Page 97 of Safe Place

For a moment we just breathe. He presses a kiss to my forehead and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, and his hand rests gently at my waist.

When we finally break apart, both a little breathless, I laugh softly—because I'm standing in a closet at a black-tie gala in a white satin gown and diamond earrings, and I've never felt more like myself.

“Let's get out of here,” he murmurs. “We need to get that dress off immediately.”

I nod, my heart so full and warm. “Okay,” I say. “Let's go.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

Here’s what you’re going to do

SOPHIE

“I was hoping to see Luke tonight,” I say as Micah drives us back to his place to continue what we started in the closet earlier. “I wanted to thank him for the scholarship.”

“You can, whenever you want,” he says. “He lives at The Haven too.”

“Of course he does.” I give a small laugh, but there’s no real humor in it. He’s a Vale—of course he lives there.

“It’s not what you think, though,” Micah adds. “He’s broke as hell. Practically lives there for free.”

“Wait—what? How?”

Micah shrugs. “It’s complicated. He’s either completely broke, or just stingy as hell. You know what—probably both.”

Before I can reply, my clutch vibrates. I pull out my phone and see Poppy lighting up the screen.

She was staying in to study tonight.

I answer immediately. “Hey, Poppy, I’m⁠⁠—”

“S-Soph—” Her voice cuts in, breathless, panicked. “Your father—he—he came by—” There’s a pause. A loud, shaky inhale. “He said—he said he’s coming back. T—To see you.”

My chest tightens. “Poppy?”

“I—” another broken breath. “I gotta—go⁠⁠—”

And then the line goes dead.

I stare at the screen. My heart drops, then starts slamming. No no no. I can’t breathe. My vision starts to blur around the edges. Poppy was going to be studying at home tonight. Alone.

Oh god. What if he⁠⁠—

“Sophie?” Micah’s voice is sharp now, alarmed. “What happened?”

I suck in a shaky breath. “That was Poppy. She said my stepfather came by.” My voice cracks. “She sounded—she was gasping. Something was off, Micah. She just hung up. What if he’s still there? What if⁠⁠—”

Micah slams his foot on the gas. The car surges forward.

“I’m on it,” he says through clenched teeth. “Hold on, Sophie. We’ll be there in ten.”

We get to my apartment and the door’s slightly ajar. Shit. But Poppy forgets to lock it all the time—it could be nothing.

“Stay behind me,” Micah says under his breath.

He pushes the door open slowly. The lights are on. Two wine glasses sit on the table, both empty—just a few drops clinging to the bottom. My heart pounds as we step inside.

Then we hear it.