She pulls her knees closer to her body, her lips quivering. “Please?”

“For as long as you’ll let me, I’ll be right here,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her and kissing the top of her head. “Just know you’re safe, Gem, I swear.”

She sniffles, nodding her head against me. I feel her tears soaking my shirt as I continue to hold on to her. I meant what I said; I will stay for as long as she’ll let me. And when the day comes when she wants to leave, I’m going to beg her to stay.

I threw the girl away once, but I’m never going to make that mistake again.

Slowly, I lie down on the bed, pulling her against my side, and for once, she doesn’t fight me.

“Gem,” Smith’s voice whispers, and I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming.

“Gem, wake up,” he whispers again.

This time, dreaming or not, I decide to pry my eyes open.

The second my eyes land on his, everything that happened last night—it all comes back to me. The nightmare, him waking me up … me asking him to stay with me.

Cringe.

I’ve tried so hard to hide how messed up I am from everyone, including him and even his sister. Now, he knows the truth. How could he not after last night?

He’s fully clothed, wearing the same thing he had on last night. He stayed with me, holding on to me tightly, and never once attempted to make a move.

He must know how truly fucked up I am and is scared—because the Smith Sawyer I know … he’s a move maker.

“Coach wants us at the stadium for a meeting. Do you want to ride with me? You can hang out in the truck or explore the stadium since it shouldn’t take long.” He brushes my hair away from my forehead. “If we leave in the next fifteen minutes, we can swing into Starbucks.”

“You should have led with that. Always lead with Starbs, Smith,” I say, my voice throaty. “Yeah, I’ll go.”

He grins, his eyes twinkling. He reaches down and pats Storm. “All right, get dressed, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few.”

When he scooches off the bed, my mouth opens before I can stop it.

“Smith?”

Turning, he tips his chin up. “Yeah?”

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