Page 30 of Forsaken
She arrived in the city at the same time asthe twins, and the three of them scoured Boston for a three bedroomthey could afford, which turned out to be a two bedroom. When,after three weeks, they still had no place to stay, Kyle agreed tosleep on the couch and store his stuff in Cassidy’s room. Becauseof that, Cassidy had the largest bedroom, but that wasn’t sayingmuch.
In those early months, Aida waited tables atnight while going to college during the day. She interned at thegallery whenever she had spare time. Trying to survive back thenwas grueling, but with each passing month, her nightmares lesseneduntil she stopped sleeping with the gag.
And now, she’d had her first nightmare inover two months, but at least she didn’t flee outside every timeshe woke from one anymore. Running a hand through her hair, shepulled at the ends as she rose from the bed. She knew what had setthis nightmare off; he was sitting on the edge of her bed lookinglike a temptation best ignored, but she didn’t think she could.
For the first time, she understood SleepingBeauty and that spindle. She’d never understood why the idiot womanhad touched the thing, but she did now. Some things were tootantalizing to ignore, no matter how badly they might burn you.
Julian rose as Aida slid open the louvereddoors on her closet at the end of her bed. She had to climb ontothe bed to get the doors all the way open, and they wedgedthemselves against the end of the bed. She stepped off the mattressto study the clothes hanging neatly within. He hated the wearyslope of her shoulders and the defeated air surrounding her.
“You’re still having nightmares,” hesaid.
“Nope, screaming myself awake is my new alarmclock,” she replied without missing a beat.
He gave a small snort of laughter; he’dstepped right into that one. “Do you still have them everynight?”
“No. That’s the first one I’ve had inmonths.”
Julian would never forget the nightmares thatdrove her to flee her home in the middle of the night. Usually, sheran into the woods, but sometimes, he’d find her standing by theocean, staring at the sea like she was contemplating walking intoit. He hated all the nights she ran, but he’d despised those nightsthe most.
Most of the time, she wouldn’t speak aboutwhat propelled her outside, but sometimes she would talk about hernightmares. He didn’t know how he always sensed when she fled herhouse, but he did. Sometimes, he’d wake from a sound sleep and goto his window to find her slipping out the front door.
Then, he brought her comfort, but he seemedto have the opposite effect on her now. “Am I making it worse bybeing here?”
Aida stared into her closet as shecontemplated how to answer him. His fangs had reawakened some ofher worst memories, but his presence somehow made it easier for herto handle them.
“No,” she said.
He loathed the idea of leaving her again, buthe would if he was only bringing her misery. “If you tell me toleave, Aida, I will. If you think you’re better off without me inyour life, I’ll go and never bother you again.”
She buried the spike of terror his wordscaused as unexpected tears burned her eyes. She couldn’t rely onhim again, and if he stayed, she was scared he would work his wayback into her heart. But she couldn’t tell him to go either. Shefelt like a wishbone being pulled in two as her brain warred withher heart. In the end, her heart won.
“The memories are always there, Julian,” shesaid. “It’s not because of you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Kyle and Cassidy enjoy having you here;you should stay.”
She wouldn’t admitshealso enjoyedhaving him here. She’d burn in hell before that happened.
“If you think it’s better if I leave, tellme, and you’ll never have to see me again,” he said.
“You are good at leaving.” She hated thebitterness in her tone, but the words were out of her mouth beforeshe realized she was thinking them.
Julian gripped his jeans and pushed down onhis thighs to keep from rising and going to her. “Not anymore.”
Still feeling raw from her nightmare, Aidadidn’t know which she wanted more, to cry or crawl into his arms.She bit her lip and finally chanced a glance at him to find thosegorgeous blue eyes on her. The raw need in his gaze caused herbreath to catch, and she focused on her clothes once more.
“I’m sorry I hit you again,” shemuttered,
“My jaw feels good already,” he assuredher.
“That’s good.” She removed a black dress fromher closet before setting it on the bed and bending to retrieve hershoes. She straightened her shoulders as she placed her heels onthe other side of her bed. Inside, she was a mass of raw nerves,but outside shewouldappear confident and unrattled. “Ihave to take a shower.”
She closed one of the doors so she could getout without climbing onto her bed again and left the room withoutlooking back. Shutting the door of the bathroom, she leaned againstit as she closed her eyes against the lingering images of hernightmare.
When she was sure her legs would hold her up,she moved away from the door, stripped out of her clothes, andturned on the shower. It wasn’t until she was under the hot spraythat she realized she left her dress behind.
Julian listened to the shower while he pacedthe small confines of her room. It was five steps to her door andback to her bed. After a few minutes, the water turned off and thehairdryer turned on. Ten minutes later, she walked back into theroom wearing the same clothes she left in.
