Page 84 of Shattered By Grace

His gaze met hers, something unreadable in those deep whiskey-colored eyes.

She swallowed, her voice hoarse. “Why are you doing this?”

A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips, but it was softer than usual. “Because it’s what you needed.”

Something cracked inside her. She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against his chest, letting the steady rise and fall of his breath ground her.

For the first time in a long time, she let herself lean on someone else.

And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t afraid.

The warmth of the water had long since seeped into her bones, dulling the worst of the panic. The trembling had mostly subsided, but the weight in her chest still lingered. Tristan shifted beneath her, his arms tightening briefly before he sighed.

“Alright, tough girl,” he murmured, voice softer than she’d ever heard it. “Let’s get you out of here before we both end up with pneumonia.”

Victoria blinked up at him, still dazed. “Didn’t take you for the nurturing type, Locke.”

His lips twitched. “Don’t get used to it.”

Before she could respond, he moved, standing effortlessly before reaching for a towel. He draped it over her shoulders, his fingers grazing her arms as he pulled it snugly around her. The scratchy fabric should’ve been uncomfortable, but the way he wrapped it around her—careful, deliberately—sent an unfamiliar warmth through her.

He grabbed another towel and gently cupped her cheek with it, the roughness of the fabric contrasting against the tenderness of his touch.

His thumb ghosted over her skin, his brows pulling together as he studied her face. “Are you really okay?” His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried so much weight.

Victoria swallowed, her throat still tight.

She wasn’t sure how to answer.

Physically? She’d been worse. Mentally? She was unraveling at the seams.

She tried to smirk, tried to summon some semblance of her usual snark, but it fell flat. “I’m fine.”

Tristan’s jaw ticked. He didn’t call her out on the lie, but the way his eyes searched hers made it clear he didn’t believe a damn word.

After a long pause, he exhaled and pulled back just enough to tug the towel further around her. “Come on,” he said, voice quieter now. “You need to eat. Then sleep.”

She wanted to argue, but her stomach betrayed her with a low, humiliating growl.

Tristan arched a brow, his smirk returning full force. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

She scowled. “I hate you.”

His grin deepened as he guided her toward the locker room exit with a steady hand at her back. “Sure you do, love.”

The cool night air hit her damp skin, making her shiver, but Tristan was already leading her toward his car. Above them, clouds loomed heavy, blotting out the stars. A gust of wind whipped past, carrying the scent of rain.

She barely noticed at first, exhaustion weighing her down. It wasn’t until they were halfway through the drive that something felt… off.

A storm had been threatening all night, thickening the air, pressing in around them.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the road ahead for a split second before plunging them back into darkness. BOOM. Thunder cracked, sharp and sudden, rattling through her bones.

Instinct took over before she could think. Victoria’s fingers closed around Tristan’s hand where it rested on the gear shift, gripping tight.

He didn’t flinch. If anything, his fingers curled slightly, as if he was holding her right back.

The car hummed around them, rain now pattering against the windshield. The tension between them, once simmering beneath the surface, crackled like the storm outside.

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