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“She’s fine,” Mom assures me. “She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.”

A little of the tension leaves my chest. “Good. I’m staying at Blair’s tonight, so I’ll pick Pen up on my way home in the morning.”

“Okay, sweetheart. We’ll see you then.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

I end the call and stand in Blair’s quiet kitchen for a moment, listening to the shower running down the hall.

Every violent thought in my head is still there.

But Blair doesn’t need my anger tonight.

She needs me.

When I walk into the bathroom, steam has already begun clouding the mirror. Blair looks over as I start undressing.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“Taking care of my girl.”

Something in her expression cracks open.

I step into the small shower, my frame taking up most of the space. Blair shifts to let me in, and I reach for the soap before gently running my hands over her skin.

Her face crumples.

“Baby.” I immediately stop and lift her chin. “Do you want me to leave you alone?”

“No.” A sob catches in her throat as she shakes her head. “No one’s ever taken care of me like this before.”

The weight of those words hits me so hard I feel it in my fucking bones.

I lean down and kiss her softly. Blair’s arms slide around my waist, holding me while I hold her back.

When I pull away, I wash her hair, working the shampoo through the long strands as she closes her eyes beneath my hands.

“If cars don’t work out for you,” she murmurs, “you could always get a job at Georgie’s salon.”

I huff out a laugh. “Think she’d hire me?”

“Absolutely not.”

“There goes my backup plan.”

Her quiet laugh fills the shower as I rinse the shampoo from her hair and reach for the conditioner.

By the time we step out, some of the tension has left her shoulders. We dry ourselves off, and Blair climbs beneath the covers while I pull on my boxers.

I get into bed beside her and hold out my arm. She curls into me immediately, resting her cheek against my chest.

I rub slow circles over her back and run my fingers through her damp hair.

“What are you thinking about?” she murmurs, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

“I’m thinking about how strong you are.”

I press my lips to the top of her head.