Page 125 of Off Camera
Reid is quiet on the other end of the phone. I check to make sure our call didn’t drop, and then he’s saying, “What if I am?” so quietly, I think I might have misheard him.
It’s the same tone he used at the bar two weeks ago when he told me he didn’t like watching me give my attention to anyone else. Not when he was there. Not ever.
The same voice when he’s wrapped around me, his arms banded across my waist, mouth on my neck and telling me I’mbeautiful. I’mperfectandwonderful.
“I’m here,” I say, breathless and overcome with emotion.
I yank open the door and tumble inside to warmth and heat and someplace safe. I tuck myself into a table in the back and wait.
“I’m here too.”
There’s the slam of a car door and the jingle of keys. I blink, and the next thing I know, Reid is there, fifteen feet away from me, then ten, then five, and I burst into tears.
I leap to my feet and crash into him. “You came,” I whisper around a sob.
“You called,” he murmurs into my hair, his embrace an envelope of comfort. “Any time I see your name on my phone, I answer within seconds. My sleep-deprived, subconscious brain knows to answer too, apparently. Call me one of Pavlov’s dogs.”
He rubs my back. I sink into the press of his body against mine. It’s fifty degrees outside, but his skin is like an inferno. I bury my face in his shirt and he doesn’t pull away, letting me stay for far too long.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I woke you up. I’m sorry I asked for your help. I?—”
“Hey.” Reid cups my chin and tilts my head back so I’m looking at him. His eyes are bloodshot and red-rimmed. There’s a crease on his left cheek from his sheets, and his hair is sticking up in different directions. I’ve never seen someone so beautiful. “Don’t you ever apologize for asking for help, okay? Especially not to me. I wanted to, so I did. Simple as that.”
“Thank you.” I shiver, and he holds me even tighter. “I don’t know why I’m so upset. Nothing happened. It could’ve been worse. Hell, it could’ve been a crazy coincidence I’m turning into a big deal.”
“You’re upset because you were doing something you enjoy, and someone tried to ruin it for you. You’re allowed to be scared, Avery.”
I nod and unravel myself from him. I stare at his feet and let out a watery laugh. “You’re wearing two different shoes. And your pajama bottoms.”
“I didn’t stop to think,” Reid says. “I needed to get here as fast as I could.”
“I can’t believe you’re here.” I touch his cheek to make sure he’s real. My heart won’t stop racing in my chest, and I think I’m going to cry again. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“Did the truck pass?” Reid glances around, his head on a swivel and his eyes narrowing into slits. “Did you get any descriptions of who was driving? Did anyone come inside looking for you?”
“No,” I admit. “I was so focused on getting away from them, I didn’t think to get any information. I should’ve. That was stupid of me and?—”
“It’s okay.” He hugs me again, tighter this time. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Avery.”
“I don’t want to stick around in case they come back.”
“Do you want me to drive you to your apartment? Or to the stadium?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Can we go to your place?”
Reid smiles. I feel it in my heart and all the way down to my toes. He laces his hand through mine and I follow him to the door.
“Let’s go, Sinclair. I’m going to fix you right up.”
THIRTY-SIX
REID
Avery won’t stop shaking.
I drew her a bath and set her up with my iPad so she could watch a show and relax. Ten minutes later, she asked if I would join her.
I did, obviously.
