Page 56 of Hunted By Fear

I’m pitiful.

I toss and turn in bed, knowing I should get up but unable to make myself do so. I don’t want to be seen, to continue being a burden on them.

I don’t even realize I’m crying until I hiccup on a breath and my eyes blur.

Damn it, I’ve cried so much lately it’s a wonder I have any tears left.

Eventually, after what feels like far too long, I feel sleep pull at me, and I happily embrace it.

I stand in front of one of those fancy mirrors that allow you to see yourself from just about every angle, in the most beautiful white dress I’ve ever seen. It hugs every curve and makes the girls look great.

My mom and dad stand just a few feet behind me, both in tears, and I choke back my own sobs in hopes of not ruining my makeup.

“You look beautiful, my dear, like an angel,” my father says, and yup, there goes my makeup.

“You can say that again.” I whip around to find my soon-to-be husband peeking in through the door, a shit-eating grin on his face as his eyes roam over me.

“Rome!” I scold him, looking down at my dress, trying to think of a way to hide it from him, but it’s impossible. He’s already seen it now.

I can’t see all of him, but from what I can…damn, he cleans up nice too.

“It’s bad luck for you to see me in my dress before,” I hiss, but that only makes his smile grow.

“Babe, I’m ‘bout to marry all that.” His eyes roam over me again, but this time I see the heat as he bites his lip. “I’ve already got everything I ever wanted.”

His words are cheesy, but they make my heart go crazy and my cheeks feel like they're on fire as I shoo him out.

He’s not wrong, though; this is everything I ever wanted, too.

I blink and everything changes. Gone is the dress and the little room with the mirrors. Instead, Rome and I stand in front of a house with a man in a suit. A sign in the front yard tells me it’s for sale.

There’s literally a little white picket fence with a cobblestone walkway that leads right to the arched wooden door. The whole thing feels like it's from a fairy tale, from the pathway to the steeply pitched roofs and vines that grow up the side to the roof. The walls are white, of some kind of stone maybe, with a large bay window and a chimney.

Excitement pumps through my veins like a drug as I bounce in place, my arm tucked around Rome’s. He smiles at me, and though he shakes his head, I can see the affection that shines in his eyes.

“You like this one, huh?” Rome asks as he moves to follow our agent inside, but I don’t need to see inside.

Something in my bones screams that this is the one.

“This is the one!” I try to keep my voice down, but I know I fail when I hear the chuckle from the kitchen.

“You heard the woman, Roger, this is it.”

“I’ll get the paperwork sent over. Give me just a second.” Rome moves to the counter to join Roger as they set up their laptops. Roger is Rome’s friend from high school and did us a favor by showing us this house early, before it goes on the market tomorrow morning.

They talk numbers and renovations and everything else, but I’m no longer paying attention as I move into what will be the living room, looking up at the second-level banister. I spin in a circle, taking it all in. My eyes fall closed, and I imagine a home full of laughter and love, with the sounds of little feet and giggles. I feel so happy my heart might just burst out of my chest.

When I open my eyes again, we’re in yet another new place. Again, Roger and Rome are here. It takes me a second to put my finger on it, but this is the Cozy Cup before, more specifically, the day we signed on it.

“Are you sure we can afford this?” I ask Rome as I nibble on my thumbnail, feeling anxious.

Rome isn’t bothered at all, though, just like always.

He reaches out, gently tugging my thumb from my mouth and holding my hands in his to ensure I don’t go right back to my little nervous habit.

“I promise it’s in the budget. I’m getting a bonus for this upcoming trip, and then after that, it’s all remote, meaning we can work the shop together while I do that. And eventually our little shop will be so big I’ll quit that job and spend all day with you and…” he trails off, and what is this?

Is he blushing?