Page 13 of Breaking the Surface
* * * *
PETER WAS UNFORTUNATELYstill thinking about his nightmare when a knock on his bedroom door made him look up.He expected it to be Braden again, but instead, when he called for them to come in, Vincent appeared.
Peter was slightly disappointed.He wanted to see Braden.He would never tell Braden because that would mean that he had to tell him they were mates, but seeing him after his nightmare had helped.Talking to him had helped even more, but Braden had left quickly after their short conversation, telling Peter to rest a little longer.Peter hadn’t been able to close his eyes again, let alone go back to sleep.Instead, he’d been staring at the ceiling, wondering what the fuck he was supposed to do now.
He’d lost his apartment.He’d lost his job.He didn’t have a boyfriend anymore, although that was a positive aspect of this mess.He shouldn’t have been with Lou to begin with.If he hadn’t been, he wouldn’t be in this mess.
But hewasin this mess, and he needed to deal with it.Right now, he didn’t think there was much he could do, unfortunately.He needed to continue hiding from Lou.He couldn’t start living again the way he’d dreamed he would once he left Lou behind, but he hoped it was only delayed.He didn’t think that Lou would want to continue coming after him for too long.He didn’t have that kind of dedication.Right now, he was no doubt angry and wanted Peter back because he felt like Peter had betrayed him, but if he couldn’t get his hands on Peter, he’d stop feeling that way eventually.
Right?
“You look tired,” Vincent said as he walked in and closed the door.
“Well, thank you so much.I really needed that to boost my ego,” Peter told him, glaring at him.
Vincent didn’t care.He flopped onto the bed next to Peter and stretched his legs out.He was wearing different socks, one dark blue, the other black.He didn’t seem to care.
“What happened?”he asked.
Peter sighed and turned sideways.He hugged his pillow and stared at his best friend, trying to find a way to explain what was going on without sounding like he was whining.He might have earned himself a babysitter, but that didn’t make him a baby, and he wasn’t going to act like one, even though he wanted nothing more than to throw a tantrum.He felt like it was his right after everything that had happened with Lou.
“I took a nap,” he explained.
“That’s good.You need rest.”
“I had a nightmare about Lou.”
Vincent grimaced.“That’s less good.It’s not unexpected, though.”
“It’s not, but I don’t want to dream about him.I really don’t want to have nightmares about him coming after me.”
“Unfortunately, there’s no stopping your mind from conjuring those scenarios.I don’t think you’ll feel safe until you know he’s truly gone, and that might take a while.”
“I know.”
“But they’re just nightmares.You’re safe here.”
“I know that, too.I just wish all of this was over.”
Vincent reached over and patted Peter’s hand.“We all agree with that.I know it probably feels like you can’t go back to your life because of this mess, and it’s not wrong, but maybe you can take this as an opportunity.”
“What kind of opportunity?”
“Well, this is a new chapter for you, right?You left Lou, and you became a pack member.You live in Rosewood now.You can find a new job, and you already have a new home.”
“I can’t exactly go out there and find a job.”
“Not right now, but you’re going to.I know you’re scared, and I am, too, but I truly believe that you’re safe here.Maybe you could look at this like a vacation.”
Peter snorted.“I generally don’t spend my vacations being afraid for my life.”
“You know what I mean.We can’t change the fact that Lou is an asshole and that he’s going to try to get to you.It doesn’t mean we can’t find anything positive in this situation.This is a new start for you, Peter.Take it as an opportunity.You might not be on vacation, but when else would you have so much time to rest and do what you want?”Vincent grinned.“And when else will you move in with a hot guy?”
Peter had to look away.He hadn’t told Vincent that Braden was his mate, and he wasn’t sure he should.At the same time, he desperately wanted to tell everyone about it.He hadn’t even told Braden, though.Would it be right to tell other people before him?
“He didn’t do anything to scare you, did he?”Vincent asked.
Peter frowned.“Who?”
