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“And what?” he prompts, his voice tight. “You’re worrying me, Dani.”
I sigh, swiveling my gaze and taking in his profile. His sharp nose, strong jaw bone. He’s beyond handsome. There isn’t a word that exists in the English language for Lachlan.
“It’s dumb.”
“Dani,” his voice is stern, “there’s nothing you could say to me that I would think is dumb in any way.”
“The cops came and I was in the bathroom. I heard the screaming to get out and…”
I trail off and his fingers tighten around the steering wheel. A muscle in his jaw ticks. “And you thought someone had been shot.”
He doesn’t frame it as a question, but I answer anyway. “Yes.”
He glances over at me. “What did you do?”
“I climbed out a window.” I show him the scrapes on my legs that are visible through the rips. “And then I took off for the woods. I had to walk as fast as I could since I can’t run anymore. God, I miss running. I thought I was going to die again.”
“Fuck,” he curses again. I jolt in surprise when he grabs my hand, giving it a soft squeeze before letting me go. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“It’s okay.”
He winces. “Dani, it’s not okay. Nothing that happened to you was ok
ay. Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that.”
He gets on the freeway, heading into the city. I know we’ll be at the condo in a few minutes.
“Can I stay with you tonight?”
His eyes dart to me looking pained. “I … that’s not a good idea.”
“Why? I can’t let my brother see me like this. I can’t go home drunk,” I argue desperately. Dropping my head I whisper, “I can’t disappoint him.”
Lachlan exhales a weary sigh and nods. “Fine, okay.”
He parks in the underground garage and we’re both silent as we take the elevator up to his place. He unlocks the door and Zeppelin immediately barrels into us. He takes an extra long time smelling me while Lachlan locks up.
When I turn around I find Lachlan standing with his hands on his hips, head bowed slightly. “You were so scared you climbed out of a window, huh?”
I nod, petting Zeppelin. The dog is so big I don’t even have to bend down. “I hid in the woods, under a fallen tree. I didn’t move for a long time. I … played dead.”
His eyes close and he looks pained. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. When he opens his eyes they’re twin glacier pools. “I don’t have any words to make it better for you. I wish I did, but they don’t exist. What happened to you, before, it should’ve never happened. You shouldn’t have to feel like that. Ever. And I’m sorry that a monster ruined that for you.”
“It’s okay.”
It’s okay—two words that are a reflex. He flinches.
“No, Dani, it’s not okay.” I bow my head and he clears his throat. “You should really go home.”
My head shoots up. “Please, don’t make me. Sage will be upset and I don’t … I don’t want to have to explain this to him because it’ll bother him even more. I know he feels guilty for what happened, even though he shouldn’t. He wasn’t even there.”
Lachlan twists his lips, giving me a jerk of his head that’s the only indication he’s agreeing. “Let me get you something to change into. You can sleep in my room.”
“That’s not necessary.” My hands come up in protest, waggling back and forth. “The couch is fine.”
He shakes his head. “Nice try, but no, you can have the bed.”
He crooks his finger, telling me to follow him down the narrow hall. I do, my boots echoing on the hardwood with every step I take.
