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It doesn't take much to put everything together. “Were you dreaming about your grandfather?”
She's quiet for a long time, and her breathing begins to slow.
Once she's quieted down, she nods. “Nobody would help him. There was nothing I could do. I felt so helpless.”
And now I feel like the world's biggest asshole. This girl has been through the trauma of losing somebody important to her. No wonder she didn't want to be alone in that house. What if she had this nightmare and woke up alone, with nobody to hold her? Nothing but an empty house full of ghosts.
“You're safe here. And Rose, there was nothing you could have done. You were by his side when he needed you, and that was all you could do.”
“I always feel so alone in the dream.”
“But you aren't. You'll never be alone—we are always here.”
My eyes have adjusted to the darkness, so much so that I can read her expression when she lifts her head. The fear, the helplessness. The uncertainty over her future. I want so much to take it all away.
I'll take care of everything. I'll be everything you need.
They're so close to the tip of my tongue, those words, words I could never say. Because I can't take them back. And I don't know what I would do if she rejected me, which I know she would. She would have no choice.
“Why don't you get back to sleep now?” I cannot spend another minute with her like this, sitting on the bed, so close to me. Now that the nightmare has passed, my yearning has resurfaced stronger than ever. I've never held her before, and the way she clings to me isn't helping my weakness.
What's even worse is the fact that I recognize the shirt she's wearing as one of mine. The one she took from the dresser. She was on my bed. She’s wearing my clothes.
It’s not just me.
I need to leave this room immediately, or I'll end up making a mistake I can't fix.
CHAPTER4
ROSE
This is all I’ve ever wanted. To be in his arms. He’s holding me so gently, almost like he’s afraid his big arms will crush me.
I’ve never felt so safe and protected.
I’m almost afraid I never woke up. That I’m still dreaming. But no, that can’t be true, because there’s never been a dream this vivid. I can even hear his heart beating under my ear when I rest my head against his chest.
Home.I’m home, finally. Where I’ve always belonged.
It took a long time to get here, but it was worth the wait. I wouldn’t trade the time I spent wanting him for anything.
Every step brought me here. My eyes close and I smile softly to myself. Have I ever been this happy?
“I need to go.”
My eyes fly open, my heart crying out for him to stop. That’s what makes me clutch onto him. The fear of him leaving when I finally have him right where I’ve always wanted him.
It’s not the first time I’ve had that nightmare. Not even close. But it’s the first time I’ve woke up feeling safe and protected. Like I’m not alone.
And it was Nolan who did it. Who held me and let me rest in his arms. Nothing has ever felt so right, and he wants it to end.
“What did I do?” I whisper.
I’m desperate to make him stay now that I have him here. How do I know I’ll ever have this chance again?
He turns his face away while pulling my hands from his shirt.
“Nothing. You didn’t do a thing. But we both know it isn’t right for me to be in here with you, like this.”
