Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Briar, wake up!” The voice cuts through the chaos, but I can’t reach it. I tumble deeper into the nightmare, Jason’s footsteps pounding in my ears. Desperation builds until, finally, a scream erupts from deep within me. It’s raw and loud, splitting the silence. My throat burns as I cry out again and again.
Suddenly, strong arms wrap around me, holding me steady. “Briar, you’re safe. It’s me, Orion. I’ve got you.”
His voice is like a lifeline, pulling me back to reality. The falling stops, and my eyes snap open. I blink, disoriented, the room slowly coming into focus. I’m on Orion’s couch, his arms still around me, the soft glow of the TV casting shadows across the room. Jeb is perched nearby, watching with a curious tilt of his head.
Breathless, I take in my surroundings, my heart still racing. “What... what time is it?” I ask, my voice shaky.
Orion gently lets go, his eyes full of concern as he kneels beside me. “It’s late, just past nine,” he says softly. “You fell asleep during the show.”
I glance at the TV, where Criminal Minds continues to play, the characters investigating some dark, twisted case. “I had a nightmare,” I murmur, my voice still shaky. I wipe the sweat from my forehead, feeling the remnants of fear still lingering.
Orion doesn’t move, his presence grounding me. “It’s okay,” he says, his voice low and soothing. “You’re safe now.”
I nod, trying to shake off the lingering dread. “Thanks... for waking me up. I felt like I was stuck.”
He gives me a small, reassuring smile, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’ll always wake you up if you need me to.”
His words make my chest tighten, and for a moment, I can’t find the right thing to say. I glance down at my hands, feeling the warmth of his touch still lingering.
Jeb squawks from his perch, breaking the tension. “Jeb is watching!”
Orion chuckles softly, standing up and giving me space to breathe. “Even Jeb’s got your back,” he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
“Aww, you used his name.” I smile weakly, grateful for the distraction, but as I settle back into the couch, I can’t help but feel a sense of comfort in knowing that Orion’s right here.
“Come on, I made you macaroni and cheese with chicken nuggets,” Orion says, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. He holds out a plate like it's a prized offering, and honestly, it is.
I can’t help but grin wide. “My favorite!”
He laughs, the sound rich and warm, filling the cozy kitchen. “You really do eat like a child, you know that?”
I grin even bigger, feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. “I love it,” I say, plopping down into the chair at the little dinette set by the kitchen, the smell of cheesy goodness wafting up to meet me.
Orion shakes his head, amused, as he sits down across from me. “You’re something else.” He pauses for a moment, his smile fading just a little as his eyes soften. “What are your nightmares about?”
His question catches me off guard, and I glance down at my plate, my fork suddenly feeling heavy in my hand. The playful atmosphere shifts slightly, the air growing thick with unspoken tension. I try to shrug it off, though my chest tightens a little. “I don’t really know,” I lie, twirling the fork in the cheesy noodles, avoiding his gaze.
He doesn’t buy it. I can tell by the way his eyes stay fixed on me, his expression turning more serious. “Did you have the nightmares before you started dating Jason?”
The question lands hard, and I feel my stomach twist, the comfort of the food in front of me suddenly distant. I shake my head, already knowing where he’s going with this. He’s right, and we both know it. “No,” I admit quietly, my voice barely a whisper. “The nightmares started after I began dating Jason.”
The words hang in the air between us, a heavy truth that neither of us wants to acknowledge but can’t ignore. I keep my eyes on my plate, avoiding his gaze. It feels like admitting that out loud makes everything even more real, like my subconscious was trying to warn me long before I realized it myself.
Orion doesn’t push, but I can feel the concern rolling off him. He leans back in his chair, watching me carefully, giving me space to breathe. “It makes sense, you know,” he says after a beat, his voice gentle. “Going through what you did with him... it leaves a mark. In your mind. Even when you think you’re past it.”
I nod, my throat tight. “I guess,” I manage to say, though the weight of it all feels like so much more than that. There’s no easy way to explain the kind of fear Jason instilled in me—the way it lingers, even now, creeping into my dreams.