Page 61 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

Chapter 36

Josh

On the TV screen, the scenery changed from season to season as Lucas’s character was caught in a never-ending cycle of torment. It was an intense part of the movie, but I wasn’t watching his struggle. Not really. My gaze was on Liv, just like it had been for the past half an hour.

Curled up on my bed beside me, illuminated by the soft glow of the TV, she lay with her eyes closed and a peaceful little curve to her mouth as she slept. I knew I should probably wake her and tell her to go home to her own bed, but I liked having her here like this. The darkness of the night brought an intimate feel to it that the daylight hours couldn’t. I also couldn’t ignore the amount of trust she must have in me in order to rest so peacefully. It was funny, but that meant more to me than anything else.

Making a snap decision, I reached over and grabbed her cell off the nightstand. The fact that she had no pin code to lock her phone should’ve told me everything about her naivety, but that was something she would learn soon enough. Opening her messages, I clicked on her aunt’s name and started typing out a text.

Hi Jenny. It’s Josh here. Liv fell asleep watching a movie so I’m just going to let her sleep. I hope that’s ok with you.

I read it over before I hit send, waiting to see if she’d reply. It came through a minute later.

Thank you Josh. Behave and look after her or I’ll kill you

I laughed under my breath as I read it. It wasn’t anything I wasn’t expecting, but then another one came through.

Then I’ll bring you back to life so her dad can kill you too. He’ll probably draw out the process though

There were so many things I could’ve replied with, but I chose a simple, Duly noted.

Sliding her cell back onto the nightstand, I aimed the remote at the TV and switched it off before settling in beside Liv. As my eyes adjusted to the moonlit room, I saw Liv’s eyes flutter open to look at me.

Something that felt warm yet painful spread through my chest. I had two weeks before I needed to leave, and even though two weeks would have been perfect had I been alone, it just wasn’t enough for me now.

“Hey,” she whispered into the darkness.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Did the movie finish?”

I wriggled closer and kissed her forehead. “Not quite.”

A soft smile touched her lips. “Don’t tell Lucas I fell asleep.”

“Oh, I will,” I said, chuckling. Because I would take great pleasure in that.

She sighed, and I knew it was because she k

new I wasn’t lying.

“I messaged your aunt and told her you were sleeping here tonight. I hope that’s okay?”

In the semi-darkness, I saw her eyes narrow curiously. “What did she say?”

I smirked. “Something about behaving and killing me.”

She breathed a laugh before shifting closer to me. “I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.”

Reaching out, I stroked the hair that framed her face, letting my gaze take in every touch I made. “Don’t be. I like having you here, like this.”

“If I’m sleeping here,” she said, watching me carefully. “I’ll need to take my bra off.”

I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought about her need to do that, but now I was, it was taking me to places I just couldn’t allow myself to go. “Do you want something else to sleep in? You can wear one of my shirts, if you want?”

A picture of her wearing nothing but my shirt flashed onto the screen of my mind, ultimately taking me right to the place I was trying to avoid. Fuck it all.

“Um . . . that would be good, actually. If you don’t mind,” she said, her voice sounding less shy about it than I thought it should. It didn’t help.

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