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my throat, choking me.
    “It’s okay, Pippi. You’re okay.” At the mention of the childhood nickname he’d given me, my heart soared. I hadn’t heard it in so long, there was something wonderful about him using it. It was our own private language. In that moment, it meant the world.
    “Pippi, hey?” I queried.
    “Yep. Pippi. My Pippi.”
    “You know you’re the only one who’s ever called me that?” I sniffled, wiping my nose with the back of my hand.
    “Doesn’t surprise me. No one else knew about it,” he declared honestly. “So, now you’re smiling…well sort of. Want to tell me what the problem is?”
    I looked at Spencer and saw a softness in his face I didn’t recognise. How did I explain to him that I was sitting on the floor, surrounded by the contents of my bag crying because I had nothing to wear? How did I make him understand something like that without sounding like a complete drama queen?
    Sensing my hesitation, he prodded, “Well? Come on? Spit it out, Zoe.”
    “I-I―Fine. I’ve got nothing to wear,” I sighed dramatically, completely aware of the irony of the situation.
    With a smug grin, Spencer chuckled deeply. “I told you I’ve got you sorted.” With a wink he clambered to his feet, taking me with him. When he sat me on my feet the whole room spun. I was surprised to feel light-headed and dizzy. It was a disgusting feeling that brought with it a fresh wave of nausea.
    “Steady there,” he hushed under his breath as he helped me onto the bed. Once I was sitting, I watched as he stuffed all my clothes back in the bag, moving like a machine as his large hands grasped my delicates. A deep red embarrassment crept up his face. “Right now, I thought these might help.” He smiled, handing me a pair of overly large sweat pants and sweater.
    A funny look must have crossed my face. “Don’t worry, they’re clean.”
    “How did you…?”
    “Pippi, did you forget who you’re talking to?”
    “Yeah, I guess I did.”
    “I’ll just wait outside so you can get dressed,” he offered, rising to his feet and heading to the door.
    “Spencer, no!” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Catching my breath and gulping down the hesitation and bile, I faced Spencer, terrified. “Please…stay.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 10
     
     
    SPENCER
     
    What the fuck?
    As soon as the thought went through my head I scolded myself. If Zoe wanted me with her, then there was nowhere else I was going to be. Reality was, I didn’t want to see this. It was bad enough I could see the scrapes and bruises that were visible when she had her clothes on. My imagination had already piss bolted like a cat with his tail on fire and taken me on some sick, painful, masochistic journey. One that I knew if I ever got proof of, I’d never be the same again.
    No matter how much it hurt, no matter that it was pure, unadulterated torture, I wasn’t moving a muscle.
    Stealing a glance at Zoe, the sight of her freaked me out. She was pale. Whiter than I’d ever seen her before. Her eyes, ringed with deep black bags, were wide with terror. I could only hope she knew, deep down inside, down in that safe place at the centre of her heart, she knew she had nothing to fear from me. Not now. Not ever.
    “Zoe,” I took a measured step toward her.
    Her wide eyes never left mine. Every move I made was slow and deliberate. She looked like a fragile and frightened lamb. Reaching out, I took her hand in mine. Her fingers were like icicles, but I had no intention of letting go. My body heat was hers for the taking. Especially if that was the only thing I could offer her right now.
    “Just don’t let go, Spencer,” she whispered, and her words reverberated directly to my soul.
    “Never,” I promised. Even as the words left my mouth, I surprised myself with how much I really meant them.
    “Okay then,” she breathed out and I felt her whole body relax. All the tension drained away and