Page 113 of Finding a Melody

Amy didn’t even blink an eye at the request and just backed out of the driveway and pulled into Seth’s.

Before I could even step out of the car, my whole body aching, the front door flew open and all the guys were flying out of the house, sprinting out to me.

“Cadence!”

The moment I was surrounded by them was the moment I finally felt truly safe again.

Chapter Thirty-Six

I was reminded about how the guys were really good at talking a mile a minute over each other. I understood none of what they said, but their concern was evident and it was enough to finally push back the coldness that had taken over my body.

They didn’t wait as they ushered me inside Seth’s house and sat me down on the couch. Then there was warm tea in my hand, a thicker blanket around me, and all the guys doing their best to sit within touching distance.

“How could this have happened?” someone asked, and it took me a moment to realize that Paxon’s dad was here. He was over by the archway into the living room, talking with Amy, expression solemn.

“I’m getting some answers tomorrow,” she said, frowning hard.

“We should get you into bed,” Seth said.

“Can I take a shower first?” I asked, hoping I could wash off the grime of today. I needed to take a sponge and just scrub until I was red.

“Of course.” Seth helped me to my feet and then led me upstairs to the bathroom. He even turned on the shower for me, checking that the temperature was good, and gave me a towel and a change of clothes.

“Thank you,” I rasped out.

Seth seemed like he was about to say something, but instead he clenched his jaw, giving me a nod and softly closing the door.

I felt like I was a hundred years old as I stripped down and crawled into the shower, making the water hotter than what I normally liked. Then it was like something inside of me tore open and I broke. I slumped down and began crying again, the sobs racking my body, making it impossible to breathe. I almost felt like I was being abducted again, the cloth still in my mouth, making it impossible to breathe.

“Cadence?” Seth’s cautious voice broke through my fear.

I bit down hard on my lip until it bled, the copper taste reminding me that I was still alive. It cleared my thoughts.

“Cadence? Do you need anything?” Seth’s voice sounded so vulnerable. I could tell he wanted to do so much more but didn’t know what to do.

I licked my lips. “Stay with me?” I asked, peeking out from behind the curtains.

He seemed surprised by my request and I swore he was even blushing as he looked everywhere but toward me.

“Please?” I asked. “I don’t want to be alone.” With these thoughts. These memories.

“Okay. One second.” He disappeared for a moment, closing the door softly, but it really was only for a second. Then he was opening the door and slipping through. He didn’t look my way as he went over to the floor by the tub and sat down. If I wanted, I’d be able to bend over and reach him, he was so close. He even rested his arm on the edge of the tub.

He didn’t say anything and neither did I as I washed up. I just took comfort in the shadow of him through the curtain as I scrubbed at my body. It helped to push the image of the barrel of the gun. The sound of it being shot so closely to me. The belief that I was truly going to die.

I was rinsing off when I finally spoke. “That was my first time being so close to a gun being fired,” I said softly. “It’s loud.”

“Cadence...” Seth sounded brokenhearted.

Frankly, I felt so shredded, I wasn’t sure what I wanted at the moment. The words were just there, stuck in my throat, but demanding to be voiced.

“I didn’t know what to think. I was such a scaredy cat. So many books have these heroines who are put into those situations and they’re brave and cunning, with a smart mouth. But I was a crybaby. If I knew what he wanted, I would have given it away in a moment. I just wanted to live and not knowing, and him not believing me, it was a lose-lose situation. I was facing my death. I had to come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t going to make it out of there.”

Before I could say anything else, the curtains were jerked back.

“Wha—”

Seth didn’t say anything as he quickly wrapped me in a big towel. I was practically drowning in it. Then he yanked me against his chest and he was back to sitting on the floor again, holding me close.