Hailey’s POV
Roy’s arms stayed around me long after the door had slammed shut.
His body was solid, familiar, a shield I wanted to disappear into. I pressed my face into his chest and focused on his breathing, slow and steady, trying to force my own to match it. I didn’t want to think about Ryan’s blood on the floor, or the way his eyes had looked at me right before he walked out. I didn’t want to think about cancer, or lies, or how close Roy had come to the truth.
I just wanted the pain to shut up.
“You’re safe,” Roy murmured, one hand rubbing slow circles on my back. “I’ve got you.”
I nodded against him even though my throat felt tight. Safe felt like a temporary thing these days, something that could disappear the moment I relaxed.
We stayed like that until my body stopped shaking.
