Sheltered

Chapter 7

Luca

“Hey, we’re landing.” Austin’s soft voice has me bolting upright in panic. “Shh, you’re alright.”

My ears are popping from the descent, and it’s making my head hurt worse. It’s also making my stomach turn like I might puke, so I’m not sure I am alright. But I’m also almost home. And that counts for something.

I made it. Damien didn’t find me. I didn’t talk myself out of it. I’m here. “How are we getting to your place?”

“I left my truck at the airport.”

I nod, glancing around the plane before settling my gaze on Austin. “We made it.”

He gives me a blinding smile, even though he’s got exhausted shadows in his eyes. “We did. Told you.”

Tension seeps from my body. “I’m so tired.”

Austin sighs. “Yeah, me too. When we get home, we’ll nap.

I’ll need to run to the store, I think—grab an air mattress.

” I glance at him in confusion, so he clarifies.

“I only have a one-bedroom.” Oh. Well, I didn’t think this through, did I?

“It’s no big deal. I’ll just put you in my room, and I’ll take the living room. ”

What? “No. I can’t take your room.”

Austin’s eyebrows draw together. “It’s not a big deal, Luc. I want you to have privacy. We’ll have to share the closet, probably, but it’s fine.”

My heart tries to pound its way out of my chest, my hands going clammy.

If I had known it was going to put him out, I wouldn’t have called him.

Sleeping on the couch in his own house? I don’t even have a job.

I can’t contribute in any meaningful way.

I’ll never be able to rest if I know he’s not comfortable in his own house.

“Austin, no. Please. I can’t—I… no, I can’t take your room. ”

Austin’s eyes widen. “Alright. Okay, that’s fine. You can stay wherever you feel most comfortable.”

I sag against the seat. “Thank you.”

After we land, we disembark quickly, and I couldn’t be more thankful. I’m exhausted and stressed. I’m also hungry. I don’t even remember the last time I ate, but I feel like I’m seconds from keeling over.

Austin carries my bag through the airport. There’s a part of me that wants to take it from him. I don’t want to put him out any more than I already have, but I’m sore, and he really doesn’t seem to mind, so if he’s fine with it, I’m happy to have the help.

I follow him through the small airport and to the parking garage where he left his truck. He tosses my bag into the back seat and offers me his hand to help me in. I’m too tired to argue that I can do it myself, so I take his hand and let him help me.

He’s quiet, so I look out the window instead of trying to engage him in conversation. I wish the circumstances were better and that I wasn’t running from Damien, because I’ve missed this.

The endless fields. Being able to see the horizon. Wide open spaces and clean air. I roll my window down, letting the cool air whip through my hair, and inhale a deep breath. My eyes slip closed as I breathe in the smell of home.

When I start to get cold, I close the window and sit back in my seat. I can feel a smile tugging at my lips, and it feels good. So good. Better than I thought was possible for me to feel.

Just breathing in the air has my body relaxing, the nostalgia and peace washing over me.

By the time we’re approaching town, I’m so hungry I can’t even think. “Fuck. I would kill for some of your mom’s grilled cheese right now.”

Austin chuckles. “I can make that happen.”

I shake my head. “No. I’m not… I don’t think I’m ready to see them yet.”

“That’s okay.” I turn in my seat to stare at the side of Austin’s face. “When we get home, I’ll get you settled, then I’ll make you some.”

“Really?”

Austin glances at me. “’Course. It’s easy to make.”

But… “How do I know you can make it right?”

Austin laughs. His loud, booming, larger-than-life laugh, and I find myself laughing too. “It’s cheese and bread, Luc. I’ve been making it since I was a teen.”

“Okay. Fine. But as soon as I’m ready to see her, I’m gonna have to sweet-talk her into making me some.” We turn into a driveway, or at least I think it’s a driveway. I guess it could be a gravel road. “Where are we going?”

“My place is back here.”

We aren’t even in town yet. We’re still a couple of miles out, and there’s basically nothing else out here. “Wow. You’re even more in the middle of nowhere than town is.”

“I like it. It’s quiet. I think you’ll like it too.”

I don’t really care if I like it or not.

