Page 133 of Echoes of You

“Yeah, yeah.” Nash waved me off. “I had to get stitches in my arm, and Maddie demanded to stay with me. But one little glimpse of that needle going into my skin, and she dropped like a ton of bricks.”

My cheeks heated. “I was ten.”

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m not taking any chances.”

I didn’t want to either. It would be a long time before the image of Nash and Adam fighting was out of my head. The flash of metal. The look of pain on Nash’s face. I could still hear Adam’s crazy ravings as Holt cuffed him, and we waited for Lawson to arrive. He cursed and threatened to end us all.

“All done,” Doc said, snapping off her gloves. “You know the drill. Keep the stitches dry. You can cover them with plastic wrap in the shower. Come back in two weeks to get them removed. But if they get red or tender to the touch,call. And I’ve got a prescription for painkillers here.”

“I doubt I’ll need them,” Nash said.

I grabbed the slip of paper. “We’ll fill them just in case.”

Doc smiled at me. “Good luck keeping this one in line for the next two weeks.” Her smile faltered for a moment. “I’m glad you’re both okay and that you got the son of a bitch.”

My throat clogged. I didn’t have words to respond.Thank youdidn’t exactly seem appropriate.

Nash patted her shoulder. “Thanks for patching me up.”

“How about you don’t come back for a while other than to get your stitches removed?”

He chuckled as he slid off the exam table. “I’ll do my best.”

Doc sighed. “Why does that worry me?”

Nash led me out of the clinic to the parking lot where Caden had left Nash’s SUV for us. I couldn’t help but stare at his T-shirt. The bloodstain wasn’t huge, but it was enough to leave a pit in my stomach.

I didn’t know how Nash was speaking to me, let alone touching me after all the trouble and heartache I’d brought into his life.

I cleared my throat, trying to force down the swirling thoughts. “Do you want me to drive?”

Nash gave me a gentle smile. “I’ve got a cut on my ribs, that’s it.”

I rolled my lips between my teeth and nodded.

We were both quiet on the way home, no noise but the hum of the engine. I was surprised the entire Hartley clan hadn’t been waiting in reception at the clinic, but Nash had assured them all that he was fine, talking to both his parents and Grae on the phone. I actually wished they were here with their loud, raucous energy. Anything to distract me from this painful quiet.

Nash slowed to a stop and turned off the SUV. I hurried to get out of the vehicle before there could be even more awkward silence. I rushed to the front door and then realized I didn’t have my keys. I guessed that happened when your crazy ex kidnapped you. There wasn’t exactly time to grab your purse.

“I’ve got it,” Nash said, moving beside me. “One of the techs took Clyde to my parents’.”

My heart clenched. “Was he okay?”

“A little freaked but fine. Mom has been feeding him all sorts of treats.”

“He’ll love that.” I moved inside, standing awkwardly in the living room. I could see the remnants of fingerprint powder in a few places.

“Mads…”

I didn’t want to turn to Nash. Didn’t want to see whatever lived in the expression on his face.

He moved in behind me, his heat seeping into my back. “Look at me.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to turn. Nash was right there. The way he always was. Nothing but open acceptance in his eyes. But then I saw it, the worry that lived beneath that.

“I’m so sorry,” I croaked.

Nash’s brows pulled together. “Mads, you have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who needs to apologize. If I hadn’t left—”

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