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

around Liam to comfort him as he picked up his sandwich with the other. Seeing this type of affection between a father and child made me long to hold Grace in my arms. I knew she was safe with my parents’, but I didn’t want her to feel like I’d abandoned her, too.
    “I felt confused. Scared out of my mind actually. I thought I’d gone crazy seeing Andrew crouched down in front of me. It took me running up the stairs and seeing Liam for it to all feel somewhat real. Sometimes it still doesn’t feel like I’m awake. I have to keep reminding myself that it was all a dream. That I didn’t bury them. That they didn’t die. Sorry if that’s morbid, but that’s how I tell myself that it’s all fake. You have a daughter, right?”
    “I do. Her name is...,” before I finished she completed the sentence for me.
    “Grace,” she whispered, causing Andrew to turn his head and look over at her.
    “That’s correct,” I confirmed.
    “It’s crazy that you two actually remember and know these details about one another. Creepy even,” Andrew laughed between bites of his sandwich and fries.
    “You don’t have to tell me,” I agreed and shook my head as I finally took the first bite of my sandwich. My stomach finally felt like it wouldn’t expel the food that was put in it, and I felt safe enough to attempt eating.
    “So if that’s correct, does that mean that Mackenzie actually left you?” Magdalena bluntly asked.
    “Mags, that’s a little personal don’t you think?” Andrew warned, his voice going deeper to express the seriousness behind his statement. Immediately she looked down are her sandwich and began pulling the crust off the remaining half.
    The mere mention of that nickname caused me to flinch as a memory of the dream surfaced with her reaction to me calling her the exact same thing on a stormy night.
    “I’m sorry. My brain hasn’t yet received the memo that we don’t actually know each other. I’m just trying to understand the situation and how much was real within the dream,” she replied without looking up from her plate.
    “No, it’s okay. I was just shocked at how blunt you were. That’s not the person I remember. You were timid in the dream. Reluctant to even talk unless it was coached out of you. That was another odd part of the dream. I figured that if it was a dream, she’d deny her intentions of leaving and we’d go on about our business. I’d chalk it up to an intense dreamlike stated and forget it had ever occurred. Only when I blatantly asked her if she was going to leave, she looked guilty and didn’t deny it. In the dream, I came home to her gone. No explanation. No forwarding address. Nada. At least this time I got to tell her to leave and know she was doing it,” I revealed and picked up my sandwich to take another bite.
    “I’m so sorry that part of the dream came true. I hoped that it hadn’t after hearing all the other details that were correct. Is this weird for you? Seeing us and having this crazy conversation? It is, and it isn’t for me. I don’t know how to explain it. I feel connected to you for some reason. Like we were supposed to meet and be a part of each other’s lives. I’m sorry if that makes me sound like I should be committed, but it’s the truth.”
    Before I even thought about answering, I took in her revelation and contemplated turning it down. Only when I looked over at Andrew, he didn’t react to what she’d said with malice or anger. He seemed genuinely happy and content. That was the only reason I even considered revealing my answer. I didn’t need him to knock me on my rear end for telling him how I felt about his wife. Even if the feelings were strictly of the friend variety.
    I finished the piece of sandwich I had in my hand and took a sip of tea while trying to get my thoughts together on how I’d respond.
    With one final swig of tea, I took a deep breath. There wasn’t any reason to be nervous, but I was. I didn’t know these