Page 69 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

“Bullet fuckingdodged.” Crash. A big chunk of the wall fell onto the plastic sheeting. I took a step back.

She hit the wall again and again and I watched in silence as she knocked it down. Debris flew everywhere. It was noisy, dusty, and dirty, and I could see sweat soaking through the back of her t-shirt, but my heart squeezed as I watched her work.

I liked seeing her like this, strong and in control. He had taken from her but she would be okay. I hoped she knew that.

When she was done, she placed the sledgehammer on the floor with care, turned to me, and burst into tears.

“Honey.” I wrapped her in a hug without hesitation, pulling her into my chest and running a hand over her hair. My heart twisted. “It’s okay.”

“I don’t know why I’m crying.” She sniffled into my shirt. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Cry all you like.” My voice was soft and low and my heart ached for her. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” she sobbed. “I loved knocking that wall down. It was awesome. I can’t wait to do more demo.” Her shoulders shook and the tears soaked into my shirt.

I tucked Sadie further into my chest and inhaled her. He didn’t just lie to her. He broke her fucking heart.

No wonder she didn’t want any of those things ever again.

* * *

While haulingdebris to the waste bin, something inside caught my eye.

Two little paintings, one of the sunset over the water in front of the inn and a recreation of Katherine, my mom, and my aunt.

I frowned. Why were these in the garbage? They were beautiful.

I glanced at the inn. She’d be out any second. I opened the door of my truck and tucked them beneath the seat.

27

Holden

I wasin the middle of deadlifts at the gym when my phone buzzed.

Where would I buy smaller pieces of wood?Sadie texted.Like on the trellis outside the inn.

Sweat poured off of me while I caught my breath.Hardware store should have it. Is it rotting?

That trellis was old. West coast winters were mild and wet, and it needed a new coat of poly to protect it.

The typing dots appeared.I broke a piece. Forgot my keys at the bar last month and had to climb into a window upstairs.

My heart stopped. I saw a thousand images at once. Sadie climbing. Sadie slipping, falling, hair flying everywhere as she fell until she hit the ground with a sickening crunch.

It was Finn’s fall, all over again. My heart thudded in my chest and my hands shook.

She answered on the first ring. “Hi,” she chirped.

“What the fuck were you thinking, climbing the trellis?” I bit out. Blood pumped in my ears and terror suffocated me. People around the gym glanced over at my sharp tone.

The other end of the line was silent.

“Sadie,” I snapped.

“Don’t yell at me.” Her voice was just as sharp.

“That was a fucking stupid thing to do.” I dragged a hand over my face. My stomach was in knots. My shoulders were up by my ears. “That thing isn’t a ladder. It’s not designed to support someone climbing on it. Fuck. What the fuck were you thinking?”

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