Page 53 of Escape
“Take all the time you need,” he urged me. “You’re going to heal here, Josie. That’s the most important thing to me right now. I don’t care how long it takes or how often you need reminders about it. You’ll always be safe with me.”
I closed my eyes, and the air rushed forward with the sigh of relief that swept through me. My head dropped forward, landing in Huck’s chest, and as I took in several deep settling breaths, the scent of him wrapped around me like a soft, cozy blanket.
Eventually, I pulled my head back and looked up at him.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Do you want me to show you around so you can have the lay of the land?”
I nodded. “That’s probably not a bad idea.”
For the next few minutes, Huck gave me the tour of his home. We started on the first floor, where I was introduced to his kitchen, living room, dining room, study, and half bathroom. Then we climbed the stairs, Huck staying a step behind me and keeping his hand at the small of my back.
Every time he took me by the hand, drove his fingers through my hair, hugged me, or touched me tenderly to make sure I was steady as I walked, my belly trembled. But it didn’t happen in the way my belly used to tremble with the fear I felt. This was a different type of nervous tension. This was something enjoyable.
We made it to the top of the stairs, where Huck pointed to a door that was partially opened and said, “That’s one of the spare bedrooms.” He turned back to the right, took a few steps down the hallway in that direction, and pointed to a door on the left-hand side. “This is a bathroom. And right across the hall here, just a few feet up on the right side, is another guest bedroom.”
We moved toward that bedroom, and Huck swept his arm out toward it, indicating he wanted me to step inside ahead of him.
“This is nice,” I said.
“Yeah? I’m glad you think so, because this is where I was thinking of having you stay while you’re here,” he explained. “When I came back the day my mom all but forced me out of your hospital room, I took some time here to get this room ready for you. That’s why I was a little late getting back there.”
My eyes roamed over the space as I stepped deeper into the room. It was so cozy and spacious. And the bed looked unbelievably inviting. I reached my hand out and allowed my fingertips to drift over the thick blanket. It felt luxurious. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was going to be more comfortable here than I’d ever been anywhere else in my life.
“If you’d prefer to check out the other room at the opposite end of the hall, we can do that, too. I just want you to be comfortable,” he said.
Spinning around to face him, I replied, “Are you kidding me? Huck, this is lovely.”
I watched as his body relaxed slightly, some of the tension moving out of his neck and shoulders. Then he crossed the room and moved toward the dresser on the opposite side of the room. He pulled opened the drawers and said, “I had my mom run out to pick up a few things for you. I know your plan had been to pack up some of your things, but since that didn’t happen, I wanted to make sure you had something to wear. It’s enough to get you through the next few days. Whenever you’re ready, I can either take you out shopping to get some new things, or you can use my laptop and buy whatever you need online.”
For several long moments, I simply stared at him, feeling utterly stunned. “Are you… are you joking?”
Huck seemed a little unsure of himself. “Joking about what?”
“You sent your mom out to buy me some clothes?” I asked, tears pricking my eyes.
He shrugged indifferently. “I knew you were going to need some things to wear when you came home. I’m sure it’s not everything you’ll want or would have chosen if you’d picked it out yourself, but I hope it’ll be okay for the next couple of days as you’re resting and healing.”
Huck Davidson sent his mom out to buy me clothes. I hadn’t asked him to do it. I hadn’t even mentioned not getting any of the things I’d intended to get when I’d foolishly decided to have that one last night at Kurt’s place.
But this man just knew what I was going to need and took care of it. Like it was nothing. “I feel like I’m going to wake up at any moment and find out I’ve been dreaming,” I declared. “You’re the only person who has ever been this kind to me.”
Sympathy moved into his features as he stepped forward, closing the distance between us. “You make it seem like I’ve done something incredible. This is just basic human decency, honey.”
He probably wasn’t wrong, but it felt like something so much more than that to me. “I’m sure everything she picked out is more than fine. Thank you for asking her to do that for me. As soon as I start working again, I’ll pay you back for everything.”
Huck shook his head. “I’m not looking for you to do that. I just want you to be comfortable. Consider it a ‘welcome home from the hospital’ gift, if that helps you feel better about it. I don’t want your money, Josie.”
Bonnie’s words about Huck feeling grateful I’d survived without injuries that were worse than what they were rang in my head. Clearly, she hadn’t been making it up. It seemed I was going to have to learn rather quickly how to accept his kindness and generosity. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Really. I’m just glad you’re okay with this room, because you’ll be close,” he said.
Tipping my head to the side, I eyed him curiously. “What?”
Jerking his head toward the entrance to the room, Huck urged, “Come with me.”