Page 65 of Under Their Protection

“You remembered the nightmare?” Theo asks.

“Yes,” I sigh.

“And it being the first one you remember doesn’t change anything? Is it all good? No intrusive thoughts?” he asks. When I go to say something, he stops me. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’ve thought about it, yes, but it’s not as big of a deal as they’re making it out to be,” I lie. It’s all I’ve thought about actually.

“Alright. What was the dream about then?” he asks.

“Uhhh…” I hesitate.

“Anika,” Theo growls.

“Theo, don’t make me say it right now,” I plead.

“Do they know?” he asks me.

“No. I wouldn’t tell them,” I admit.

“What happened to checking in when you know something is going to bother you?” Theo asks.

“I just haven’t processed it,” I say.

“Anika, it is literally my job to help you process things,” Theo says. “Say it. I’m not asking again.”

“Theo,” I sigh.

“Are you going to tell me?” he asks, and I shake my head. Rowan, Max, and Theo sigh heavily.

“Can we have the room?” Rowan says to the girls.

“No, no, no,” I say as I slip past and move out of the room. Theo catches me and backs me against a wall with his hand on my throat. “Dinner is almost done. I don’t want it to get cold.”

“Fine,” Theo says as he steps back. I slip away again and go to the kitchen to check on dinner. Mia comes in behind me.

“What the hell was that? Why wouldn’t you tell them?” she asks.

“Because it was about them,” I say quietly.

“Oh, Ani. What was it about?” she asks. I grab bowls for the chicken and dumplings before turning to her.

“It was kind of like a memory in a way. It seemed like any other time Dad would beat me with the belt but in the dream, I turned around and saw Rowan, Max, and Theo. It scared the fuck out of me,” I explain.

“I’m sorry sweetie. You do need to tell them that though. It’s not good if you’re connecting them to your past,” she tells me.

“I know,” I sigh. “I’m just afraid they’ll think they’ve done something to hurt me or upset me, but they haven’t. I don’t want it to affect what happens at The Cherry.”

“Who was the one actually holding the belt in your dream?” she asks.

“Theo.”

“Okay, so is there any chance that maybe he has said or done something that unintentionally reminded you of your dad? Even if it’s not related?” she asks. I turn and pull the pot off the stove and ladle the food into bowls.

“Not that I remember,” I say. “Well….”

“What?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

“When we all went to dinner a few nights ago he was wearing a cologne that smells like what my dad uses,” I explain. “I was okay though. I just made sure to not sit near him and I got through the evening just fine.”

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