Page 86 of Stranded

“Let it out, baby,” I whisper against her head as we all continue to hold her. Her fingers clutch my shirt tightly where her hands are trapped between us as she continues to cry.

I start humming a soft tune as I think about what set her off. I hate to see her upset, but in many ways, this was necessary. She needed to tell us what happened to her, and I’m pleased it happened now before things got any more sexual. This is vital information that we, her boyfriends, need to know so that we can properly care for her and make sure we don’t trigger any bad memories.

She stirs beneath me, and we all pull back to let her lift her head. Her eyes are red and puffy and her cheeks are wet. I gently cup her face and try to wipe away her tears with my thumbs.

“I’m just going to go splash some water on my face, can you guys give me a minute… please?” She gestures over her shoulder towards the ocean.

“Of course, take all the time you need,” I say, reluctantly letting her go. She whips at her face as she walks away. West and King move to my sides as we all stare at her in silence.

She doesn't go far into the water, just up to her calves as she starts scooping it up and splashing it on her face and arms.

King lets out a long breath beside me. “This explains so much.”

“What do you mean?” I turn my head towards him.

“The nightmares, the fear she had of us when we first arrived, how she tried to stay hidden. I… I thought there might be more to her story, but I never imagined anything like that.”

“And she hasn’t even told us the whole story yet,” West adds.

“She might not want to,” I say with a frown as I turn back to watch her, not willing to let her out of my sight for more than a few seconds right now. Dark clouds gather in the distance, telling me we’re due for another storm.

“She might open up more now she’s told us the worst of it,” King says.

“Fuck!” West lets out a deep exhale, running his hand through his short hair. “I wish there was a gym here, I’d love to punch something right now. I just keep thinking about her going through all of that, and then being stuck here alone… for fifteen fucking years.”

“She’s faced more pain and loneliness than anyone should have to endure,” King says, sounding frustrated and angry on her behalf.

“That’s why she needs all three of us,” I tell them. “So she never has to be alone, and we can all help make up for everything she’s been missing for the last decade and a half.”

We watch as she heads back towards us, her eyes downcast as her fingers fidget in front of her.

She stops in front of us and finally lifts her head, looking at each of us with hesitancy written all over her face. “I’m s—”

“Nope!” I cut her off, pressing my finger to her lips to silence her quickly.

“Don’t even think about apologizing for what just happened, Zee,” I tell her, moving my hand to cup the back of her neck as I step closer to her.

“You should know by now that no matter what happens, past or present, we are here for you,” King tells her, grabbing her left hand and holding it up to his chest.

“And, baby,” West says, grabbing her free hand, “What you went through is terrible. You have every right to get upset. And just know that when you do, we’ll all be here for you. Every time.”

She pulls a hand free to wipe at her eyes. “You guys are too much. I don’t deserve you.”

“Tink, are you kidding me?Youare amazing, and you deserve every good thing in this world. I’m not sure that the three of us will ever be enough to make up for what you’ve been through, but we’re sure gonna try.”

I tilt her head up so she meets my eyes and give her a crooked smile, which she returns, easing the tightness in my chest.

“Do you want to talk about it? What happened fifteen years ago?” I ask her, wanting to give her the option of getting it all out.

She shakes her head and licks her lips. “No, I… I don’t think I can get through that right now. But one day, I promise I’ll tell you guys the whole story.”

King puts his arm around her shoulders, and she leans against him. “There’s no rush now. We just ask that you let us know if you have any triggers or if anything we do starts to freak you out or upset you, okay?”

“We can’t read your mind, baby. This is really important. You have to communicate with us, especially when we get more physical. Understand?” West asks before placing a soft kiss on her knuckles.

“Yeah, I understand. I don’t know if I have any triggers, but maybe… don’t hold my arms and legs down?” A small grunt leaves my throat at the reason she’s asking that.

Before I get the chance, West pulls her into his chest and wraps his arms around her, sinking his face into her neck. I look at King and helooks as pained as I do. This is going to take time to get used to. The thought of someone doing that to her literally causes my chest to ache.

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