Chapter 35: Nate

We’re finally back home, and Sofia’s still shaking. I carry her inside, trying to keep her steady, but she’s so tense, so stiff against me. I can’t stop thinking about what happened back there, everything replaying in my mind. The look in her eyes when that guy grabbed her, the way she froze when he held the gun to her head... I’ve seen fear before, but nothing like this. And all I could do was watch.

The car ride back was chaos. Riley and Leo were talking over each other, trying to figure out what we should do next.

“Does she need a hospital?” Leo asked, his voice tight with worry.

“She’s in shock,” Riley replied, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “She hasn’t said a word.”

Danny shook his head, his hand resting on her knee. “Sof, are you okay? You’re safe now, alright? We’ve got you.”

But she didn’t respond. Her eyes were unfocused, and her breathing was shaky. I knew they meant well, but the noise was too much. “Guys,” I said sharply, cutting through their frantic chatter. “Shut up. She just needs some space to breathe.”

They went quiet after that. When we got inside, I didn’t waste any time. I carried her upstairs, right into the bathroom, and set her down on the counter. She was still trembling, so I nudged her knees apart and stepped between them, holding her gaze. Her bottom lip was quivering, and there was blood—not hers—smeared on her cheek.

“You’re safe now,” I murmured, brushing a thumb over her cheek, careful to avoid the blood. “I know it was terrifying, but Riley knew what he was doing. He would never put you in danger. He’s a good shot. He knew exactly where the bullet would go.”

She didn’t respond, but I could see her trying to process what I was saying. Her eyes flicked to the side, and I followed her gaze, realizing she was thinking about those two girls from earlier. Brittany, who I’d had to shove off me, and Lindsey, who couldn’t stop trying to latch onto Danny. It’s not like they hadn’t tried stuff like that before. They’d always been around, lingering, trying to catch our attention, but I never had the slightest interest. I don’t like girls like that.

I like her.

“They mean nothing,” I added softly, hoping she’d understand. “I’ve never looked at them, never wanted them. I’ve got my girl right here. You’re the only one I care about.”

She looked up at me, her eyes softening, but I could still see the fear there, the shock. I needed to help her wash this off, literally and figuratively. Bending down, I slipped off her shoes, setting them aside before turning on the shower. I tested the water, making sure it was the right temperature, then stood back, giving her space.

“Go ahead and wash up,” I said, trying to keep my tone gentle. “I’ll wait for you out there.”

But she didn’t move. She was staring at me, eyes wide and uncertain, and then I heard it. A small whimper, barely there, but enough to make me freeze. I looked back at her, catching the panic in her eyes. She was too shaken to be alone.

“You want me to stay?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. She nodded, still trembling, and I felt something inside me soften. “Alright,” I said, turning back to take her off the counter, carefully unzipping the back of her dress before stepping back and turning around.

I stayed that way the whole time, facing the wall as the sound of the water filled the room. I could feel the steam wrapping around me, hear the soft patter of water against tile as she moved under the spray. I kept my hands clenched at my sides, trying to ignore the urge to turn around and make sure she was okay. I could tell she was vulnerable, but I also knew she needed this moment to herself. When the water finally shut off, I could hear her stepping out, the faint rustle of a towel being wrapped around her.

I turned around slowly, taking her in. She was standing there, clean and wrapped in the towel, looking more like herself again. I stepped closer, lifting her back into my arms and carrying her to the bed. I sat down with her straddling my lap, her hands resting on my shoulders as I held her close.

For a while, I just held her, letting her breathe, letting her heart slow down. I felt her lean back slightly, and I looked at her, waiting for whatever she needed to say. Her eyes were searching mine, and then she asked, “What do you feel about me?”

The question took me off guard, but I knew there was no point in hiding it. I cupped her face, my thumb tracing over her cheek as I let the truth spill out. “You drive me crazy,” I admitted, feeling the weight of the words in the air between us. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone. You’re... you’re it for me, Sofia. I can’t stand the thought of anyone else touching you, looking at you. I mean, the guys, maybe, if that's what you want. But for me, it’s just you.”

She leaned in, her eyes never leaving mine, and I felt her lips brush against mine, soft and tentative. I closed the distance, kissing her deeply, letting the feeling sink in. Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer, and I tried not to think about how she was only wearing a towel, how I could feel the warmth of her skin against me. I wanted more, needed more, but I forced myself to pull back, catching my breath as I held her gaze.

“If you’re not careful,” I murmured, my voice low, “I’m not gonna be able to stop myself.”

A small smile played on her lips, and I felt something inside me settle, knowing that maybe we were on the same page. I wanted her. Heck, right now if I could. But she deserved to go at her pace. So I stood up, guiding her over to her drawers and pulling out some comfortable clothes for her. “Go change. I’ll wait.”

She came back a few minutes later, dressed in an oversized shirt and leggings, looking so damn adorable that I wanted to scoop her back up and kiss her all over again. But I stayed where I was, reaching out to pull her close. I wrapped my arms around her, running my fingers through her hair, tracing circles over her arms, her cheeks, her belly, until I felt her relax completely. It wasn’t long before she drifted off, her breathing evening out as she slept in my arms.

I slipped out of the room carefully, making sure she was comfortable before heading downstairs. The guys were playing pool, their voices low, but they stopped when they saw me.

“She okay?” Leo asked, his cue resting against the table as he looked up.

“Yeah,” I replied, feeling the weight of the night settle over me. “She’s asleep now. She’s gonna be fine.”

They nodded, relief washing over their faces as we settled into the routine of the game, each of us knowing we’d go through hell and back to keep her safe. She was ours now, and there was no going back.