I don’t know how long I was asleep before my nightmare started, I was <b>trapped </b>in total darkness again–footsteps getting closer. I would try <b>and </b>run. And just when I thought I would get away. The chain around my ankle would tighten. And I would fall to the ground. I cried out for someone to <b>help </b>me. But no one ever came–only the footsteps <b>in </b>the darkness. When something touched My arm, I screamed, iling my arms. Trying to fight off whatever wasing for me. Voices that I recognized began to prate my nightmare. The twins sounded like they were <b>close </b>by, but it was too dark. To see anything. Other voices joined theirs. <b>And </b>I <b>knew </b>the other <b>guys </b>were looking for me, too. I came awake with <b>a </b>startled cry. I blinked tears from my eyes, with light streaming through the partially closed bathroom door. I could see. Jake was in front of his hand clutching my shoulder, and worry was etched deep in his features. When I nced up. I saw the rest of the guys clustered around my bed, Josh still <b>had </b>me cuddled against his chest. <b>And </b>he was maaring into my <b>ear </b>that I was <b>safe </b><b>and </b>everything <b>was </b>okay.
Patrick, Drew, and Mike were all sitting at the foot of my bed. Their hands reached out, resting on my legs. They each, in turn, repeated what <b>Josh </b>waS telling me, reassuring me I was safe. It had just been <b>a </b>nightmare, and they would not let anything hurt me. I gave them each a watery smile before attempting to Speak
“I’m sorry I woke everyone.” I croaked and then stopped <b>to </b>clear my throat. Before I <b>could </b>say anything else, Patrick interrupted me.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, love. We’re all here for you.” The rest of the guys were quick. To reassure me. Drew stood <b>and </b>disappeared out my bedroom door. I was returning with a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator. I sat up, resting against the headboard. And took the offered bottle after several sips. I handed the bottle back to Drew and thanked him for his thoughtfulness.
“What time is it?” <b>I </b>asked curiously, noting that the room had just barely started to lighten.
“It’s almost 6 a.m.,” Mike told me, running his fingers through his hair. “Do you think you can go back to sleep? Or are you ready to start the day?” he asked, squeezing my leg.
“I don’t think I’m going to <b>be </b>able to fall back asleep, but I’m not ready to get up yet, either. I <b>want </b>you all to go back to bed, though. It’s too early in the morning to be up.” They all started <b>to </b>argue, but I held my hand up, and they all quieted immediately. I told them I didn’t want all of us to feel like zombies today, I promise I will try to go back to sleep. But if I can’t, I will at leasty here and rest. <b>I </b><b>also </b>promised that if I need anything, I will let you know.
The guys nodded in agreement. Patrick, Drew, <b>and </b>Mike each took turns <b>giving </b>me <b>a </b>kiss before heading back to their bedrooms. <b>I </b>snuggled back down into bed, and the twins wrapped themselves around me. After several minutes of lying quietly, I knew I wasn’t going to be <b>able </b>to fall asleep, and I moved my head to see Jake still awake and watching me. When I made eye contact with him, he whispered quietly.
“Would you like me to find something light on TV so that at least if you can’t sleep, you cany here and rest?” he asked me.
“That actually sounds like a really good idea.” Thank you, Jake, I told him, propping myself up a little so I could kiss him. He gently returned my kiss, smiling against my lips.
“I love
you, sweetheart,” he whispered quietly.
“I love you too,” I said, reaching my hand out and gently cing it against his cheek. Jake’s smile widened, <b>and </b>he kissed my palm before rolling to look for the remote<b>. </b>After <b>a </b>few minutes of searching, he found <b>a </b>rerun of a show I enjoyed.
“Are you happy with this, sweetheart? He asked.
“Yep. “I whispered. This is one of the shows I can watch repeatedly and never get bored. Leaving the remote where <b>I </b>could easily reach it if I changed my mind. He pulled me close to him so I couldy my head on his chest. Josh had already fallen asleep but was pressed against me <b>so </b>tightly it was like he had glued himself to my back as Iy between the twins.A sense of peace and safety washed cover me, and I could finally rx. The soothing sound of Jake’s slow and steady heartbeat helped <b>me </b>rx, and within minutes, I had drifted off to sleep again.
The smell of coffee and bacon pulled me out of sleepter in the morning. My stomach let out an embarrassingly loud rumble, and <b>josh</b>, still wrapped around my back, chuckled.
but I wanted to stay in here with
“You hungry, baby girl?” he asked before leaning over me and kissing my cheek. “The <b>others </b>have been up for a while, but I w you in case you needed anything,” he told me. I nudged him back a little <b>so </b>I could roll over and face him.
<b>“</b><b>Thank </b>you, Josh, that’s sweet,” I told him.
<b>He </b>assured me,” Anything for you, baby girl.” Smiling up at him, I pulled him down for a kiss, but we got lost in each other when he deepened the kiss. A knock on the bedroom door finally pulled us apart
“Yeah,” Joke grumbled
kwargs, Mike called through the dose. Ahe stomach let out another loud, rumbling protest, and Josh chuckled.
“These by out on a mile,” he told his busthet betone thing the overs back and standing. He held his hand out to me. He helped me of ging me onest boss, he bike on Bags together. He let me out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, where the guys had pagkat salgs vast, and, of course, colice.