Page 71 of Dream Girl
“Nunya.” Evan grinned at her.
Riley flipped him off. “Fine, be an asshole, you doofus.”
The car stopped, and we got out. Rather, Wes scooped me up and carriedme. The four of us walked across the grass and a play area came into view.
“Cute, but you don’t need to take me to the park to play,” Riley snorted, looking around.
It had snowed a bit this past week, and there was snow on the ground, and in the trees, but the sun was out, and I wore a jacket.
“It’s the park, it’s real.” Tears pricked my eyes as he carried me to the swing set, the weather a little cool but pleasant. “A little different, but it’s real.”
I was here. This was our park. My chest shuddered.
“They redid it a few years back, but here it is.” Wes got on the swing, me on his lap, and held me, soothing me with his touch. “Yes, this is our park.”
“It’s for them. This is where they first met,” Evan said. “But I’ll push you on the swings.”
“If it’ll make you happy.” With a huff, she sat on the swing, and Evan pushed her.
Riley turned to us. “You met at the park? When?”
“I was ten.” I closed my eyes and felt a little hum in my chest that hadn’t been there in a long time.
“My dad’s house isn’t far from here. I used to come here all the time to sketch or play rugby with my friends,” Wes explained. “I was actually sketching on that bench when I saw her on the swing. She was wearing a ruffly pink dress.” He kissed the tip of my nose.
I sat on his lap as we swung, kids playing around us. In our dreams, we were always alone.
Evan and Riley went climbing on one of the structures. We went back to the car a different way, passing some benches and a lamppost that we didn’t pass by the first time.
My heart jumped. “Wes, walk backward.”
He did.
“Stop.” My breath caught in my throat as I could see myself stumbling in the park through the trees in the dark, then crawling onto the bench.
“This is where they found me. I… I didn’t realize that it was our park. I came to our park.” My heart sped a little, and I recalled something from our dreams.
“What if I can’t find you?” I asked Wes as we gazed up at the stars. “Sometimes you’re not where I am, and it’s scary.”
“Go to the park and wait for me on the bench. I’ll always find you at the park.”
“I’ll always find you at the park,” Wes whispered, pulling me to him.
How had I come to our park when I didn’t know how I got here? When I hadn’t thought Wes was real?
“What’s happening?” My chest shook.If only I could remember everything.
“Lexi didn’t say it was our park you were found at. Just that you were at the Eastside station. Hey, you’re here with me, now. That’s all that matters.” His breath was warm on my ear. “Let’s go home.”
I was here with him–and I’d come to our park.
We returned to the car. Evan drove us through a fancy, forested subdivision with large lots and came to their massive three-story house. He pulled into the garage, which had several motorcycles, and we got out, Wes continuing to carry me.
“Shoes off.” Evan tugged off my slip-ons and put them on a large wooden shelf that had a bunch of shoes on it. Everyone else did the same.
“You can put me down,” I told Wes as we crossed the kitchen.
“I will, in my bed.” He grinned as we walked up the backstairs.
