Page 79 of Jacob

“You are banned from work until further notice.”

Her shoulders fall. “Okay,” she reluctantly agrees.

Taking in her bruised face, I ask, “Does it hurt?”

She cups her cheek. “It did at the time.” She flinches as if remembering. “I don’t care.” She shakes her head as if breaking free from her memories. “I’m home, and safe. With my family, and you.”

Our eyes lock. “I didn’t think I’d see you again,” she exclaims, her blue gems turning glassy. Sucking in a deep breath, as if to steady her voice, she stares down at the bed sheets as if reliving her ordeal.

She doesn’t need to say a word. I don’t need to hear what she went through or how horrible the experience was for her. It’s written across her face and I can read every second of pain she had to go through. I feel it as if it is my own and I hate that I can’t take it away from her or help her forget. I might have helped rescue her, but I can never turn back the clock and stop it from happening and I have to live with that for a lifetime.

In that moment, I silently pledge to protect her for as long as my heart beats in my chest.

“I thought I’d lost you.” I cup her face.

“But you didn’t.”

“I thought I’d lost you before we got our chance.” I still can’t believe she’s here and I’m touching her.

“But you didn’t.”

“You’re here.” I rest my forehead against hers, basking in our reunion.

Skye lets out a soft sigh as she gazes at my lips. “Now would be the perfect time to kiss you, but there are too many people around.”

“I haven’t brushed my teeth since yesterday morning, so maybe now is not the time for a kiss.”

“You’re a filthy pig,” she joshes with me, which I take as a good sign.

“An ogre,” I argue.

“With tattoos and muscles.”

“Exactly. I’m the underdog.”

“He always wins the girl.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so,” she murmurs as she bites down on her bottom lip, making her look adorable, despite the damage that psycho did to her face.

Holding her hand now, I lace our fingers together.

“More bruises,” she says when I rub the small vein on the top of her hand. “It’s where the IV was. Whatever was in that, it’s made me feel so much better.”

“How are you feeling? You can be honest with me, Skye.”

“They’ve said I need to see a therapist.”

“I would agree.”

“I don’t want to talk about any of it.” She looks out of the window.

“Maybe not now, but soon. You might be fine one day and thenboom, it might hit you. It would be better to have some coping mechanisms and tools in place before that happens.”

She goes quiet for a moment. “You’re right and so smart.” Then she mumbles something under her breath.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

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