Safe with Me (With Me in Seattle, #5)(72)

“Thank you,” I murmur and follow Caleb out of the room where a wheelchair is waiting for me. He helps me into the chair and pushes me slowly to the elevator and out to his car.

He gently takes my uninjured hand and helps me from the chair to the car, scowling when I wince. After I’m settled, he shuts my door and joins me in the car.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m sore,” I admit. “Tired.”

“Brynna, I’m so f*cking sorry. For everything.”

I settle back against the seat and close my eyes.

“Can we talk when we get to my house?” I ask. “I want to be able to see you when you answer my questions.”

“Sure,” he responds and reaches over to lay his hand on my thigh, but I pull it away. “Can I fix this, Bryn?” He asks with a whisper.

“I don’t know,” I reply.

We ride in silence to the house, and when we pull into the driveway, he goes through the motions again of helping me from the car and inside.

“Couch or bed?” He asks.

“Couch. I don’t have the energy to climb the stairs.”

“I’ll carry you.”

“Couch,” I repeat, ignoring his scowl. I lower myself into the corner of the sofa and adjust the pillows until I’m as comfortable as can be.

Until I need to readjust everything in about four minutes.

“Sit on the ottoman,” I order him. I want to see him square on when we’re talking. I need to see his face. His eyes.

He complies and leans forward, his elbows on his knees and watches my face.

“I hate that you’re hurt,” he mutters.

“I’m not enjoying it myself,” I reply dryly.

“I want to kill him,” he growls, and I can see that he means every single word.

“I understand he’s in jail,” I respond and watch him for a moment. “Where did you go?”

“You don’t know?” He asks with surprise.

“No. I wouldn’t let anyone talk about you around me.”

He flinches. “I was in San Diego, on a training contract with the Navy.”

“SEALs,” I guess.

“Yeah,” he nods. “The contract is over now. I’m going back to work at the old job.”

“You hurt my kids,” I blurt, unable to keep it in anymore. “You hurt me too, but the most important thing is that you hurt them, and they didn’t deserve that.”

“I know,” he sighs. “I’m so sorry I said the things I did. I didn’t mean any of it, I swear. I just didn’t know how to make you let me go. I got scared, Bryn.”

“Why?” I demand. “What is it about the three of us that’s so f*cking scary to a Navy SEAL, Caleb?”

“I didn’t know how to handle the way I felt about you,” he begins and swallows. “How I feel.”

“And how is that?”

“I love you so much it hurts,” he responds immediately, his eyes holding mine.

I will not cry!

“So you think you can come waltzing back in here and profess your love for me and that makes it all better?”

He swears under his breath and shakes his head.

“I’m here to apologize, first and foremost. I had a long talk with the girls last night before you kicked me out of your room and before your dad took them home.”

“You did?” I ask, surprised, and worried that he’s got their hopes up again.

“I apologized to them, and hugged them, and we got some things worked out.”

“What, exactly, did you get worked out with two six-year-olds?” I ask with a laugh.

“I’ll get to that,” he responds with a grin, showing me his dimples, and I want to cave right then.

Those damn dimples get me every time.

I try to move in the sofa to find a comfortable position and cry out when I bump my shoulder.

“Hey, easy,” he croons and helps me rearrange the pillows behind me. “Easy, baby.”

“Don’t call me baby,” I whisper.

“Why not?” He whispers back.

“It hurts,” I admit and close my eyes. “Having you here hurts far worse than these injuries, Caleb.”

“I’m sorry,” he repeats, and I’m just sick of hearing it.

“You know what, I think I will go up to my bedroom.” I stand, wincing but proud of myself for not crying out.

“Let me help you, damn it!” He stands next to me, ready to wrap his arms around me, but I move away.

“I can do this on my own. My legs aren’t hurt.”

Without another word, I slowly walk to the stairway and up the steps, one at a time, gripping the handrail for balance.

Getting onto the bed and into a comfortable position is pure hell. I don’t bother to try to change my clothes or get under the covers.

I just want to sleep.

I want to sleep with Caleb’s arms holding me, but that’s not going to happen.

Tears fall down my face as I lean my head back against the headboard and pray for a dreamless sleep to claim me.

***

I wake with a start, gasping for breath. It’s still light out, and glancing at the clock, I see I’ve only been asleep for an hour.