My eyes caught a group of three women waiting at the entrance to the gym. They watched warily before one pointed at me and then all three started walking toward us.
“Willow,” I started, expecting to tell Willow that if my presence was bothering them I’d leave, but then the three broke into ajog. They hadsmileson their faces, and so did Willow as she watched them hurry over.
“Is this him?” one asked.
Willow nodded.
Before I could blink, all three practically tackled me in a giant bear hug. Their arms wrapped around my body, covering me on all sides. I stood paralyzed and smushed.
“What—?”
“Thank you,” one said.
“Wynn, right?” another said, looking up at me. She had to be in her early twenties, with black hair and brown eyes. They crinkled as she smiled. “Thank you.”
I looked at Willow, mouth agape in surprise. My heart pounded in my chest. What was going on? Two more women rushed over, and they all started pointing and shouting.
“You saved me,” another said. “I remember.”
“Me too. In New York.”
“You freed me in Texas.”
“Florida.”
Willow and Leona smiled widely, even as I stood paralyzed. My heart choked my throat, and I’m sure the heat on my cheeks extended all the way down my neck. I had no idea what to say, what to do.
“All right, all right,” Willow said as she clapped her hands. They stepped away and gave me space to breathe. “My brother is in shock. Give him some room.”
They beamed at me. Why were they so happy?
“We just wanted you tell you that without you, we’d be stuck. Or dead. Or worse,” the first one, the one with black hair, said with a massive grin on her face. “You never come visit, so none of us have seen you since you broke us free.”
All eyes were on me. My mouth was dry. I had no idea what to say. My chest warmed knowing that they were here and happy… because of me.
“Thank you,” I replied. “I didn’t realize…”
I didn’t realize that they would want to see me again. That they might be grateful.
There was nothing to thank me for. They were the ones who survived hell. I knew. I’d lived through it.
Leona pushed her way to my side and slipped her hand in mine. “He didn’t realize that you might actually care about him.”
They all smiled. “Of course, we do.”
“Why do you think I pass along all those little gifts and trinkets?” Willow said, scoffing. “This place exists because of you, Wynn. Because you helped enough people to fill it up.”
My lips pressed together while emotion welled inside and moisture gathered in my eyes.
“Did Wynn save you, too?” one of the girls asked Leona.
She smiled up at me, the sun catching in the braid hanging over her shoulder. Her face shone with pride.
“Yeah. Yeah, he did.”
58
LEONA
