Chapter 3 #2
I nod and take off towards my bedroom. I pull a pair of socks and my briefs, hoping the elastic band is enough to stay on her hips since most of what I own will drown her petite frame. Stopping in front of my closet, I grab her a jumper.
My favorite one.
Not because I want to see her wearing it. No. Absolutely not. It’s just the softest one I have and her delicate skin has been through enough. That’s it.
I leave the clothes for her outside the hall bathroom door and return to my own. The water runs red as I clean my split knuckles. I stand under the spray longer than I usually do, letting the boiling water cleanse my tight muscles.
She’s okay. She’s here. She’s safe.
Sydney is sitting at the island when I enter the kitchen.
I pause in the doorway, watching her bare legs swing.
Her blonde hair seems to glow in contrast to the darkness of the jumper.
While it’s odd to see her in anything that isn’t near eye searingly bright, she looks damn good in my clothes. Too good.
I walk over to the kettle and wordlessly prepare her favorite drink for when she’s feeling down. Turning, I place the hot chocolate with extra marshmallows in front of her. She smiles at me before reaching for the cup.
Gasping, she hops down from her seat and rushes around the island until she’s standing almost flush against me. Her hand reaches for mine and she gently runs her thumb over my swollen knuckles.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine.”
“It doesn’t even hurt that—”
She spins away before I can finish. I watch as she moves around the kitchen, an odd feeling warming my chest at her confidence in the space. She doesn’t ask where anything is, knowing exactly what she’s looking for and where she will find it.
I stay silent as she moves back to my side and takes my hand in hers, placing a makeshift ice pack over the angry flesh. “This will help with the swelling,” she murmurs.
My jaw clenches as the pain starts to creep in the more I give it attention. I don’t look away even when she catches me watching her and when her blue eyes lock with my almost black ones, everything fades.
The throbbing in my hand.
The regret of last night.
The fear of what could have happened.
She’s okay. She’s here. She’s safe.
The doorbell ringing breaks us out of our collective trance and my jaw clenches when she looks away. With one last squeeze, I pull my hand from hers and head for the front door. Two officers greet me on the other side.
“Are you Lawson Moore?”
“I am. What can I do for you?”
They share a look and I brace myself for what I already know is coming. I saw the videos I’ve been tagged in circling social media already when I turned my phone on after my shower.
“Lawson?”
I glance over my shoulder at Sydney and instinctively step in front of her, shielding her from their view. “Everything’s fine.”
“Sir, can you step outside for me?”
Sydney’s eyes bounce between me and the officers on my front porch. She looks at me with furrowed eyebrows as I follow their request. The cold bites into the bare skin of my arms but I refrain from shoving my hands into my pockets.
“There’s been charges pressed against you for the events of last night at The Vault. We need you to come down to the station with us to answer some questions.”
The door behind me is pushed wider and Sydney moves to my side. “What’s happening?” I lean past her and grab a pair of my trainers, slipping my feet into them. “What are you doing?”
Standing to my full height, I tuck a windblown piece of hair behind her ear. “I have to go with them, but I promise, it’ll be okay.”
“Is this about last night?”
“Yes.”
“But—”
“Hey.” I lower my voice and step closer to her, bending to lay my forehead against hers. “It’s going to be okay. You’re okay.”
“Lawson,” she whimpers, her shaking hand holding tight to my fingers.
I step back towards the officers who patiently wait at the bottom of the patio stairs. Her wide eyes don’t stray from me and she takes a step forward when I pull my hand from hers.
“Wait. Please, he didn’t do anything wrong!” she calls out, racing after us as we approach the police car. “Please, just wait,” she pleads breathlessly.
“Miss, I’m sorry, but claims have been made. If you have something you need to add, you’re more than welcome to come down to the station and give a statement.”
“But he saved me,” she whispers.
“Sunshine, it’s okay.” Her tear-filled eyes whip to me and her face crumples.
“No it’s not.” She turns back to the officers. “I was attacked last night and Lawson defended me. He saved me!”
The police officers watch her with a soft expression and the higher-ranked one steps forward. “I’m very sorry that happened, truly, but until there’s an official report, there’s nothing more we can do. Like my partner said, you can come down to the station—”
“But—”
“I’m sorry, miss. Our hands are tied right now and we have to take him in. But I urge you to come down and make your statement if you think it will help his case.”
Her shoulders drop and I step towards her. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. This is the price of what I did, but it’s okay.”
“How is any of this okay?”
“Because you’re safe. You are safe and that is all that matters to me.”
I quickly press my lips against her forehead and step back. The police officers help me into the back of their vehicle and I don’t take my eyes off a shivering Sydney as we pull away from the curb.
She’s okay. She’s here. She’s safe.
She’s worth all of this and so much more.