Chapter 4 #2
After rinsing her hair out, I grab the puff thing I’ve seen hanging in Gabby’s shower and add body wash. I efficiently scrub her front, trying to be extra careful of her wounds, but she doesn’t flinch even though the soapy water should sting. I avoid going between her legs and rinse her off.
“Lean forward, Shortie.” She bends, elbows resting on her thighs.
I gather up her hair and slide it over her shoulder, then scrub her back and as much of her legs as I can.
Rinsing her off, I tilt her chin up. “Can you get the rest?” I ask.
I’m not a fucking saint, but I don’t want to touch her pussy and trigger her.
She nods, so I pass her the pouf and turn around. I pick up on a few pants over the sound of water hitting tile, then she asks for the handheld. I grab it, holding it behind my back. After a minute, she taps my arm. I turn, take the handheld and hang it up. “You good?”
“Yeah, thanks, Nick. Can you run the bath for me? There are Epsom salts on the counter. Pour a bunch into the tub, please.” Her arm is across her chest as she looks down at the floor tiles.
Nodding, I hop out, wrap a towel around my waist, and leave the shower running to keep her warm.
Dumping a bunch of salt into the tub, I turn the faucet on and watch the water fill.
Once there’s enough, I step back into the shower and lift her off the bench, gently setting her in the bathtub. “Thank you,” she whispers.
“Welcome Shortie. I need to shower. You okay if I do that while you soak?” She nods without lifting her eyes from the water. I find more towels in the vanity, placing one on the tub edge and hanging another over the shower.
Zander
I find the coach’s number first and call, assuring her that Summer is home and out of harm’s way.
The call to Sarah goes relatively easily. She’s very concerned about Summer, but she’s professional, asking pertinent questions, telling me to call with any updates or for Summer to call her directly.
The call to Sue is much harder. She breaks down crying when I tell her what happened to Summer. We talk for a while, after which she offers to call Mal and fill her in. I thank her as Troy comes into the office. “How are you holding up?” He asks.
“Fuck man. I don’t know. I just keep moving forward to the next thing,” I say, running my hands down my face, filling him in on what I know so far.
“We’re looking for at least two more people,” he says.
“I’m wagering one of them is Cara, but it could simply be friends of Ben. We’ll see what Sean finds out by morning.”
“Nick will keep looking if it’s not figured out by then.”
“Knowing him, he’s already looking,” I reply. “How is Seb?”
“Fine. Still a slight headache, but nothing more. Gabs freaked out. By the way, you’ll probably have a house full tonight. Seb brought an overnight bag and enough clothes for the guys.”
“I don’t mind. Those kids saved her today.”
“Do you need anything from me?” Troy asks.
“No man. Just keep Finn going until this shit gets sorted.”
“You don’t need to ask Z. I’m going to say hi to Summer and take Gabs home,” he replies. We get up and walk out of the office. Everyone is scattered around the living room. “Is Summer still in the tub? Where’s Nick?” I ask.
The guys exchange looks, and then Alex stands up. I have a hunch I won't like what he says. “Nick is helping Summer since she cannot stand right now,” Alex explains.
It takes a minute for his words to sink in, then I immediately try to charge him as Troy pulls me back into a bear hug. “He’s showering with my sixteen year old daughter right now?” I growl.
“Think Z,” Alex says, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. “She cannot stand or walk right now. Her legs have seized. She does not like strangers touching her. Nick has already seen her naked,” Alex says.
“Not helping,” I grit out as I struggle in Troy’s arms.
“She would not let you help her, and she was desperate to wash Ben off. Summer nearly went into a panic, begging us to help her get the feel of him off her. She chose Nick. He is not naked in there. He is clothed. You know he would never hurt her.”
Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths and nod to Alex in acknowledgment. “I need a minute,” I say, pulling out of Troy’s arms and walking to my bedroom. I yank on my hair as I pace in my room. My sweet girl. Too many hardships have filled her young life.
“Taking a shower with the help of her friend, whom you trust, isn’t near the top of the list of things to be mad about today,” Troy points out.
“I know,” I sigh. “That was just the tipping point, I think.”
“I figured. Take a hot shower and calm down before she returns to the living room. Don’t add your issues to her plate today. I’m going to head out with Gabs, if you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. Thanks for stopping by, man.”
“Of course, Z. I’ll check in tomorrow,” he says, tapping the door frame and walking out.
Summer
I may look like a tomato, but asking Nick for help was the right decision. Not only has he already seen me naked, but I knew he wouldn’t make a fuss or try to talk to me the whole time. He efficiently cleaned me up and got me in the tub, and I appreciate that so much right now.
Turning off the water when it’s high enough, I grab the towel he left me and wrap my hair up while I listen to him in the shower.
The salt is stinging my cuts, but I’m clean.
I try to massage my legs, but my arms are as useless as a chocolate kettle.
I can’t press hard enough to make a difference. A problem for later, I tell myself.
The shower turns off, and I hear the whoosh of a towel. I feel awkward listening, but there's no other sounds in the bathroom. It’s secretly a welcome distraction right now.
The shower door opens, and Nick comes over with a towel wrapped around his waist. “Okay?” He asks.
“Yeah, thanks.” My being able to appreciate the display of beautifully sculpted muscles covered in tattoos makes me feel a little more sane. I’m literally bruised, but not broken.
