Page 16

Chapter 16

Mikey

I got back late on Sunday night, almost missing the pink crocheted coasters on the coffee table in the low light coming in. I got goosebumps thinking Jessie had made those per my request. I couldn’t wait to talk to her about it. But right away, I mostly needed sleep.

The first scream must have been what woke me, pulse racing and breaking a sweat instantly. The second had me bolting from bed.

I tore into Jessie’s room to find her thrashing on her air mattress.

Seeing her in the middle of one of her nightmares on a half-inflated air mattress was enough for me to step in. Sweat dampened her shirt and made her hair stick to her face. Her eyes were open but not really seeing. It was spooky, exorcism-like. She screamed again, cowering as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Jessie Girl, can you hear me? It’s Mikey. It’s Ben. You’re okay, Jessalyn.”

I felt so helpless. Something was wrecking her from the inside and I couldn’t stop it. She didn’t deserve whatever was making this happen to her. I went to sit on the edge of the air mattress, but it just had a see-saw effect because of its half-inflated status. I wasn’t leaving her in there to suffer alone.

I scooped her up in my arms and carried her into my room. She looked at me, confused.

“It’s okay, Jessie. I’ve got you.”

She didn’t say anything, almost like she was sleepwalking. Her eyes were still a weird unseeing haze. She curled in closer to me, tucking her head into my chest. I sat on the edge of my bed and held her there, feeling her sniffs and sobs.

“You want me to sing?”

Jessie didn’t answer, but wrapped her arms around me with a boa constrictor’s grip. I started to sing Paradise, feeling self-conscious, but it was what put her back to sleep the time before. As her body relaxed, I pulled down the comforter on the not-me side and shifted her into the sheets. I went around to my side of the bed and got in, continuing to sing. I was afraid if I stopped, she’d start crying again. I couldn’t stand to see her so torn up like that.

I turned to face her, noticing a wad of pink and blue yarn around her neck. I was afraid she’d get strangled on it in her sleep, so I pulled at it. Jessie quickly yanked it back and draped it across her neck. I didn’t bother trying again. She seemed to know, even in sleep, that she needed that yarn wad. I’d ask her about it in the morning.

Jess nestled into my body, nuzzling her face into my chest. Was it wrong for me to hold her back? Was she going to wake up in the morning and freak out like she had a few days before?

I decided it didn’t matter. Sleepy Jessie needed me, or someone, and I was the someone there.

* * *

“MIKEY!”

Jess’s voice was a rude awakening. Her hair and yarn wad were partially in my face, whipping around as she tried to get out from under my arm. Seems we moved to spooning in sleep.

“Morning, Sweet Cheeks,” I rasped, noticing that my cock was actually lodged between her cheeks. Oops. Clothed, but that’s where it was. It was still dark outside. “What time is it?”

She jolted her butt away from me and I lifted my arm to let her out.

“Again?!”

“You had a nightmare, Jess. I couldn’t let you keep sleeping on that uncomfortable air mattress.”

“I can’t live here,” she coughed out. “This was a terrible idea. I can’t do this.”

I scrubbed my hand over my face. “Why?”

She panted, considering that.

“Jessie, you have insomnia, right?”

“Right.”

“Except when you’re here, right?”

She tossed her head from side to side. “Yeah.”

“Just let it happen. I’m not trying to get you to fuck me. I’m just trying to be your friend. If that means sleeping in my bed, that’s fine. If that means we get close to each other, also fine. It’s not a big deal.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “This is feeling more and more like you’re trying to be my boyfriend. I’m still, I don’t—”

“Jessie, it’s not like that,” I groaned. “Wait, seriously, what time is it?”

I flopped over and looked at the clock, then flicked on the lamp to make sure I was reading it right. “Four fucking thirty?”

“I have early days and a long commute, Ben.” She stood and smoothed the sheets on her side of the bed.

“You hardly slept last night. Are you sure you can drive?”

She scoffed. “Nice of you to care, but I’m used to this life. Little sleep and straight to a forty-five-minute commute.”

“I’ll drive you,” I said, rolling out of bed. I chugged the glass of water on my nightstand, just like I did every morning.

“It’s way out of the way for you. Don’t you have practice or something?”

“I have a workout this morning, but that’s it. It’s not until nine. At this rate, I’ll be back early.”

Jessie stood in my doorway with her yarn wad in her hand, looking mystified, then disappeared to get ready for work.

I padded out to the kitchen to start some coffee. I’d never admit to her how late I got in and how bad I was really going to need that caffeine.

Within ten minutes, she was in my kitchen, dressed and ready for work.

“Damn, that was fast,” I said. “Let me brush my teeth and I’ll get us out of here.”

She was at the door grabbing her keys. “You really don’t have to drive me. How am I going to get home?”

I shrugged her off as I headed for my room. “I’ll order you a car or come get you. I need something to do today.”

When I looked back, her eyes were rounded like she was about to cry. Something stirred in my gut. I wasn’t sure why, but I knew I’d do just about anything for that firestorm that walked into my life.