Page 43 of Seen Knot Heard

I do as instructed, taking deep breaths as the hot water caresses my scalp. The sound of the shampoo bottle opening fills the air, and he starts at the nape of my neck, working his way upward with firm, deft fingers, massaging away the knots built by weeks of tension.

My toes curling against the bathtub, I bite back a moan.

As he works his way up to my scalp, his touch becomes feather-light, tracing the contours of my skull. The light spray of water returns, washing away the shampoo. The water stings my eyes a little, but I don’t care.

This is exactly what I needed.

Light fingers touch my arm. “Are these bruises from the fall at the construction site?”

I hear the question under the question and reach up to cover his hand with mine. “Yes, they’re from the fall. Louie never hit me.”

He breathes a sigh of relief and picks up the bottle of conditioner.

With the same level of tenderness as before, he gently works the comb through the tangles. “Are you doing okay?”

“Mmhm,” I hum, unable to form words.

“Good, I’m glad.” He rinses away the conditioner. “You can lean back now.”

When I do, a damp cloth cleans my face.

I blink away the last of the droplets and open my eyes.

Holden grins down at me. “There you are.”

I smile back. “Here I am.”

He moves to my injured arm, lifting it. With a damp washcloth, he wipes down my fingers, washing them as best he can. Then he uses a soft brush to clean under my nails, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Chloe…” His thumb grazes over my knuckles. “What happened that put you back at the hospital? It wasn’t for a checkup.”

A lump forms in my throat. “I stole my mother’s suppressants, and when my Heat came, I…I overdosed on them.”

Holden stills, his hand tightening around mine. “Did Louie…” He grits his teeth. “Did he try to force himself on you?”

A violent shudder runs through me at the memories. Louie’s hungry possessiveness, the way he pushed his touches on me, the smug assurance that I’d be his. “He never forced himself on me. He claimed to want me willing and would wait for my Heat to come. But…he came close a few days before I overdosed.”

All over again, I can feel his mouth on mine, his body climbing on top of me. “I was so upset about Grady, and he—” A sob escapes me. “He tried to take advantage…”

With a wounded noise, Holden pulls me against his chest, uncaring of the water. He holds me as I cry, rubbing soothing circles on my back.

“I’ve got you now, sugar. You’re safe.” His lips brush my temple. “No one will ever touch you again without your permission. I swear it.”

Turning my face into his neck, I breathe in his comforting vanilla cake scent and pray he’s right. That here, on Misty Pines, the monsters of my past can’t reach me anymore.

“I’m so sorry about Grady.” His fingers card through my wet hair, brushing the strands back from my tear-streaked face. “The doctors are still hopeful, though. I’ve been to visit him several times to check on how he’s doing. They say he could wake up any day now.”

Confusion breaks through my anguish, and I lift my head, blinking up at him. “What do you mean?” My voice wobbles. “Louie said Gradydied.”

Holden’s brow furrows as he searches my face. “No, sugar, that’s not true at all. Grady’s still in a coma, but his vitals are strong. There’s no reason he shouldn’t recover.”

“He’s…alive?” I hardly dare to believe it. “Grady’s alive?”

“Yes, he is,” Holden assures me. “Grady’s a fighter. He’s hanging on.”

A strangled laugh bubbles up from my chest, mingling with the tears still streaming down my cheeks. Relief crashes over me in dizzying waves. My best friend, my rock, the one person who’s always stood by me, didn’t die thinking I’d abandoned him.

He’s still here.

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