Came Back Haunted (Experiment in Terror #10) - Karina Halle Page 0,66
look that says I got this so that the other girl leaves.
But I don’t got this.
I’m going fucking insane. I’m totally wet and naked, being held by a stranger.
Somehow I manage to pull myself together, giving her an embarrassed smile, though the fear is still lingering beneath the surface. I don’t want the woman to leave me alone in here either.
“I’m so sorry,” I tell her. “I didn’t mean to scream.” I glance back at the stall door, which has closed itself again. “I hate to ask, but do you mind retrieving my clothes?” I point feebly at the shower. I can’t go back in there.
“Of course, honey,” she says.
I sit down on the bench closest, awkwardly covering myself up with my legs and arms, until she hands me my clothes. “Do you mind waiting until I get changed?” I then ask. I feel so pathetic doing so, but I can’t stand to be alone right now.
She nods and turns her back to me, giving me privacy while I quickly get my gym clothes on, slipping on my shoes. Then I fight with the lock again, tears of frustration and everything else building behind my eyes.
The woman comes over to me, calmly unlocks it, and pulls out my coat.
I quickly slip it on and try to give her a brave smile.
“You need a ride home? Someone to come get you?” she asks me.
I shake my head. “It’s a short walk. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay,” she says slowly. “You take it easy now, you hear?”
I nod. “I will.”
I quickly leave the locker room, my cheeks burning as I go through the reception area, people staring at me, wondering what happened.
I’ve never walked home so fast. The fear has me so shaken that there’s nowhere for it to go and I’m barely holding myself together.
When I get to our building, I go up the stairs instead of the elevator, unable to handle the idea of standing still for too long.
Then I open the door to the apartment.
Fat Rabbit’s head pops up over the couch and he gives a bark at me.
“Dex?” I ask, praying he’s not still mad at me, not now. But I don’t hear him. I’m alone.
I go over to Fat Rabbit, scooping him up into my arms and holding him close, scared to death, hoping he’ll calm me down. He licks my face with his stinky dog breath and I swear my blood pressure lowers.
Then the front door swings open.
Fat Rabbit jumps out of my arms and onto the couch just as Dex bursts inside.
“Perry!” he yells at me, running over, looking crazed.
He grabs me by the shoulders and pulls me into him, holding me tight. I’m shocked only for a moment, then I sink into his chest, my hands going around his back, nails digging into his t-shirt. “What happened? I was just looking for you,” Dex asks.
“How did you know?” I say softly, trying to fight back tears. If holding Fat Rabbit lowered my blood pressure, being held by Dex is like a double dose of Xanax.
I’m safe.
I’m safe.
“I heard you,” he says, breathing hard. He must have been running. He puts his hand at the back of my head and presses my face against him. “I heard you yell, somebody help me. I heard it in my head. Fuck, I’d never been so terrified before. I thought I lost you. I ran to the gym but they said you’d left. We must have just missed each other.”
He pulls back, holding me by the shoulders again, his grip vise-like. Manic, anguished eyes rapidly search mine. “I thought…I thought I wouldn’t see you again. I had this terrible fucking thought that you were gone. And that I never got a chance to...that the last thing I did was treat you like shit and…”
“It’s okay,” I tell him adamantly. “I’m okay. And I’m sorry.”
“No,” he says, voice getting gravelly. “No. I’m sorry. I know why you didn’t tell me. I know I can get overprotective of you. I know you thought I’d change my mind about the baby. I know all these things. I should have talked to you—instead I didn’t know how to process it…”
“I should have told you everything that was happening.”
He closes his eyes, breathing deeply through his nose. “I was hurt that you didn’t trust me. That’s all. But that was no excuse. Baby, I love you so much.” He puts his hand on my cheeks. “I love you. Forgive me.”