Page 69 of Creed
“You can’t keep doing this to yourself, Dev. It wasn’t your fault.”
“But it was. I know that, and I have no doubt that girl knows it, too.” She gave me a bitter smile. “So, now, I stand in front of aclassroom full of college kids, trying to teach them to follow the rules and not to make the same mistakes I did. Because I don’t want them haunted by the faces they couldn’t save.”
She finally looked up at me, trying to find some ground beneath her feet as she told me, “So, that’s the story… That’s why I left.”
“I’m glad you shared it with me.”
“I am, too.”
She didn’t deserve to carry this weight alone, and I wanted to take it all from her. The guilt. The memories. All of it. But I couldn’t. This was one of those times where she would have to find her own way through it on her own. But I would be there for her along the way, supporting her any way I could.
We sat there watching the fire for another hour or so, and when Devin yawned, I took that as my cue to get her inside. I put the lid on the fire and led her to the bedroom where I spent the better part of the night trying to help drown out the memories.
I held her a little tighter and kissed her a little longer, and she fell asleep curled up in my arms. Being careful not to wake her, I grabbed my phone and pulled up the file Shep had sent me weeks ago. I flipped to the back, and it was all there. The newspaper articles, the police reports, the pictures of her wounds. Those motherfuckers did a real number on her, and seeing the images made my blood boil.
I hated that she’d been hurt. I hated it even more that I hadn’t been there when it happened. I could only imagine how hard it had been on her. Hell, it was still hard on her. I could see it in her eyes and hear it in voice. Something broke in her that night, and I feared it would remain broken until she found that girl. It was a thought that I couldn’t shake.
Hell, I didn’t sleep a wink, but I couldn’t let that slow me down. We had a full day ahead, and I planned on making thebest of it. It was just after seven when I leaned over her and brushed a strand of hair off Devin’s face. “Morning, beautiful.”
“No,” she groaned, turning her head into the pillow like a grumpy toddler.
“Come on, babe.” I gave her a nudge. “We gotta get up.”
“Mm-mm. No, we don’t.” Her voice was muffled, half-asleep, stubborn as ever. “It’s too early.”
“You’re not gonna want to miss out on this.”
“Hmm?” She cracked one eye open. “Miss out on what?”
“The run.” I got out of bed and started pulling on my jeans as I told her, “We’re riding over to the state park, remember? You promised Tessa and Jenna that you’d come.”
“Why do y’all do everything so damn early?”
“We’re not leaving until eight. That’s late.”
“You need therapy.”
She groaned again as she pulled the blanket over her head. I chuckled as I told her, “Dress for the ride, but pack your suit.”
“I know. I know.” She knew I wasn’t going to let her go back to sleep, so she flopped back onto the bed with a defeated sigh. “Shorts or jeans?”
“Jeans. You know that.”
“But it’s so hot.”
“You’ve got beautiful legs. I’d hate to see them torn up with road rash.”
“Okay. Okay. Jeans it is.”
“Atta girl.”
I left her there and headed to the kitchen, flipping on the coffee pot before putting the last few dishes into the dishwasher. The thoughts of last night’s conversation were still weighing on me. It gutted me the way her voice cracked when she talked about that girl.
I hoped today would help. Riding was always the best therapy for me. There was no better way to clear the head. Windin the hair. The road stretching out for miles. The promise of clear skies and good company. It was just what she needed, even if it was just for the day.
I was lost in that thought when I heard boots on the floor behind me. I turned, and my breath caught for a second. She was standing in the doorway wearing ablack bikini top under a loose plaid button-down that was tied at her waist, jeans that hugged her just right, and those old cowboy boots she loved. Her hair was braided into pigtails, and damn if she didn’t look smoking hot.
“What the hell, woman?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You trying to end me?”
