Page 21 of Echoes of You

My hand cupped her cheek. “Hey, it’s me. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“I’m sorry I lost it on you.”

My thumb stroked over her smooth skin, rosy from sleep. “You’ve been through hell. The need to let all that go once you’re safe is natural.”

Her eyes lifted to mine again. “I hate how weak I’ve been.”

“The last thing you are is weak. You got out. You’re here. You did the hardest thing and got away. Now, we’re gonna get you fixed up so you can start healing.”

Maddie’s brow furrowed.

“I made an appointment for you at the clinic. We got a new doctor last year, and she’s great.”

Maddie shook her head. “It’s just bruised ribs. I’ll be fine. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Because then she’d have to answer questions. My hand trailed down her jaw to the back of her neck, and I squeezed gently. “We need to be sure. You could have broken ribs or something else. You need to get checked out.”

“I can’t, Nash. I can’t talk about this to anyone else. It’s hard enough that you know.”

“Please. For me.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “I can’t have anything happen to you.”

Maddie released a breath, the fight seeping out of her. “Okay, I’ll go.”

7

MADDIE

I shifted to a sitting position,my ribs screaming in protest. Talking to a doctor was the last thing I wanted to do, but maybe she’d have something that could help speed the healing along. This wasn’t the first time I’d had angry bruises littering my side, and I knew it took forever for the pain to subside.

Pushing to my feet, I stayed still until the worst of the pain had subsided. Nash was by my side in a flash, his boots already on. He gave me a reassuring smile, but I didn’t miss the worry on his face. Worry I’d put there…and not for the first time.

Guilt gnawed at me. It had been selfish of me to come home and bring this to Nash’s doorstep. But his comfort had been the only thing I wanted.

I’d loved Nash Hartley since the moment we met. That love had shifted and changed over the years from innocent, childish love to middle school crush to high school pining and beyond. But he’d never shown even the slightest interest in me, at least not as anything other than a friend.

A little piece of my soul had died every time I saw him with a different girl. None lasted longer than a handful of dates, but it killed me just the same. I’d thought that getting out of Cedar Ridge and getting a chance at a life with a man who truly wanted me would be the answer to all my problems. But I’d been so wrong.

Now, the only thing I wanted was my best friend at my side, even if that meant never having him completely. I’d rather have the echoes of him than anyone else.

Nash pressed his hand to my lower back. “Let’s hit the road. We can pick up burgers on the way home.”

My eyes flared. “The pizza.” We’d abandoned it on the picnic table.

Nash dropped a kiss to the top of my head. “We’ll get pizza another day. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

My throat burned. “Okay.”

He guided me out of the house and toward his SUV, stopping to grab my keys and lock up on the way. For as much of a daredevil as Nash was, he was always careful when it came to me.

I grinned at him. “Officer Overprotective in full effect?”

He scowled at me. “I’d hate to have all the furniture stolen out of the house. Oh, wait…”

I smacked his shoulder. “Shut up. I’m gonna get a couch at the secondhand store.”

Nash chuckled. “I’m coming with you.”

“Why?” I asked as I slid into the passenger seat.

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