Page 45 of Lost In The Dark

“What happened?” Asher asked. I knew from his voice that he was close and when I glanced up he was watching me with so much concern.

“A nightmare. A really bad one,” Adam explained.

“We’ll go now, but we’ll be close if you need us, okay?” Jordan told me as he ran a hand over the top of my head. I looked up and nodded tearfully.

“Th-thank you f-for staying with me,” I told both he and Adam. They both nodded and Adam gave me a wink and a slight smile before they left the room.

As soon as they left Asher took off his own jacket and loosened the bow tie, then he was sat beside Eli, his hand gripping mine.

“Tell us what you need, little dot,” he whispered to me.

“I’m okay now…b-better with you both here,” I replied honestly. At that time no one could make me feel as safe as the two of them could, but having Adam and Jordan with me had come close.

“Do you want to talk about the nightmare?” Eli asked me, and I shook my head vigorously. No way I was ready to go back there yet.

I knew I would have to one day. I needed to find some way to let it all out so it didn’t fester within me, and Asher and Eli had both broached the topic of me seeing a trauma counsellor. I knew I would need that, but I just didn’t feel strong enough yet. I couldn’t process what was coming back to me myself. How could I be strong enough to talk it through with a stranger?

“Do you want to go back to sleep? I’ll stay with you,” Eli offered.

“We both will,” Asher added.

“No! I…I can’t. I’m scared I’ll g-go right back there when I close my eyes,” I sniffled through my tears.

”How about we go down and watch a movie? Something to take your mind elsewhere?” Asher suggested and I nodded. There was no way I wanted to go back to sleep.

“Yes please,” I agreed as I pushed back the comforter, but remained pressed against Eli. He was grounding me and I feared falling right back into that hell if he let me go.

“Let’s go. You get changed, Ash, and I’ll stay with Addy,” Eli told his brother. Asher nodded and opened the door to my room as Eli and I followed, Eli holding one arm around me tightly.

I jumped when I looked up and found Adam and Jordan outside my room, leaning against the wall opposite.

“Everything okay?” Adam asked.

“We’re going to watch a movie downstairs. I was just gonna change quickly,” Asher explained.

“You sh-should both change,” I said as I looked up to Eli. “I’m good with the guys,” I added as I looked to Adam and Jordan. I felt more comfortable with the both of them after they had been with me following my nightmare. It was stupid to have been nervous of them anyway. I knew them both enough to know my brothers treated them like family. That should have been enough for me.

“You sure?” Eli asked.

“Yeah, as long as you’re good with helping me? I’m still kinda shaky,” I admitted as I held out a violently trembling hand and looked between Adam and Jordan.

Adam nodded and held a hand out to me, which I took. I took a couple of shaky steps to his side, then I was wrapped in his huge arm and pressed against his firm side. He smelled so good, as always and I couldn’t help but push just a little closer.

“I’ve got her,” Adam told Eli.

“We’ll get snacks ready. I know where the good stuff is,” Jordan announced as he looked to me with a wink, making me smile.

Asher and Eli looked reluctant to go, but they did, walking to their rooms as Adam and I turned for the stairs. Jordan was ahead of us, racing to the kitchen to get started on snacks, apparently.

“I swear he never grew up past six years old,” Adam chuckled as he shook his head at his brother.

“He seems to like food a lot,” I noted, and Adam laughed again.

“You have no idea. He’s the reason I grocery shop three times a week.”

I found myself genuinely laughing as I leant even further into Adam. Yes, it was partly because I was exhausted and in pain, but I knew part of it was also that it felt so good to have his sheer size and strength surrounding me. How could anyone ever not feel safe with this guy at your back? The fact he was always so kind and gentle with me only added to that feeling of safety too.

“Okay, very important question now,” Jordan announced as he hurried into the living room, just as Adam and I reached the sofa. He had his hands behind his back and he was trying to hide the smile on his face, obviously taking his serious question seriously. I looked at him and couldn’t help the smirk that filled my face. He was totally adorable, stood there like an excited kid. “Rocky road, or double chocolate brownie?” he asked as he pulled two tubs of ice cream from behind his back and showed them to me.

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