Page 32 of The Road Less Traveled By

“Bree, look at me, angel,” I hear a voice say before I meet those eyes I know so well.

Vince. He’s here. He’s in my bedroom.

“Can I touch you?”

I somehow nod before I feel his cold hands run up and down my arms. Goosebumps prickle my body as I feel myself come back to reality.Howlong has he been here?

“You’re safe. There’s nobody else here. You. Are. Safe.” He enunciates every word, trying to make my brain comprehend that it was just a nightmare. “It’s just us here, Bree. Just you and me.”

His voice is low and soft. If I didn't already have goosebumps across my skin, that would’ve done it too.

Vince is here. Vince says I’m safe. Vince always keeps me safe. I’m safe.

I take a few steadying breaths as his hands trail up and down my arms, still a bit cold. Unlike Ralph, Vince’s hands are soft. They’re not calloused or rough, but smooth, and that helps bring me back. I never thought I’d ever be able to handle another man touching me. I always assumed it would remind me of howhetouched me that night, but with Vince, it feels safe. His touch feels warm despite his hands being freezing. And he always asks permission.

I feel safe with him, and I never thought I’d feel this way ever again.

I lock eyes with him, and it feels like he can see right through me and the tears that fall from my eyes. His hands stop where mine sit in my lap, and his touch lingers for a moment too long before he shuffles away from me on my bed.

He clears his throat before he speaks again. “Are you okay?”

There’s no use lying to him. “No.” My voice is low and defeated, and I hate how broken I sound. I hate that I’m constantly falling apart and he has to deal with it. Vince didn't sign up for this, and somehow, I feel more broken than I was four years ago.

“What can I do?”

I just shrug. There’s not much anyone can do when it’s my own mind conjuring up these things.

The two of us sit in silence for a few seconds before I feel Vince’s hands grasp onto my comforter. His knuckles look white, and before I can ask him about it, he leaves my room, softly shutting the door behind him.

I note the time on my phone—four in the morning—before I swipe my contacts open and call Dr. Anna. Tears are still streaming down myface, but my body feels steadier than before. When she answers, I know I’m in for a long day considering this is how it started.

Chapter thirteen

— HARD TO SLEEP BY GRACIE ABRAMS

I feel something thrownagainst my body before a voice permeates my ears.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty. It’s time to wake up.” When I open my eyes to see his bright, smiling face, I silently curse myself.He’s never going to shut up about this.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I rub my eyes, the light in the hallway too much for my eyes to handle. I note the magazines next to me, and a familiar face looks back at me as I grab one of them.

It’s Bree. She and Alex are on the front page of a few different magazines, all of them from their last few outings as an official couple.

That word leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

“What the fuck is this?”

“I grabbed them at the grocery store this morning, but what I really want to know is why you’re sleeping in front of her door?”

“It doesn't matter,” I say as I get up, walking back to my room. I try to slam my door and avoid this conversation, but Nico stops it with his foot.

“Actually,” he pauses to chuckle at me, “I think it does, Vince.”

Vince.He used my name and not that stupid nickname, which means he’s serious. One thing about Nico Wilder is that when he wants to havea conversation, the conversation will be had. He’s an annoying fucker in that sense. He always seems to get all your secrets out, even when you don’t want them revealed.

“The other night, I woke up to her screaming. I’m a few rooms down from her, but it felt like that scream was right next to me. It was guttural, terrifying. She was fucking petrified. So I ran to her room, my knife from under my pillow in hand, but there was nobody in her room. I don't even think she clocked me when I came in.”

“Fuck,” is all he can say.

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