Page 102 of Safe Place

I feel sick.

“Sophie?”

I’ve never been more relieved to hear a voice—any voice.

I look up and of course it's Grant—because that's what he does, somehow always shows up exactly at the right time.

“Hey Grant.” My voice comes out warmer than usual, maybe too warm, but I need Mark to know I was never sitting around waiting for him.

Grant looks at me for a half second too long, clearly thrown off by my tone. “You okay?” His eyes drift to Mark, narrowing just slightly. “Who's this?”

The smugness on Mark’s face disappears in an instant. Maybe it’s Grant—his size, his presence. Maybe Mark assumes he’s my boyfriend. Good. I hope he gets the message loud and clear: I’m not waiting for him. I never was and I never will.

It helps that Grant is everything Mark isn’t—towering, muscular, model-handsome with sandy blond hair and sharp brown eyes. A guy like Mark would never be able to compete, and I hope the sight of Grant coming to me knocks the ego right out of him.

“This is my step—” I start, but Mark gets up and walks away. “—father.”

Grant watches him go, then turns back to me. For once there's no trace of humor on his face. “What the hell was that?” His voice is quiet. “Should I be concerned? You look like you've just seen a ghost.”

I can't think straight. Can’t process what just happened.

“Grant, can you…not tell Micah about this?” I ask quickly. “I want to be the one to tell him.”

He looks confused, but nods. “Yeah, sure. Whatever you need.”

“Thank you,” I say. “I mean it. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up.”

He offers a small smile. “You're family now, Soph.”

The words catch me off guard. Family. That word never used to mean warmth. It meant chaos, pain, survival. But the people I've met this year are slowly giving it a new meaning.

I know this is not the last time I’ll see my stepfather. But at least I don’t have to be struggling and anxious alone.

And just like that, I pull out my phone and text Micah.

Me

Hey. Are you home?

Can you stay with me until the end of my shift.

Exactly three minutes later, Micah’s sitting at an empty table, silently watching me work. No questions, no pressure—just being there for me like he always is.

MICAH

I hate that I wasn’t there when that asshole showed up. I should’ve been. I should’ve made it clear—loud and brutal—that he’s never allowed near her again. But I wasn’t.

How did Nico miss this?

Thank fuck Grant was there, though. I owe him more than I can put into words.

I glance over at Sophie, still curled up on my couch in my sweatshirt, eyes tired and distant.

“Sophie,” I say quietly. “Move in with me.”

It’s not just about today—though every part of me wants to keep her close, where I know she’s safe. I want to drive her to campus. Pick her up. Come home to her. Or be here waiting when she comes home from work. I want to wake up with her beside me. Fall asleep knowing she’s here.

I just want to be with her. As much as I can.