Page 100 of Drop Shot
WHIMSY
Elias doesn’t complainwhen I putJurassic Worldon. It’s been about a week since what I’ve dubbedthe incidentand I’m certain Elias would let Ebba, and I get away with just about anything still. I think if I asked him to buy me a private jet, he’d find a way to make it happen.
I cuddle up with my dinosaur, my fingers playing with the tail.
A large part of me feels silly for still being shaken over the incident. It could’ve been a lot worse than what it was. But I’ve never felt so helpless. I was so scared when Keaton stormed into the apartment like he did. It was obvious he was drunk and not in his right mind, but that’s no excuse to attack anyone. After rejecting Elias the previous night, I was fearful he might not return that night at all and that when he did what he might find. I wasn’t sure what all Keaton might be capable of.
Elias has tried to get me to open up and talk about it numerous times, but I just … can’t. Every time I think about the fear that held me frozen when Keaton stormed in, I feel like hyperventilating.
Worse.
It could’ve been so much worse.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t awful.
“You really like that dinosaur, huh?”
“What?” I didn’t quite hear him as lost in my thoughts as I was.
“You really like that dinosaur?” He nods to the stuffed animal in my arms.
“I love it. I even named him.”
He chuckles. “You named him? You haven’t shared that with me. Care to tell me?”
“His name is Percy.”
He snorts. “Percy? How did you come up with that?”
I shrug, rubbing my legs together beneath the sheets. “I don’t know. He felt like a Percy. It was just a vibe.”
“A vibe?” he laughs, shaking his head. “All right. Whatever you say.”
“Fine.” I cross my arms over my chest, squishing Percy against my chest. “What would you have named him?”
“I don’t know.” He thinks for a moment. “Bill.”
My mouth pops open. “You mocked me for Percy and the best you come up with is Bill. Please.” I roll my eyes.
“Bill the Brachiosaurus. You have to admit that it has a nice ring to it.” His smirk makes me want to laugh, but I hold it in, refusing to give him the satisfaction.
“Percy is a better name,” I mumble.
“Whatever you say.” He adjusts the pillows behind him. “We both know I’m right.”
When the movie is over, I turn the TV off and burrow beneath the covers. I haven’t been sleeping well since everything, but I haven’t had any nightmares since the first night when I woke up in the wee hours crying from it. I don’t think Elias was aware. He was still holding me, but his breaths remained even.
He’s already knocked out, and I envy the look of calm peace on his face. Curling my hands beneath my head, I do everything I can to go to sleep. I count sheep, I visualize myself in a calm and soothing environment, I even script out a whole dream in my head but still sleep evades me.
When two hours have passed without me even drifting off, I shove the covers off and tiptoe out of the bedroom to the living space of the room. I don’t have to worry about disturbing Ebba since another room opened up and she was able to get it. Not that we weren’t happy for her to stay here, but she wanted her own space. I think she was sick of Elias hovering over both of us like a worried mother hen.
I settle on the couch with my phone, opening my reading app and seeing if that can help quiet my mind.
It’s an embarrassingly short time when the bedroom door opens and reveals Elias silhouetted by the soft glow of his bed table light.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” I say softly, ducking my head in shame.
“The bed felt cold.”