It could be a shack in the woods, and it’ll be better than what I’ve been dealing with.

We drive into some deep woods, then further until we come to a clearing.

In the center, there’s a small cottage. It’s rustic and charming, with a small covered front porch. “It’s adorable.”

There are woods surrounding the house, but it has a large backyard with a swing and a covered gazebo, and for some reason, the thought of sitting there and writing flashes through my mind. God, I bet it would be so easy to come up with ideas out here.

“Thanks. The owner gave me the option to buy it, but I don’t know if I will. I know it’s just me—and well, you now too—but I don’t know. I kind of want more house space.”

“Makes sense.” I look around. “How much land is here?”

“Close to fifty acres.”

Holy shit, I’ve missed being home so much. It’s small. Small town. Small population. But it’s big too. Big, open spaces teeming with wildlife and trees and wildflowers. “Are there honeysuckles?” I ask, turning to Austin.

He cocks his head to the side with a bemused grin. “There are. Won’t be blooming until spring, though.”

Yeah, that makes sense, but at least I get to celebrate Christmas here.

I hope we get snow. I love snow, but it’s not as fun in the city.

Snow here always felt… quiet. Like a blanket over the ground.

It was peaceful. Snow in Cincy is always…

dirty. Dark and slushy from being scraped and driven over.

Even when it’s falling, it doesn’t give the same peaceful, calm feeling that snow does here.

Austin pushes open his door and climbs out of the truck, so I do the same. I’m just breathing in the air when he grabs my bag. “Well, I can show you around inside if you’d like.”

I would like, so I gesture. “Lead the way.” I follow Austin onto the porch, my eyes scanning my surroundings with each step. God, I forgot how good it feels to be enveloped by this. When Austin opens the front door, I almost laugh. “You don’t lock the doors?”

Austin shrugs. “Why would I? There’s no one around. You’d basically blink and miss the place.”

That’s fair, I suppose. And even if he wasn’t in the middle of nowhere, it’s not like Silverpine is a mecca of crime anyway. I think the sheriff and his two deputies probably fight more boredom than crime.

We step over the threshold, and I take in the space.

It’s cozy—lived in. The walls are a sage green, the hardwood floors rich and real.

Not some cheap vinyl or laminate. The couch looks fluffy and well-loved.

There are two mismatched throw blankets tossed haphazardly over the back of it.

The living room leads directly into the kitchen.

It’s small, with just enough space for one, maybe two people to cook if they were standing close together.

“It’s not much,” Austin says, taking a step toward the couch. “But it’s home for now.”

“It’s perfect. I love it.”

Austin turns to me with a grin. “The only bathroom is through the bedroom, so you’ll have to come through there to use it.” That’s a little strange, but okay. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

I follow Austin into the bedroom. His bed’s not made, but it’s huge. Definitely a king, and it takes up most of the floor space, leaving room for a path on each side and a dresser along the wall.

My skin starts to crawl. I shouldn’t be here. Not in his private space. Not with Damien’s touch—his cum—still ruining me and my skin. I take a step backward, then another.

“Whoa, hey, what’s going on?” Austin asks, eyes widening with alarm.

I shake my head. Try to shake the thoughts away. This is Austin. This town is my home. I do belong here. I just… I need to— “Can I shower?” I blurt out.

Austin’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “Of course.” He sets my bag down on the bed, then pushes open the bathroom door. “Towels on the shelf there. There’s a toothbrush under the sink. Help yourself to anything in there you want to use.”

I inhale a deep breath. “Okay. Thank you.”

“I’m gonna go start on some food. Do you want soup or anything to go with your grilled cheese? I think I’ve got some veggie soup in the freezer still that Ma sent home with me last week.”

Oh hell yes. “Yes, please.” I catch myself at the last second. “As long as it’s not too much trouble.”

Austin shakes his head. “Not at all. Go ahead and shower. I’ll get food made, and then we can sit back and relax for a bit.”

I nod, waiting until Austin leaves the bedroom to open my bag and pull out some clean clothes. After I step into the bathroom, I shut the door behind me, locking it with a soft click, even though I’m sure I don’t need to.

