Hands moved up and down her arms and she whimpered again. It always started out gentle, and then the touch turned rough. A second later the hands were gone.
That never happened, usually she was tugged into position. Or if she resisted, she was hit.
“Steffanie, you’re in Teresa’s backyard. It’s me, Dalton. I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe with me. Always.”
Dalton.
The name sounded familiar.
How did she know him?
Why did she feel safe?
“Steff, come on, sweetheart, come back to us.”
There was something about the voice that was comforting and calming. Steff closed her eyes and breathed deep. Slowly, sounds came back to her. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees. The distant hum of traffic on the road. The sound of a heart beating beneath her ear. Along with sounds came sensations. The feel of fabric under her cheek. A hand rubbing her back in soothing motions. And most importantly, that sense of safety.
She wasn’t stuck in that room. She was being held by someone, and it didn’t scare her.
Blinking her eyes open, she took in the lights of the backyard. The table which still held remnants of people’s presence. Dalton holding her.
“Oh god, I’m so sorry.” She pulled away from him, embarrassed that she’d had yet another panic attack in his presence. Two in one day, it had been a long time since that had happened to her.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”
Dalton was being too understanding. She saw Teresa standing on the back deck; she and Dalton were in the middle of the yard.
“Thank you, for being here for me, again.” After seeing her go through yet another episode, Steff doubted he would want anything more to do with her.
Was it because she was around the people who’d been involved with her rescue that had set her off? Or was it because she was having a bad day?
Those were questions she didn’t know the answer to and may not ever know. It was probably time for her to go see Donelle, her therapist again.
“I won’t say it was my pleasure, because seeing you go through that again, is something I don’t want to experience. But I’m glad I was here for you.” He glanced over his shoulder and gave Angel, who’d come to stand by Teresa, a chin lift. “Are you going to be okay to drive home? You drove yourself, right?”
“I did and I think I should be.” Never before had she been worried about having an attack in the middle of driving, but she hadn’t driven at night in a long time. It had been the darkness that had triggered her, she’d worked that out now.
The seconds before it had happened, she recalled thinking about the shadows and the evil that lurked in them.
A full body shiver wracked her body.
No, I’m not going to have another attack.
“I think so.” Honestly, she didn’t know if she would be okay driving, but there was no way she could stay at Teresa’s forever.
“Would it make you feel better if I followed you home? Or I could take you, and then tomorrow me and one of the other guys can drive your car to your place?”
“Or another alternative, I could drive with you, and Jag can follow us, and then bring me back home.” The suggestion came from Teresa, and Steff had to admit it was a good option. It wasn’t an option she wanted, though.
“Thank you for the offer, but.” She looked at Dalton. In the muted garden lights, his blue eyes stood out like a safe haven. A welcoming cove where everything was protected from the elements. “I need to drive myself, but I’d be okay if you followed me.”
“I can do that.” His lips curved into a smile, and she found hers twitching in response. It wasn’t the first time she’d smiled tonight, a rarity for her as well. Perhaps there was something to leaving her house. Although perhaps it was the man in front of her that made being out easier.
“Okay, but let me get you another piece of cake. Your first piece is looking a little worse for wear.” Teresa pointed to the crushed white box at Steff’s feet, frosting oozed through the side gaps.
Another wave of embarrassment washed over Steff. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to do that.”
Teresa waved off her concern. “I have a two-year-old, messes are an everyday occurrence.” She headed toward the house, leaving her and Dalton alone.
