“Luke is my best friend, and I would really,reallylove to get to know the woman he’s crazy about, if she doesn’t mind.”
A shy smile touched Johanna’s lips, and she squeezed Daniella’s hand. “I’d really love that.”
“Good. Now, do you want to go see him?” Daniella asked.
Johanna tensed. “I-I don’t know how he’s going to see me after all of this. I’m worried he’ll think I’m damaged goods,” she whispered.
“He most certainly will not. Luke saw you. He’s the one who brought you into his house and did what he could to make sure you held on until we got here. He’s also the one who cleaned you up afterward.”
“What?” Johanna said, covering her mouth.
“He wouldn’t let anyone take care of you. Luke’s been the only one watching over you the whole time you’ve been unconscious. While we didn’t know where all your wounds were, he did, and I’m sure he had his suspicions about what caused them. But being suspicious is different to having the truth laid out in front of you. That’s why he got so upset.”
Johanna’s hand fell to her lap. She opened her mouth to speak but found that she couldn’t form the words.
“My point is that never changed how he treated you. If it didn’t then, it wouldn’t now. I know Luke well. I watched him, especially while we looked for you. You’ve been the only thing on his mind for a while now. That isn’t going to go away because of the abuse you went through. If anything, Luke’s going to be even more up your ass than he was before.” Daniella squeezed her arm again. “Do you see yourself as damaged goods?”
Johanna thought over her question and then sighed. “It’s hard not to. All of this is a lot, and it’s going to take some time to process it.”
“Then take that time. You’re allowed to feel whatever you feel and have whatever thoughts you have. But feeling those things and having those thoughts doesn’t make them true.” Daniella sighed. “A few months ago, the monster that took you killed my friend.”
Johanna gasped but Daniella continued. “He killed her because he couldn’t get to me. In that moment I felt so guilty for being safe and alive and with a wonderful man who wanted me by his side. I felt like I robbed her of everything she could have had. And you know what Greg told me? That I shouldn’t feel guilty for being alive. I could affect so many people’s lives. In fact, I already had. He told me that I could do a lot of good by being here, and so can you. I’m not going to ask you to give Luke a chance, but I am going to ask you to give yourself a chance. Have you ever done that before?”
The answer was automatic, and a weight left her chest as Johanna whispered, “No.”
“Well, maybe now’s a good time to start.”
CHAPTER 12
The room fell silent when Johanna and Daniella entered.
Johanna’s eyes found Luke’s immediately. She froze as everything else fell away. For a moment they just stared at one another, until Johanna noticed the little frown lines that stood out at the corner of his eyes and his now ruffled hair. Even his stance was different—tense and seemingly unmovable.
Is he even breathing? Am I?
She took a deep breath and watched his shoulders relax a fraction. Then it hit her all at once: he was worried about her.
Her heart softened. A second beat picked up under her skin, but it shattered at the clearing of a throat. When she came back to her senses, she realized she had been moving unconsciously toward Luke. Johanna looked away from him quickly, but not fast enough to miss the small, relieved smile on his face.
“We’re going to head out for the day. Everyone needs their rest,” Greg said.
“Thank you, everyone, for helping me,” Johanna said.
Daniella nodded and then slipped her arms around Johanna in a hug. “I’ll check on you in a bit, okay? Maybe we could get together later in the week and go shopping.”
Greg groaned and Daniella shot him a glare. “Hush you.”
Johanna smiled at their teasing. “I’d like that.”
Before they left, Johanna pulled Mya aside. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. But the second I remember something, I’ll let you know. I promise. You’ll find…”
Him.
Johanna drew back, unsure of why that word had come to her mind when Mya had never said what she was looking for.
At her hesitation, Mya stood straighter, hope warming her face. It was the first time she hadn’t appeared devastated since the moment she’d entered Luke’s home, and it made Johanna hesitate. But she couldn’t give her false hope. Even if a part of her did know something, it, much like everything else, was locked away in her memories.
She cleared her throat and tried again. “You’ll find what you’re looking for.”
