Echoes of You: Chapter 6

The words echoed in my head, over and over on a horrific loop. That asshole had hurt Maddie. And just like before, I hadn’t been there to protect her.

I held her tighter against me, careful of her tender ribs. “It wasn’t your fault.” I would tell her that as often as it took until she finally heard me.

Sobs wracked Maddie’s body. “I never wanted to be this person—someone who let another person hurt me and just took it.”

My chest cracked at her words, the self-hatred in them and the shame. “Maddie…”

Another of her sobs cut me off, and I knew she wouldn’t hear me now. All I could do was hold her. Tell her with my body that she wasn’t alone and never would be. That I had her.

The heaving cries came faster at first, ricocheting around her body like a violent storm. I just held on. Nothing in this world could make me let go.

I didn’t know how long we sat there with Maddie curled in my lap, my arms encircling her. Eventually, the sobs slowed, turning to shuddering breaths before stilling altogether. I still didn’t let go.

Maddie’s breathing evened out, deepening in a way that told me sleep had claimed her. Carefully, I stood, heading in the direction of the hallway. I poked my head into room after room until I found the only one with a bed.

Maddie needed sleep right now. Rest so she could heal—both her body and her mind. I laid her gently on the mattress. The moment I withdrew my hands, a soft whimper escaped her lips.

My teeth ground together as I hurried around the bed, kicking off my shoes. I lowered myself to the bed and curved my body around hers, the way I had so many times before. The moment I pulled her into my arms, the whimpers stopped.

I let out a breath, the one my lungs had held hostage since that first sound of distress had passed Maddie’s lips. Her breaths evened out again, growing deeper. I listened to the ins and outs, hoping it would soothe the monster inside me. But it wasn’t enough.

Everything in me burned. I felt raw and ravaged. Blazed by guilt.

It was all too familiar. Too horribly familiar. Because I hadn’t been there.

“It’s Maddie.”

Maddie let out a low moan, pulling me from the memories taunting me. The sound was one of distress and pain. The way she twisted in her sleep told me her ribs were killing her. And yet she’d driven all the way from Atlanta.

. She’d spent days cleaning this disaster of a cabin. That knowledge twisted guilt deeper into my gut.

I brushed her inky strands away from her face, and the contorting of her features eased a fraction. Her breaths became even again, and her muscles relaxed. Reaching between us, I pulled my phone out of my front pocket.

There was nothing for almost a minute, and then a text came through.

Three little dots appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared. Finally, a text came through.

I chewed on the inside of my lip as I stared at the screen. It felt like a betrayal to talk about Maddie without her permission, but I wanted Doc to have all the information she needed.

Doc was a good egg. She’d come in late nights and weekends when I hurt myself doing God knew what. She cared about the people of this town and always went above and beyond. I knew she’d get Maddie on the path to healing.

I let Maddie sleep for another fifteen minutes, tracing her breaths with my gaze and watching each rise and fall of her chest. I’d done the same thing when we were twelve, and she was in the hospital. My parents hadn’t been able to get me to go home for days. I’d sat in that hospital chair just watching her breathe, assuring myself that she was alive. Finally, a nurse had brought in a cot for me so I could get some rest, too. But I often woke in a panic, needing to see Maddie breathing.

I rubbed a hand up and down Maddie’s arm. “Time to wake up, Mads.”

She stirred, shifting in her sleep. “Mmm.”

My lips curved the barest amount. She’d always been hard to rouse—deep-sleeper through and through. At least when she was with me.

“We gotta get going.”

Maddie shifted again, this time rolling to her back. She blinked a few times before her eyes focused on my face. “Hi.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “How do you feel?”

Her gaze dropped. “Tired. Embarrassed.”

My hand cupped her cheek. “Hey, it’s me. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“I’m sorry I lost it on you.”

My thumb stroked over her smooth skin, rosy from sleep. “You’ve been through hell. The need to let all that go once you’re safe is natural.”

Her eyes lifted to mine again. “I hate how weak I’ve been.”

“The last thing you are is weak. You got out. You’re here. You did the hardest thing and got away. Now, we’re gonna get you fixed up so you can start healing.”

Maddie’s brow furrowed.

“I made an appointment for you at the clinic. We got a new doctor last year, and she’s great.”

Maddie shook her head. “It’s just bruised ribs. I’ll be fine. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Because then she’d have to answer questions. My hand trailed down her jaw to the back of her neck, and I squeezed gently. “We need to be sure. You could have broken ribs or something else. You need to get checked out.”

“I can’t, Nash. I can’t talk about this to anyone else. It’s hard enough that you know.”

“Please. For me.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “I can’t have anything happen to you.”

Maddie released a breath, the fight seeping out of her. “Okay, I’ll go.”