Nick steps back towards the vanity, and I hear a zipper open. He must be retrieving clothes from the bag he brought in here. After some rustling, he sits on the floor with his back against the tub. “How long do you soak?” He asks.
“Half an hour usually, but I’m not sure it’s going to help my legs much tonight,” I reply.
“Why?” He asks, keeping his eyes facing the wall.
“They’re full of lactic acid, and I don’t have the strength to massage or stretch them out right now.”
“Stay as long as you want, and I’ll help you out,” he replies.
I lean my head back onto the edge of the tub with a deep inhale and close my eyes, trying to relax.
Shadows of fear fill the container of my mind.
Visions of Ben gather like a snowball rolling downhill.
Bad idea Summer. I quickly open my eyes and stare out the window.
The nightmares tonight are going to be terrible.
I try rubbing my legs again, but it’s not happening, so I decide to drain the tub, understanding that once the water empties, I can dry off and Nick can give me my robe.
“Getting out?” He asks, not looking back at me.
“Yeah, once the tub drains, can you pass me a towel? I’ll get dried off, then you can give me my robe hanging on the door.”
When the water is gone, Nick gets up and gives me a clean towel when I ask. It’s harder than you’d think to dry off while sitting in a tub. I’m a worm wiggling on a fishing hook, but I do my best. I end up placing the towel under my butt to dry my backside.
After he passes me my robe without staring, he gently picks me up and carries me to my room, setting me on the bed. “Clothes?” He asks with a raised eyebrow.
While I felt my flushed skin cooling after covering up, it’s quickly warming up again under Nick’s direct stare and the thought of him assisting me in getting dressed. “Top drawer on the left for underwear and socks. Sweatpants and a t-shirt from the closet, please.”
Nick grabs my clothes for me and sets them on the bed.
Lowering himself, he grabs the underwear and slips each foot through the leg openings.
He pulls them up as far as possible before repeating the process with the sweatpants.
Next, he puts on my socks for me. Picking up the tee, he pulls it over my towel-covered head.
He turns around, so I pull my robe down to my waist and finish putting on my t-shirt.
It’s unsettling being as helpless as a kitten. “Nick,” I call.
Turning back around, he looks me over. “I’ll lift you up,” he says, putting his hands under my arms.
“Shoot, wait. I need to rub some cream on my thighs.” I lean over to grab the jar on the nightstand, but Nick beats me to it.
After opening the jar and handing it to me, he pulls my pants and underwear back down below my knees and scoops out a dollop of cream and starts rubbing it into my thighs, around my cuts.
I suck in a breath at the pain, and Nick freezes. “It’s okay, keep rubbing. I knew it would hurt.”
He nods and keeps going, finishing first one leg and then the other. Grabbing the towel off my head, he wipes his hands, and then pulls my pants back up. Placing his hands under my arms, he lifts my butt off the bed, and I quickly wiggle my underwear and pants up into place.
“There’s a blue hoodie in my closet with gold lettering on the back. Can you grab it?” I ask. I need some extra comfort after the horrible, exhausting day I’ve had, and Jake’s hoodie will help.
Nick finds it for me and pulls it on over my head, then gathers me up into his arms again and carries me back out to the couch. He settles me into the corner and heads back down the hallway.
Seb quickly sits beside me and puts his arm gently around my shoulders. “Hi Sunshine,” he says, kissing my head.
“Hi Hurry,” I respond as l lean into him. E must have arrived while I was in the bathroom, so I say hi to him too.
Troy checks in with me and tells Gabby it’s time to leave. She comes over and squeezes my hand gently. “I’m glad you’re safe, Summer,” she says.
“Thanks, Gabby,” I smile at her. “I appreciate you stopping by.” She and Troy wave before leaving.
“Someone fill me in on what I missed,” Seb requests.
“Hurry,” I say. “Can we talk tomorrow? I don’t want to think about it anymore tonight.”
“Sure, Sunshine,” he agrees readily. “How about we get set up for a slumber party?” He asks.
“Really?” I say, liking the idea. Surrounding myself with people I can trust seems perfect right now.
“I think we need to be close tonight,” he says, looking at me. “Guys, I brought enough clothes for everyone to change if you want,” he tells them.
“Why don’t you grab the mattresses from the guest room and Summer’s bed and put them on the floor out here?” Zander offers, coming into the room. I glance over and notice that he has wet hair and fresh clothes on, too.
The guys scatter, hauling the mattresses and bedding out here as Seb moves the coffee table to the dining room. Zander brings extra pillows and blankets for me and Seb on the couch. “Can you grab my green pillow from my bed, Zander?”
“Sure, darling,” he responds, heading down the hallway.
“Is anyone hungry? We haven’t eaten since lunch,” E offers.
“Starving,” Seb replies, rubbing his belly.
E heads to the kitchen to make something to eat as Zander comes into the living room with my pillow.
I thank him and set it under my head, taking a deep breath of Jake’s cologne.
“Hey darling,” Zander says, standing by my feet.
“I called your coach, Sue, and Sarah earlier. Sue planned to inform Mal about the situation.”
“Ok thanks,” I nod. I hadn’t thought about that yet. He asks if I need anything, but I just want to rest for a bit. Zander seems lost right now. “Why don’t you sit with us for a while?” I offer. “Hurry, can you find a comedy to watch?” Zander smiles and settles in as Seb chooses a movie.
E serves up a platter of sandwiches, cut fruit, and cookies as Seb hits play.