Free Revelations by Carrie Lynn Barker Page B

from his pocket. He used it to wipe some dirt off the temple I’d just tapped then handed me the rag so I could wipe my hands. Then he leaned over and rolled up the passenger side window and his own window, turned the key, and got out of the truck.
    “Inside,” he said. “Now.”
    I moved out of his way as he shut the door to the truck.
    “Come on, babe,” he said.
    I slipped my hand into his, and we went together.
    Inside the Commune, I forced Jonas to go to his bedroom where I made him lie down. Since I was all dirty from working on the truck, I decided to go take another shower. When I dried off, except for my hair, I went back in to check on him. He lay on his side, his eyes closed tightly. He was nearly snoring, but not quite so I didn’t want to disturb him. I did though.
    “Jonas?” I said quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed nearest to his head.
    “Hhm?” he muttered then said, “I was dreaming about you.”
    I snorted laughter. “You were not. You were dreaming about Keira Knightly. What is it with that girl, anyway?”
    “She’s hot,” Jonas said. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
    I ran my fingers down his cheek. “You’re hot,” I told him. “But not in a good way.”
    “Hey,” he said, opening his eyes to give me the appropriate look. Then he reached up and ran his hand through my wet locks. “Never seen you with wet hair. I kinda like it.”
    “Are you okay?” I asked him, trying to divert my own mind from its logical train of thought. I should have done it right then and there, but I was hiding myself, had been successful at such for so long that I didn’t want to out myself…not yet.
    “I’ve seen better days,” he said.
    I found myself leaning over to kiss his temple. “I’ll let you sleep.”
    I rose and went to leave, but his iron grip suddenly had my wrist.
    “Stay,” was all he said.
    One word broke my heart into tiny little pieces. That same heart began to beat faster and I sat back down. “I’ll stay,” was my answer. He said nothing, only closed his eyes and, with my help though not knowing I’d been of any help in that, he drifted off to sleep. “I’ll stay,” I whispered once he started to snore.
    Stay I did. I crawled into bed behind him and put my arm around his waist, my hand resting lightly on his stomach. I found it quite easy to fall asleep beside him, especially since I hadn’t slept the night before. His snoring was soothing, even though it grew louder as he drifted off deeper into dreamland. I liked it. It was probably some of the most restful sleep I’d had in a while, even though my dreams were disturbingly vivid retellings of the accident that wasn’t, which was beginning to feel quite normal to me.

Chapter Thirteen
    I woke with tears on my cheeks to the sound of my dreams dying away in my head. I could still hear the crunch of the car and my father’s cries of pain. Strangest thing of all, I woke alone. In many ways, I was glad of this; glad Jonas didn’t see me wake up crying. I hated my tears, despised them even. I didn’t want to take the time to explain. Jonas being gone from the room gave me time to compose myself before going to find him.
    He was out on the front porch. It was just after dawn and he’d seen the sun rise. I joined him, quietly sneaking through the house so as not to wake anyone else. I went outside to sit beside him on the porch swing.
    “You shouldn’t be out here,” I said.
    “I’m okay, Chris,” he said.
    I didn’t bother to correct him, on either point. He’d gotten in the habit of calling me such, and I still tried really hard not to mind. “You’re not okay,” I said.
    “You stayed with me all night,” he said.
    It occurred to me only just then I’d slept away the previous day and through the night.
    “I figured you’d get tired of my snoring.”
    “You don’t snore.” I lied. He snored like a one of those pug dogs with the squished faces.
    “Starch says I snore,” Jonas said, and then