A Tragic Wreck Read Free Page B

said softly. “You bumped your head pretty good. Let’s get you back inside your house. You should probably go lie down.”
    Cam led Olivia up the beach to her house, helping her to the couch. Once she was settled, he walked through her living room and into the kitchen, searching the freezer for some ice. He put some in a plastic bag and brought it to her.
    “Here,” he said, leaning down and placing the ice pack on her forehead. “You should probably keep this on your head. There’s a little bit of swelling.” He brushed a piece of hair out of Olivia’s eyes.
    “Thanks.”
    “Anytime.” He looked around the house, noticing how minimalist everything looked. It was as if she had just rolled into town with a suitcase. There was nothing personal, aside from a guitar case leaning up against a wicker chair. He walked over and sat down. “Do you play?” he asked, gesturing to the case.
    Olivia took the ice off her forehead and sat up, facing Cam. “Yeah. A little, I guess. In a former life. I really haven’t played lately, though. Since I got here. The guitar’s just been sitting there, collecting dust.”
    Cam looked into her eyes. She seemed so empty.
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a large, orange long-haired cat walk down the stairs and into the living room. The cat stalked to Olivia, jumped on her lap, and curled up in a ball. “This is Nepenthe,” she explained.
    “Ah,” Cam breathed. “The ancient elixir of depression.”  
    Olivia turned her head. “How did you know that? Not a lot of people know what 'nepenthe' is.”
    “I have a brain full of useless information.” Cam laughed. There was an awkward silence. He was attracted to the woman sitting across from him, snuggling up with her cat, but she seemed so distant and uninterested in anything. He didn’t know much about her, but he wanted to learn more.
    “Can I take you to dinner tonight? There’s this great place right on the water on the other side of the island.”
    Olivia looked around. “I don’t know. I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
    “Come on. It’ll be fun. I promise. Just as friends. No pressure. I just want to get to know you, be your friend.”
    Olivia had been avoiding all social situations for the past several weeks. Certain things set her off, triggering a panic attack. Looking out her large front windows at the ocean, she hoped for some guidance about what to do. She was getting to like her new home. If she got involved with Cam, she would just leave him, too. That’s what she did. She ran. Always. That was all she knew.
    “Hey, Libby. The answer isn’t there in the ocean.”
    She looked back at Cam, a smile still on his face, but also something else. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it was almost like a look of compassion.
    “I just want to get to know you. That’s all. I want to spend some time with you.”
    “But why?” Olivia asked, her brows furrowed.
    “What? Why wouldn’t I?”
    “I could give you a thousand reasons,” she mumbled under her breath.
    “As friends. That’s all, Libby. Come to dinner with me. Let me be your friend.”
    Olivia sighed, petting Nepenthe. “I don’t need any friends. I’m perfectly happy in my little oasis here on the beach.”
    “Oh, come on. Don’t make me beg.”
    Olivia’s heart stopped. Alexander’s husky voice flashed through her memory… I like it when you beg .
    Her lip started to tremble and she quickly jumped off the couch, walking toward the stairs and away from Cam, desperately trying not to fall apart in front of him. She had finally gotten through an entire week without breaking down and crying when she thought about Alexander, but that memory was too much. She couldn’t take it. Her heart was in pieces and she knew it was all her fault, but it still didn’t make it hurt any less.
    Knowing that he had somehow upset her, Cam caught up to her and grabbed her arm. He didn’t want to leave on such a sour note. “Libby,