I turn on the water and strip down quickly, avoiding my reflection in the mirror as I do. When steam is billowing out, I step under the hot spray, a shudder working its way through my body as the heat and heavy beat of the water work to soothe my aches and pains.

For a long while, I just stand there, but when my stomach growls loudly enough to echo off the walls, I work on cleaning myself.

I scrub my skin until it hurts, but carefully where the worst of the bruises are.

The worst part is that even when the bruises are gone, I fear the ghost of Damien’s touch will never leave me.

There’s no soap strong enough to wash away what he’s done. No washcloth is heavy-duty enough to scrub away the shame that lives under my skin. No amount of heated water can burn away the helplessness of what I let happen to me.

By the time I’m out of the shower and dry, I can’t see myself in the fogged-up mirror, and I don’t bother wiping it off so I can. I just carefully pull on my sweatpants and t-shirt and step out of the bathroom.

Austin’s humming, and listening to his rich baritone feels like coming home as much as the fields did.

He used to sing all the time when we were young.

It drove me absolutely crazy when we had sleepovers.

Only because it seemed like he had endless energy, and I wanted to sleep.

If he tries that shit now, I’m probably going to sleep on the porch.

For a second, I almost forget about what a freak show I must look like, until I step out of the bedroom and Austin’s eyes settle on my throat. I bring my hand up on instinct, wanting to cover the bruising. He looks away quickly, but it doesn’t really matter. “I know it’s bad,” I mumble.

Austin nods, looking down as he fills two bowls with soup.

It smells delicious, and my mouth is damn near watering.

“It is. It honestly just pisses me off.” Shame curdles my stomach, my breath catching in my throat.

Austin picks up the food, settling his eyes on me again.

“That fucker had some nerve putting his hands on you like that.”

“Oh. You’re not mad at me?”

Austin freezes, his lips turning down at the corners. “What? No. God no, Luc.”

Fuck. Why would he be? I didn’t do anything wrong. Damien did. I nod. “Okay. Good. I’m starving.”

A blinding smile lights up Austin’s face. “Good.” He sits down on the couch, placing both plates in front of him on the table. “Come on, then.”

I sit down beside him, letting the scent of the soup infiltrate my senses. I groan at the smell. I can’t help it. Holy fuck, it’s been so long since I’ve had Deb’s cooking. Austin chuckles. “Dig in.”

Don’t have to tell me twice. I lean forward carefully, then decide that I don’t want to take any chances on spilling any soup, so instead I slide off the couch onto the floor, resting my back against it.

The first bite is actual heaven. Warm and hearty.

I close my eyes as the flavors explode across my tongue.

Then I pick up the grilled cheese and take a bite.

It’s so good. Austin wasn’t kidding. He can make some damn good grilled cheese.

“It’s not as good as your mom’s,” I tease, glancing up at him. “It’s alright, though.”

His lips turn up at the corners as he shakes his head at me. “You’re a liar. I make it the same way she does.”

I shrug, shoving another mouthful of soup in my mouth. “Must not. Otherwise it would be as good as hers.”

Austin scoffs but doesn’t have a response to that.

It really is as good as Deb’s, but I like this—our easy banter, the light conversation.

It feels like nothing’s changed, like the years of spotty contact and me pulling away didn’t do any real damage to our friendship.

It still feels comfortable and familiar.

Like we did this last week and not years ago.

And right now? I need that. I need to know that I can still be Luca.

That the bruises and scars on my body don’t define me. That Austin sees me as more than that.

By the time my belly is full, I’m nearly falling asleep on the floor.

“Hey, Luc?”

“Mmm?” I hum, fighting to keep my eyes open.

“Climb up here if you’re going to fall asleep. Can’t have you giving yourself a crick in the neck.”

He’s most likely right. It’s not like my neck could possibly hurt worse than it already does, but I still probably shouldn’t push it. I lift myself onto the couch and curl up on the end, drawing my knees to my chest.

“Let me get you some more medicine, alright?” Austin asks, but his voice is already fading, my mind already fading too. God, I’m so fucking tired. I hope I can sleep until tomorrow.

Something soft and warm lands on me, but I’m too out of it to pay much attention to what it is. I think I hear Austin tell me I’m safe here, but I can’t be sure.