As I walk the deserted streets, I feel a presence behind me. Someone lurking in the shadows. I try to turn around and check, but something’s stopping me, something’s keeping my gaze locked ahead, and no matter what I do, I can’t figure out what’s restraining me.
Increasing my speed until I’m almost at a slow jog, I try to shake off my unease, but the feeling of being followed still lingers.
The farther I go, the higher I seem to travel, but that can’t be right. That’s not where I want to go.
With my heart pounding against my rib cage, I try to change course, but my feet continue propelling me forward, and when I reach the peak, the restraints disappear and I finally feel free.
Taking a deep breath, I turn around to keep moving, but a shadow clouds my vision and I scream, leaping out of its way. My foot slips as I spin, and with nothing to hold on to, I fall off the edge, plummeting through the air.
My body jolts on the bed as though I just hit the ground, and I bite back a groan. Another freaking nightmare. At least this time Jesse wasn’t in it. At least, I don’t think he was. Or was he?Ugh. My heart races as I sit up for a drink of water, and it’s not until I’ve taken a few deep breaths that I’m able to lie back down and reflect. It’s been years since I’ve had these nightmares. It’s strange that they’re happening now. Is it because of Jade? Or is there something else?
Just like in the dream, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to it, and I need to figure out what that is.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Jesse
I’mexhaustedafteranothersleepless night. Hearing Willow’s cries, but not being able to go to her, was like watching someone twist a knife into my gut but being unable to react to it. It was soul shattering.
Not only because I can’t stand hearing her in pain, but also because I’m terrified that I’m the cause of it.
After her restlessness stopped, I laid awake thinking about the last few days. Had it really only been just over a week since I first saw her again? A week since I landed back into the nightmareanddream I thought I’d left behind.
Jesus!
Just before the sun rises, Willow sneaks out for her usual morning run, without even glancing in my direction. I contemplate following her but decide against it. No good could ever come from her knowing I care. I want the opposite from her. I want her to hate the look of me, to despise my very being, to forget I ever existed. And I want her to move on.
More than anything, I want that.
Taking my time to pack up the couch, I slowly make breakfast before Pippa wakes, praying she’ll distract me for the day. But when an hour passes, and she still hasn't moved, I leave. I can’t be here when Willow gets back.
On my walk into town, I call Seth. While he’s unlikely to help, he might at least convince me to get the hell over it. They’ll probably be his exact words.
“Jesse, my man,” he says, answering on the first ring. “How’s your vacation?” He chortles like he’s just told the funniest joke but stops when I don’t give him a smart-ass response. “I’m worried. What’s going on?”
“I’m stuck here, Seth.”
“Where?”
“The middle of fucking nowhere!”
“Okay,” he draws out like he thinks I’m full of shit. “Why are you stuck?”
“Haven’t you heard the news?”
I tell him about the accident but don’t mention Willow at all in my description. He makes all the right sounds in response, and when I finish, he sighs.
“Well, that’s not ideal. You’ve got that charity event on Sunday and the—”
“I’ll be there.”There’s no way I’m staying here past Saturday.
“Honestly, I’m surprised the media hasn’t reported on it. Unless they assumed you were already home?”
“Who fucking cares. Point is, this place is slowly killing me.”
Seth laughs. “Since when are you dramatic? Deal with it. It’s two more days. Find something or someone to keep you entertained. But be discreet.”
I huff out a laugh because there it is… “deal with it.”