"How do you know that?About the crowd.How do you know?"
"I've put things together over time since that first time we saw her in the gym.She never spoke a word that day, and the next time, when she ran into you, she was trying to go unnoticed in that outfit.She never looked at us.She put you in your place, but she lit out of there like her ass was on fire.I knew for sure after she came here for the first time.It's some form of social anxiety, right?"
"Yeah.It's not that she's worried about being judged.She doesn't give a shit about that.It's a fear response.I don't know what happened but you're right.Something bad."
Cotton just nods because I'm only confirming what he already deduced on his own.Cotton is smart.Not just smart for a jock.He has genius-level deductive reasoning skills.He's studying to be a forensic psychologist and he's probably my greatest asset in the fight against Eve's demons.
"What do I do now?Does she need to go to the hospital?"
"I don't think so.She could end up being placed in an inpatient facility in this dissociative state.That's not what she needs.She needs to be grounded.You do that by talking to her.Touching her.Reorienting her.She will come around.She just needs some time and some calm."
We walk back into the room and Cal has his arms wrapped around Eve.Her face is buried in his chest and his chin is resting on her head."It's over.They're gone.We would never let anything hurt you.Adam's here.Everything is back to normal."
He's doing what Cotton said to do.Do both of these guys know more about this than I do?If this were anyone else, I would be seeing red right now but, I know these two men would lay down their lives for me.That means they would do it for Eve too.
Cal gestures me over with a nod of his head.When I reach his side, he moves Eve into my arms and goes to the bathroom to turn out the light.Cotton pulls back the covers on the bed and I am so thankful for these men.My brothers.
"Do you need help getting her laid down?"Cotton asks and they both look to me for my answer.I shake my head.These men truly are my brothers and they're going to help me fix this.Eve and I won't face this alone.I pick Eve up and lay her down on the bed.Cal turns off the light and shuts the door as they exit the room, and I slide in bed behind the woman I would kill for.The woman I will spend the rest of my life loving, and I attempt to bring her back to me one word, one caress at a time.
CHAPTER 21
Eve
Iwake wrapped in strongarms, pressed against a warm, firm body.Adam is stroking my hair and murmuring words to me."I love you, Eve.I've looked for you.My grandpa told me not to waste my time on girls.He said to invest my time and my love in a woman who would make me a better man and fight my battles beside me.That's you, Eve.I did what he said.I never spent genuine time with anyone before you because they weren't meant for me.I knew that the moment I met them.Just like I knew the moment I met you that you were something special."
His words crumbled whatever walls I had left.There's no more wondering if his feelings will fade.There's no more questioning if he'll regret his choice.He knew I would come.He's been waiting for me.
"You're mine, Eve.You've always been mine.You will always be mine.I will never let you go.I will cherish you and protect you.I will give you everything you ever want.Just come back to me.Please."
Come back to him?Is he asleep?
"I'm right here, Adam."
He jerks back, looking me in the eyes.Rapidly, he looks from one eye and back to the other...searching.He clamps both of his eyes shut hard...he's relieved.Squeezing me tighter, he whispers breathlessly into my hair.
"Good morning...my love.I missed you."
