Page 114 of Lyrical

“Okay?”

“It sounds as if you’ve already made your decision.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Good. Because I have a plan.”

Iawoke from sleeping facedown on the beach.How did I get here?My mouth was open, lips coated in sand. I brushed it off and rolled to the side. Water. I needed water. Badly. As the thought formed in my mind, I got a splash of Lake Michigan on my back. Someone had a sense of humor.

But then a glass came into focus not too far away. I squinted to notice it filled with delicious fresh water. It was just waiting for me to reach over and grab it. I inched closer, salivating and wasting precious moisture when my fingers wrapped around it. Without a doubt, it was going to be the best-tasting water I’d ever had in my life.

I took hold of the glass and brought it to my lips, ready to feel the cool liquid pouring down my parched throat whenshewas there, seeming to materialize out of nowhere. “Hello, Jillian. How lovely to see you again. Mind if I share your water?” Her vile smile made me shudder, then pissed me off.

“No, you can’t share my water,” I screamed. “You can’t share anything of mine. Stay the fuck away from me and my family.”

“Jillian?” I raised my arm, water in hand. “Jillian?” The voice got deeper, and her form began morphing. A fucking evil shapeshifter.Now what role is she taking on?

“Don’t fucking come near me,” I screamed again as she took another step. She was trying to trick me, transforming her body into a man. Into Chase.

“Jillian?” she said in his perfect tone, sounding exactly like him. It all bubbled out of me and I threw the glass, aiming right between the eyes.

The crash bolted me upright. I was no longer at the lake but in my bedroom, softness instead of grit underneath me. It was bright, and I narrowed my eyes. Then I saw her standing there—in my fucking bedroom. She’d fully become Chase, shirt soaked through, staring at me like she was worried out of her mind. Fucking bitch.

“Get the hell out of my house before I throw more than just a glass of water.” She/he came even closer, and my stomach recoiled. “I fucking mean it, Cassie.”

“Cassie?” the voice I normally loved said. “No, baby. It’s me. Chase.”

“No, it’s not. Get out.” I reached over and dug through my bedroom drawer. Pencils. Lots and lots of sharp pencils. Good for stabbing.

“Please, Jillian. I came home early.” She grabbed hold of my wrists. “Please, you’re… fuck, I don’t know. Having night terrors or something. Please, just listen to me.”

I tried kicking her away. No, I wouldn’t listen. Couldn’t listen. She was only going to tell me all these horrible things and then laugh her diabolical laugh. I couldn’t deal with it anymore.

She covered me with his body, holding me still. She was ruining everything. I loved this body, and she was making a mockery of it. I’d never be able to touch it the same again. I fucking hated her. Every little shred of me was repulsed.

“Baby, please.” It was a plea, making her sound helpless. Good. “Please, Jillian. I love you. My music, my lyrics, my everything. Just please come back to me, baby.”

I began to soften. I noticed how wet my chest was. The scent… pure rain, fresh earth. Spice. I hadn’t been able to smell his scent before. It was so distinct. So incredibly him. Either she was getting better at deceiving me or…. “Chase?” I whispered.

“God, yes.” He cradled the sides of my face and kissed me. “It’s me, Jillian.”

I let everything slowly sink back in. I was awake. It’d all been another nightmare. They were getting worse. So lifelike. They were going to make me lose my damn mind because it was only a matter of time before I didn’t want to go to sleep at all. I was functioning somewhat okay in the day now, but I couldn’t afford to lose any more shut-eye.

Oh shit. How late did I sleep?Chase wasn’t due back home until Monday afternoon. “What time is it?”

“A little after four.”

I tried pushing him up and off, but it was like banging my head against a brick wall. “Oh my God. I missed my calls? I have to go to my office, Chase.”

“Jillian, 4:00 a.m.”

What? I missed an entire day? “Tuesday?” That’s even worse.

He laughed. “No, baby. Still Monday. I told you I came home early. Changed my flight and took the red-eye. Just flew in and came straight here. I missed you too damn much.”

He kissed the sides of my face, soft and slow. “Do you know how badly you scared me there?”

“I… I had a nightmare.”

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