She stands and walks to the bathroom without saying a word. I go to walk past it to head downstairs when I hear her hiss in a breath. I peek in to see her trying to get out of my T-shirt she’s wearing. Becky brought it for her. Shelby suggested she wear something that opens up in the front for her to get in and out of easily, but she ignored her and chose one of my shirts. The girls had helped her dress at the hospital.
“Let me help you,” I suggest, entering the bathroom.
Her arms fall to her sides, and she sniffs. I reach into my front pocket and grab my knife. Flipping the blade open, I hold it up. Her eyes go to it and then to mine. Those green eyes that I first saw in the middle of the night in a cemetery stare back at me. They look different now. Less lost yet more terrified than I’ve ever seen them. I reach up and grab the collar and then slowly cut down the front, making sure to stay away from her skin.
“I liked that shirt,” she says in a soft voice once it’s cut in half, exposing her bare chest and stomach. I can see the bandage that covers up her scar, and my fist tightens on the knife. I wish I could stab Kellan with it. “It smelled like you.”
I smile at her, ignoring the rage that wants a release. I have to change for her. I can change for her. “I have plenty more where it came from.” Putting the knife away, I reach out and place my hand in the waistband of her black yoga pants and slowly push them down her legs. It reminds me of prom; only I won’t be tossing her onto the bed once they’re off. After she steps out of them, I straighten to my full height. I lean in and kiss her on the forehead. “Take a shower, sweetheart. I’ll be downstairs when you’re done.”
_______________
An hour later, I’m sitting on the couch talking to Deke and Bennett when she comes down the stairs. Her hair is down and still a little damp from the shower. Her perfect face free of makeup and smiling at me. She looks stunning. Her bruises from Kellan’s hands have finally healed. She wears another T-shirt of mine, and I frown, wondering why she didn’t holler at me to help her get it on. And a pair of my sweatpants. Both swallow her.
“How are you feeling?” Bennett asks her as she sits down next to me.
I pull her into my side and kiss her hair. I inhale that familiar smell that I missed so fucking much.
“Much better.” She gives him a smile. “It’s amazing what being home will do for you.”
Home? Does she see this place as her home? I sure hope so. I could totally see her, Lilly, and me living here if we didn’t have a house waiting for us in Texas. As much as I’ve loved this place, I can’t wait to get out of this town and away from this life. Maybe Becky was right, and Austin always has been my fresh start.
He nods as if understanding, and then the room falls silent. The guys know how much I’ve told her and what I don’t want her to know. Some things are just better kept between us.
“Is something wrong?” she asks when the silence lingers.
Bennett runs a hand through his hair nervously. And Deke looks up at the ceiling.
“Austin?”
She turns to face me completely, and I can see the fear in her eyes. “What did you do, Cole?” I hate how panicked she sounds. “Please tell me that whatever you did, you covered your tracks?”
“Of course, we did.” Deke snorts. “We’re sharks, after all. Not fucking stupid.”
“We?” Her voice squeaks. “You all took part in killing Kellan?”
He nods at her. “Well, I let Cole do the job. I just made sure Kellan didn’t get away while he took care of him.”
She flinches in my arms at the way Deke speaks so carelessly of someone we once considered a brother.
“Once it was over, we called Bennett. He got rid of the body.”
She sits up straighter. “How did you do it?” All she cares about is protecting me and making sure I didn’t fuck up. It makes me smile. “Did you make sure no one will find him? Please tell me that you guys didn’t bury him. You did a shitty job with Jeff.”
Bennett chuckles.
Deke snorts as if she insulted him. “Dive tanks. Bennett tied what was left of his lifeless body to a couple of dive tanks. Took his father’s speed boat out for a night swim in the ocean and threw his ass into the water.”
“Doubt there’s much left of his body now,” Bennett adds.
“What …?” She trails off as her eyes meet mine.
I had used her plan. She had told me that very thing when I asked her how she would get rid of a body if she ever killed someone. And I must say, I felt much better that sharks were eating his rotting corpse at the bottom of the ocean. It was very poetic.
“Did you guys ever find his car?” she asks.
Deke nods. “It was at his house.”
She frowns. “So how did he get there?”
He shrugs. “Sounds like your idea that maybe Celeste picked him up was the only possibility.”
“I don’t know …” she says slowly, her voice trailing off. “Why would he not drive? They were fighting. I don’t think he planned for me to show up, but I think he planned to hurt her. He wouldn’t have had a way home once he killed her. It doesn’t make sense.”
We all agree with her.
Bennett’s phone goes off, signaling a message. After he reads it, he stands. “Well, I will let you all get some rest. Boys, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“I’m gonna leave too,” Deke says, following him.
“Oh, wait.” I unwrap her from underneath my arm and stand. Pulling out a key, I hand one over to Bennett. “I changed the locks.”
He nods and places it in his pocket. “Thanks.”
I close up the door after they walk out and then go back to the couch. “Let’s go to bed.” We make our way upstairs.
“Why did you change the locks?” she asks.
“Deke suggested it.” Lie. I changed them because all the sharks have a key to this place, and I no longer trust Shane.
She nods, believing me. “What about Deke? You didn’t give him one.”
“I did the other day. Plus, he will be in Texas with us. Bennett is staying here for school.”
She’s pushing the sweatpants down her legs when she changes the subject. “Where is Lilly?”
“She is staying with Blanche tonight,” I answer, pulling the covers back.
She nods. “Have you spoken to your dad about Texas?”
I walk around the bed and over to her. “Yes.”
“And?” she urges.
“It’s fine, Austin. Stop worrying.” I grab the hem of my shirt she’s wearing.
She takes a step back, but I don’t let go. “Don’t cut this one.”
“I’m not,” I tell her with a smile. “I’m gonna help you out of it.”
I roll it up in my hands and then help her get one arm out at a time. This one is a bigger size, so it’s easier for her to get on and off. Once it’s on the ground, I look over her body as she stands in a pair of little baby blue underwear. You can see her ribs. More than before. Her hips bones are more noticeable too. I run my thumbs over them. She still has bruises from her chest tube and IV. And one peeks out under a fresh bandage.
“Cole.” She takes my hands in hers and pulls them away from her. “Your dad—”