Finding Eden(57)

"I'm okay, Calder," she choked out. "I'm fine. I'm okay. I promise." She nodded her head at me, reaching out her hand tentatively as if trying to calm a wild animal. "I'm okay. You protected me. I'm okay."

My heart rate seemed to slow a little as I listened to her words and saw she was okay. I pulled her against me again, soothing myself with the feel of her body in my arms, in my possession. I became aware that the crowd of people I now recognized as journalists, and several others who had gathered on the street, were all silently watching me, some with cameras turned in our direction. I probably looked feral, out of control.

I let out another haggard breath as I heard a car come to a stop behind me. "Calder. Eden. Get in the car," I heard called and I turned around and saw the girl who had been with Eden at the gallery the week before. Her cousin, Molly.

I pulled Eden around the car we were leaned against and moved in front of it, darting my head back to the crowd who stood, still unmoving, behind us now.

I opened the door and practically shoved Eden inside before getting in behind her. The car lurched into drive and sped away. Outside the car windows, the day grew dark, storm clouds moving quickly across the sky.

I pulled Eden against me in the back seat and attempted to get myself back under control, breathing in and out slowly, wrapping my hand around her wrist so I could feel the steady beat of her pulse right beneath my fingertips.





CHAPTER TEN




Calder



We pulled into Eden's mom's driveway and got out of the car.

We had driven in silence, Molly glancing repeatedly in the rearview mirror at us, a worried expression on her face. Eden had simply let me hold her, her head resting against my chest. She knew exactly what I needed.

I couldn't be sure, but I thought Molly had driven around for a while before going to Eden's mom's house, perhaps giving us both time to settle down and collect ourselves. My fists were bloody and I felt shell-shocked.

Once the car stopped and we got out, I held on tightly to Eden as we walked to the house, looking around to make sure we hadn't been followed by any of those news people. How in the hell had they found out about us?

Eden's mom came rushing out when we were almost to the door. "Oh my goodness! It's all over the news. Come inside, come inside. I'm so glad I sent Molly for you when I did."

She hurried us in and then took one look behind her before shutting the door and locking it.

"Carolyn, Calder needs a first aid kit for his knuckles," Molly said.

Carolyn put her hands up to her cheeks when she took in my bruised and bloody hands. "Oh no, oh no. Of course," she said, rushing over to Eden and running her eyes down her body twice before squeezing her shoulders and rushing out of the room.

Eden and I sank down on the sofa and I put my hands palm down on my lap so I wouldn't bleed on all the nice furniture.

Molly left the room saying something about iced tea and when she was gone, I turned to Eden. "I'm so sorry," I muttered, putting my forehead to hers. I shook my head slowly. "It was like I was back there for a minute. I . . . freaked. Damn, I'm sorry."

Eden brought her hand to my cheek. "I understand. And truly, Calder, they were like a bunch of vultures. They practically attacked us."

I took a deep breath. "Still, I cringe to think about what that news footage looks like. I must look crazed."

"We won't watch," she said, a glimmer of a smile on her lips. She kissed me softly right as Molly came back into the room with a tray of glasses filled with iced tea.

I took the one she offered and drank deeply. Eden sipped at hers and Molly set the tray down on the coffee table and took the chair across from where we sat on the sofa.

"So who the hell told the news about you guys?" she asked, her eyes wide.

I glanced at Eden and shook my head. "I don't know," I said. "Madison?"

Eden shook her head, biting her lip. "I guess it could have been, but I don't know. I talked to her this morning and she seemed sincere when she said she wouldn't."

I nodded. I didn't think Madison would either. She'd always been trustworthy from my experience. Still, people did things they might not ordinarily do when they were hurt. I'd hurt her.

"How'd you know to come pick us up?" I asked Molly.

Her eyes moved to mine. "I didn't. Carolyn sent me." She raised her hands. "I swear, I was going to take a selfie with Eden just to prove she was alive and then leave." She lowered her voice. "She's been just a little crazy for four days, almost like Eden was kidnapped again or something. I've been trying to help her keep a rational perspective." She raised her brows as if she wasn't sure how effective she'd been. Damn. I couldn't help wondering if Carolyn tipped off the police. The thought itself made me feel guilty though. Eden's mom wouldn't do that to her.