Page 187 of Redeemed

“I wanted to.”

The words feel unnatural coming out of my mouth. How have I gone from wanting to torment Haven to wanting to take care of her in the span of a few short weeks? Her betrayal feels like a distant memory—something from a different lifetime.

I wish I could forget about it entirely.

The garage door opens and closes, and Colton steps into the kitchen a moment later. He sheds his jacket and throws it onto the back of a dining room chair before heading our way. When he sees Haven’s phone, his hand twitches at his side, but he doesn’t reach for it.

Good.I might’ve punched him if he had.

“You feeling okay?” Colton asks her.

“I think so. Mostly, I’m just relieved Isaiah isn’t here anymore.”

Colton glances at me, and the apprehension in his eyes matches what I’m thinking. Kneeling in front of Haven, he places a hand on her thigh. “Isaiah is gone for now, but…”

Haven’s face falls. “You really think he’ll come back? After how badly you hurt him?”

“I think you know he will.”

Tearfully, she nods.

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugs sadly. “It’s not that big of a deal. Nothing’s really changed. I think he’ll always haunt me.”

That seems to make something click together in Colton’s brain.

“Freshman year,” he says slowly, “when I found you panicking after that guy pushed you.”

Haven smiles. “One of your rare moments of patience.”

“If Lucas and Xander hadn’t shown up, I would’ve slung you over my shoulder and carried you back to your dorm no matter how hard you fought me,” he says flatly.

I laugh. Of course he would’ve.

Haven sighs, staring up at the ceiling. “I guess that’s probably true. But you were patient with me after. When you held me until I fell asleep.”

He can’t refute that, so of course, he ignores it. “You were panicking because of Isaiah, weren’t you? Because it felt the same to you.”

She nods.

“Angel, how badly did he hurt you?”

Haven’s eyes widen, and then she looks down at her hot chocolate. “I’d prefer not to talk about it.”

“Haven—”

“I think that tells us everything we need to know, Colt,” I say. “Don’t push her.”

Colton’s expression is pained, and Haven moves her hand to place it over his. The room is silent, but I can hear everything he isn’t saying. It’s exactly what I’m thinking.

How could her family let her suffer like that? Why didn’t anyone protect her? How could a religion that’s supposed to be about love endorse such violence?

“Will Lucas be upset if I keep staying here?” Haven asks timidly. “Because if Isaiah is going to come back, then I… I don’t know where else to go.”

“Lucas won’t be upset.” Taking her hand in both of his, Colton presses kisses to her knuckles. “He’ll be home soon. He’s just taking a ride to clear his head.”

“You’re sure?”

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