Saving Her

Chapter 52

Shawn's POV

The next morning I wake up first, but I still have a death grip on Camila. I'm pretty sure if I was holding her body any closer to mine she'd become a part of me. Faint, but cute little snores fill the space between us and I can't help but chuckle at the sight of her face smooshed against my chest, cuddling into me like her favorite pillow.

I lay there just admiring her. Her long brown locks wavy like the ocean, her lips a pale pink, but just as kissable as ever. Her face, although currently against my chest, is free from hurt and pain, just as beautiful as the day I first met her. And of course like every other guy, I can't help but admire her butt. I gently trace my fingers up and down her spine, spending a little extra time bringing my fingers back up after they grace her glorious behind.

Although right now feels light and calm, I know as soon as she wakes up, the heaviness from last night will return. I know that we need to talk and I'm as ready to talk as I was last night but I need to feel her out first.

About ten minutes later I feel her stir above me as she lets out a little yawn, she cranes her neck to look at me. I sit us up a little so I can look down at her. When our eyes meet I can't help but smile down at the beautiful girl in my arms.

"Good morning baby." She whispers against my skin.

"Good morning Banana. How did you sleep?" I ask her.

"Okay" she says sitting up and stretching. "I think we should get some breakfast and then talk." She continues.

"I think that's a good idea." I say as I reach down kissing her cheek.

We get up and take turns showering and getting ready. We agreed to meet in the kitchen and head to a local cafe to grab some food and then go to the park to talk.

After breakfast we walk hand in hand to the park. We go to the swing set and each take a swing. There's no one else around so we don't have to worry about being overheard.

She starts to swing back and forth slowly as I look down at my feet. I stay in place but decide there's no time like the present to say what I need to say.

"I'm so sorry Camila. I didn't mean to scare you that night. I didn't mean to push you away." I start.

"I already told you I've forgiven you for that, you just need to be honest with me about what happened." She says, leveling with me.

I take a deep breath and look away from her as I start talking about that night.

"Brian and I got called to a case that night. Something about it seemed eerie and strange. We got there and the police on the scene already had the dogs search for any scent of the girl we were trying to find." I'm shaking a little now because I know the next part isn't going to be easy to say to her. "The next thing I know, I come across the girl we were looking for. Mila....she....she reminded me of you. Her small frame, her long brown, wavy hair. The feeling of picking her limp body up in my arms and carrying her to the ambulance reminded me of when I did the same with you. The only difference is, when I carried you...I knew you were alive. When I carried her, she was already gone." I say the last part almost too quite as if saying it out loud make bring that night back.

I'm full on shaking now, the metal of the swing picking up on the small movements I'm making. "Baby, holding her...it triggered that night for me and brought back all the nightmarish things that happened with you. I was so afraid that I was going to lose you that night and it just seemed like the scene a few nights back was what could have happened with you." I say as I feel her hand intertwine with mine. "I knew coming home to you that night would make it worse for me, but I needed to see you. I needed to be reminded that the person I love, the girl I saved the night of your incident was actually still alive. I needed to be reminded that I still had you" I cried softly.

In a quick movement, Camila's kneeling in front of me. She puts her hands on my knees and spreads my legs so her body can fit in between. Sitting up on her knees she reaches forward and brushes the hair off my forehead as she cradles my face in her hands.

"Shawn...baby...look at me." She says softly as she guides my face so our eyes meet. Tears roll down my face, but feeling her skin on mine stops my shaking. "I'm right here baby. I'm sorry that night brought back so many bad memories for you." She sighs with a concerned look on her face. "I just wish you had told me sooner...but I think the time apart was good for us. You needed to get help that I couldn't provide you." She says.

She pulls our faces closer together, I reach forward and wrap my hands around her waist. The contact with her body, even fully clothed, is yet another reminder that she's living and breathing. She's not dead. She's my Mila. Kneeling in front of me, comforting me and not running away.

"I love you Shawn." She smiles at me, but I can see tears forming in her eyes. "It's going to take a lot more than something like this to scare me off. You just have to promise me that from now on you won't keep things like this from me. I know this is part of your job and I knew what I was getting myself into when I said yes to being with you."

"I promise baby." I say quietly, staring back at her chocolate brown pools as they sparkle at me from her own tears.

Closing the distance between us, she rests her forehead on mine and I whisper that I'm sorry and that I love her too.

"We're going to be okay baby." She says.

Closing the rest of the distance between us, her smooth lips meet mine and I feel as if she's healing me, every part of me that was lost without her feels whole again. I kiss her back, pulling her closer to me. We keep kissing until we both need air and it feels so good to finally, after almost a week, to have her lips on mine. Her eyes looking back at me. Her smile. It just feels good to have her back.

"Yes, were going to be okay baby. I love you." I smile at her as I pull her up and on my lap, bringing her lips to mine as we share a kiss again, carefully swinging back and forth on the swing.

Everything feels right and I'm praying to God, thanking him for bringing her back to me. Bringing us back together and allowing us to start saving each other one step at a time.

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BRB need to find some tissues.... I forgot how much I loved this chapter 🥰🥺💕