Page 11 of Finally Home

“No! Save Shelby!” West’s frantic voice filled the cabin.

The loft had never felt so far away. Her adrenaline spiked, and Cami bolted from the couch, taking the stairs two at a time.

West was tangled in her sheets, thrashing.

Carefully she climbed into the bed and situated herself behind him. Pulling his back against her, she ran her fingers over his naked chest. “Shh. West, you’re safe.”

“No! We’re not.” He fought against her, and she struggled to keep him from breaking free. “Shelby, she’s going to die if you don’t help her first.”

“West!” she yelled, hoping to break through his panic and wake him up. “You’re safe. You’re with me. It’s Cami. I’m right here with you.”

His body went stiff, and she worried he was still trapped in his nightmare. Then he released a shuddering breath and slumped into her. “Cami?”

She whispered against his hair, “I’m here, West.”

“You shouldn’t be.” He pushed himself up and spun on her. She could barely see his features in the dimly lit loft, but the anguish in his voice spoke volumes. “I could have hurt you.”

She reached out and ran a hand down his forearm, taking his hand in hers. “But you didn’t.” She gave it a squeeze.

His hand tightened on hers before he pulled it away. “I thought I was done with these.”

“The wreck today caused a flashback. It’s perfectly normal for you to have nightmares after as well.”

His hands fisted in his lap. “Six years of the same shit isn’t normal.”

Respecting he had pulled away once already, she fought the urge to touch him again. To comfort him. “You want to tell me about it? It might help.”

West sucked in a breath, and for a moment she thought maybe he was going to let down his wall. “No.”

She was happy the darkness shielded her disappointment. “We haven’t been in each other’s lives for years. I don’t expect you to tell me all your secrets after one afternoon together. I wouldn’t tell you mine.”

His voice perked up, and she saw him cock his head to the side. “You have secrets?”

She shrugged playfully, hoping to distract him. “We all have secrets, West.”

“You tell me yours; I’ll tell you mine?”

“What are we, twelve?” She huffed a laugh.

He shrugged casually. “It worked for us back then.”

“Until you sold me out to my dad.” She’d been grounded for a month after she sneaked out and found her dad waiting for her at the gate, ready to guide her back home.

“I’m not sorry. Tony Gianado was trouble. There was no way I was going to let you go out to the old Jackson farm alone with him.”

“You always did look out for me.” She smiled at the thought. How easy it had been when she was twelve. When she was seventeen.

West grew quiet, and Cami wasn’t sure where his head was. He reached out and took her hand in his. She shivered at the unexpected touch.

He sighed. “Stay with me?”

Was he serious?

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She pulled away and shifted her weight from the bed. It was one thing to help him fight his demons. It was another thing entirely to ask her to risk toppling her walls ... again.

“Please? I promise no funny business. I was serious about the pillow wall. It’s just—” West raked his fingers through his hair, something he did when he was nervous. “You pulled me out of the nightmare twice now. No one has been able to do that and not get punched.”

Cami’s stomach tightened, and she tried not to read into his words. She knew she could say no to him, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to be there for him. Despite the emotional whiplash he had caused all evening. “Seriously, West, no funny business.”

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