Free Conflicted (The Existing Series Book 2) by A.M. Guilliams

it all in stride and never once wavered in her reaction to the toddler’s excited energy. She spoke to him and encouraged his behavior all the while holding onto his hand so he didn’t stray too far.
    She bent to speak to him and when she looked over and pointed at me I stopped my movements. I couldn’t make out what she said and I didn’t want to frighten him by just walking up to him and his parents’. Andrew walked over beside her and swooped him into his arms; the giggle that escaped him caused me to let out one of my own. That sound was music to any parent’s ears. Once she made sure that Andrew had a hold of Liam, she walked over to me, stopping mere inches in front of me.
    “Hey, Weston,” she replied as she rubbed her hands back and forth. The air was chilly and the wind only made the cold worse. The only thing protecting me from the elements was the coveralls that I had on and the beanie on my head.
    “Hey, Magdalena,” I whispered back as I looked to the ground.
    This was more awkward than I thought it would be.
    My stomach growled suddenly causing us both to laugh and break the awkward silence that loomed between us.
    “It sounds like someone needs to eat soon,” she joked.
    “Yeah, I haven’t eaten since early this morning. The place that I told Andrew about is just right across the street. If you want to head over there, we can have a quiet and warm place to talk,” I suggested.
    “Sounds like a plan,” she replied as she turned and took in the buildings across the street. Once she spotted the sandwich shop, she walked over to where her husband and son stood and gestured for them to follow her.
    We all waited for the road to clear and ran across the street before another car approached in either direction. Liam thought it was hilarious that he got to bounce up and down on Andrew’s side, causing all of us to laugh in return. Only my laughter was for nervous reasons. I didn’t know what to expect. What either of them wanted out of this. All I knew was that seeing her was so strange, yet felt just like home at the same time.
    In the dream, I gravitated toward Magdalena with this need to protect her. Make her feel safe and want to experience life. Just like I had as I watched all three of them before me. Only I didn’t remember feeling that way when we’d initially met. I knew people had insane dreams where they woke up confused, angry, sad, or even terrified. Only this dream spanned over months and involved many different scenarios. None of which would probably ever make sense.
    We made it to the door of the small sandwich shop and quickly went inside so that we could get out of the cold. The inside was small with a homey feel. There were only a handful of tables and the counter displayed cakes and muffins that I knew for a fact Sam made fresh every morning. There was also a salad and soup bar off to the right of the counter.
    They stared at the menu while I instantly knew what I wanted. It hardly ever changed from day to day.
    “I’ll have the turkey club on wheat with a side of fries and a sweet tea, Sam. And whatever they’re having,” I replied as I grinned up at her.
    “Is it ever going to change, Weston? I swear you’re going to turn into a piece of turkey lunch meat one of these days,” she joked as she walked over and poured my drink.
    After she brought the beverage back, she looked over to Andrew, Magdalena, and Liam with a strange look in her eye. Instantly, I prayed that the Sam I’d grown to know over the years wouldn’t react to the newcomers the way she usually did. Interrogation was her strong suit. That and nosiness.
    “What can I get y’all?” she asked as she waited for them to place their order.
    “We’ll have two of the same thing he ordered and a grilled cheese for the little guy,” Andrew ordered.
    She rang it all up, and I hurriedly handed over the amount. I invited them to lunch, therefore I paid. It was how I was raised.
    “You didn’t have to do that,