Chapter 45

Theo's POV When I saw Claire walking toward me with red, puffy eyes, my heart clenched painfully in my chest. She looked so small, so defeated, clutching what appeared to be her laptop case against her chest. The sight of her obvious distress triggered every protective instinct I possessed. She froze for a second when she reached me, her green eyes wide with surprise and something that looked almost like relief. Then, without warning, she threw herself into my arms with a desperation that caught me off guard. I held her tight against my chest, feeling the slight tremor that ran through her exhausted body. She was so warm, so fragile in my embrace, and I could sense the weight of whatever had happened pressing down on her shoulders. My arms instinctively tightened around her, one hand moving to gently stroke her back in what I hoped was a soothing rhythm. "Come on," I murmured against her hair, breathing in her familiar scent of honeysuckle and rain. "I'm taking you to the hospital for