CAMERON GENTLY EMBRACED ME, careful not to jar me. I held on to him, tears streaming down my face as he kissed me over and over again. I was groggy, and my body ached, but I was alive.
I was safe.
He cupped my face, letting out a soft sob. “I thought I was going to lose you, sunshine.”
“Never,” I croaked.
He kissed my forehead, his touch turning gentle. I blinked a few times, taking everything in. Memories washed over me, the last moments coming to my mind.
Thomas.
The gun.
The person that went down in the field. I hadn’t been able to make them out.
“Who died?” I whispered.
Cameron’s eyes softened. “Alexa died, Hal. Thomas shot her, and it was almost instant.”
“Oh my god,” I whispered, more tears falling.
“He’s in jail right now. He’ll never get out. He’ll never hurt you or anyone else again. It’s really over this time, baby. It really is.”
Sadness and relief. I felt them both, equally potent.
Andy was done for, and so was Thomas.
It really was over.
No more death. No more pain.
I drew in a shaky breath, my head falling back against my pillow. Cam slipped his hand into mine, squeezing.
“I love you,” he said. “More than anything. Anything, sunshine. I thought I was going to lose you.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“What are you sorry for? Don’t be sorry. None of this is your fault, Haley.”
“I still worry that I brought this home. That somehow I caused this…”
“You didn’t do anything,” Cam rasped. “Haley. Look at me.”
I did look at him. I held his bright blue gaze, feeling him. Seeing him.
“There was something wrong with him. He was a murderer. And he became obsessed with you. None of that was your fault.”
“He told me it was always supposed to be me,” I croaked. “I barely even remember him, Cam. I need to talk to Sarah.”
“Sarah will be around in a bit, I’m sure. Remember when your sister dragged you to a party at my farm, and you punched me in the barn? All those years ago?”
“Yes,” I said, raising a brow. “That’s why I dumped my beer on you. Back then, I swore up and down I’d never have anything to do with you again. And yet here I am…”
Cam smirked, a glimmer of the man I knew under the exhaustion. “I’m charming. Won you over.”
“I think it’s more like you fell in love with me.”
“Baby, I’ve been in love with you since you came to Citrus Cove.” He chuckled, kissing my hand. But then his expression turned more serious. “I seem to vaguely remember him being there, and my dumb and drunk ass interrupted a pass he was going to make. And I can’t help but wonder if that’s when this all started. I’ve been thinking back, thinking about who he was growing up. A little bit older, quiet. The adult he became was nothing like that kid. I don’t know what happened.”
“Me neither,” I breathed out. “And maybe it wasn’t him to begin with. Maybe it was his brother. None of us know.”
He nodded, pressing his lips together. “It’s scary to think about it.”
“It is. Is Sarah really okay…? The boys…”
“No,” he answered honestly. “No. They’ll need us. They’ll need therapy. My mom is actually helping set Davy and Jake up with a therapist. She’s friends with a child psychologist.”
“I swear your family knows everyone,” I said.
“Perks of a small town,” he said. “But we didn’t know David or Thomas.”
“No one did.”
He nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Part of me wonders if Sarah knew…”
“There’s no way that she did,” I whispered, my stomach clenching. “Surely not.”
“I knew she was awake.”
A new voice startled us. I blinked back tears and looked past Cam, seeing Honey in the doorway. She was clearly exhausted. Every wrinkle that lined her face looked a little deeper, circles under her eyes a little darker. The same circles that haunted Cam too.
“How long have I been out?” I asked as she crossed the room to me. I reached for her as she went to the other side of the bed, her hand clutching mine.
“Three days, sweetheart. And this man hasn’t left your side once.”
I looked at Cam, feeling everything inside of me melt. He offered me a soft smile.
“You need to rest, then,” I said.
“You don’t need to worry about me, sunshine. I’m doing just fine.”
Honey snorted, squeezing my hand. “I’m going to let everyone know you’re awake. And the nurse. They probably need to check on you.”
She leaned down, kissing the top of my head. “I’m so sorry this happened. But you’re safe now. Thomas and David will never get to you again.”
My throat closed up. I wondered what the outcome was with David right now, but didn’t ask.
“We don’t need to talk about him again right now,” Cam murmured, glancing at Honey.
Honey nodded. “I’ll be back with everyone else. The boys have been asking about you.”
“Have they?” My heart squeezed. “Do they know…”
“They don’t know everything right now,” Honey said, her voice softening. “I wish it could stay that way. But you know how people talk in our town.”
I nodded as she left the room, sinking back into the bed. Cam rose from his chair and leaned down, kissing me on the head.
“Get in with me,” I murmured.
Cam hesitated. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Get in the damn bed.”
He snorted and carefully pulled the blankets back. I moved over, sucking in a breath. My body felt like it was made out of wood, but I wanted to be held by him. He slid in next to me, the two of us shifting until we were comfortable.
He kissed the top of my head. I laid my ear on his chest, listening to his heart.
I closed my eyes and exhaled, feeling every muscle in my body relax.
Within a couple of minutes, he let out the softest snore. I smiled, feeling a wave of exhaustion too. But it was different. It was the feeling after running a marathon, a heavy relief settling in.
I heard a shuffle in the doorway and opened my eyes, seeing his mom poke her head in.
“We’ll come back later,” she whispered. “He’s barely slept. Y’all get some rest.”
My heart squeezed, and I nodded. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
She left, and I closed my eyes again, already feeling the comfort settling like a soft blanket. I’d been through a lot, but he’d been right there with me. Holding me, loving me. My ray of sunshine through the storm that followed me home.
And that’s what this place was.
Home.
With Cam, it was home.
