Free For Now (Forever Book 1) by Kylee Richards Page A

me. I turn on the light, grab her and look her over for injury; not really sure what happened. When I see that she looks uninjured, I breathe a sigh of relief. I shake her a bit trying to get her to snap out of it before I put my arms around her and pull her to me. She is sobbing into me and clutching at my shirt as if she needs me there with her.
                  “It’s okay,” I tell her, “It was just a nightmare. I’m here, nothing can happen to you. It’s okay.”
                  I rock her back and forth. Her sobs slowly subside and her breathing becomes deep and even. Once I think she is asleep, I try to get up but she is still clutching my shirt, so I give up and reach up to turn off her light. I’m not sure what that was, but I’ve never been so scared in my life. What happened to this girl to give her that kind of nightmare? I lie awake for a few hours because I’m still too wired to sleep.

Chapter 13
     
    Elaina
     
                  Warm. That’s my first thought when I wake. I’m incredibly warm. I look down and see an arm wrapped around my waist. Oh my god. What did I do? I turn my head to look over my shoulder and see a sleeping Cam behind me. I watch him sleeping for a few seconds. I find it oddly fascinating. He is usually so busy that it’s weird seeing him at total peace. It takes me a few seconds to remember that he isn’t supposed to be there.
                  I try to think back to what happened last night. The guys went out and Cam and I stayed here, though I went to bed and he stayed up and worked. Why would he have ended up in my bed? I’m freaked out, but probably not as freaked out as I should be. I feel comfortable with him and I don’t think he did anything. I’m sure there’s a good reason.
                  I decide I need a shower and some time to think. I slip out of the bunk, trying not to wake Cam. I’m not sure that I’m ready to face him until I know how I feel about him being in here in my bed.
                  When I get into the bathroom, I catch my reflection in the mirror out of the corner of my eye and I gasp. I turn to look at myself and see that my eyes are red and swollen. Exactly how I used to look when I woke up in the morning after crying myself to sleep.                That’s when I remember everything. I had a nightmare. I was back in Iowa with my parents and brother, we were driving home after getting my dress and I had to watch from the side of the road as the old rusty sedan passed that truck and struck the front of our SUV. I knew it was going to happen, but I couldn’t do anything but stand there and watch it happen. I screamed. Cam. That’s when Cam came into my cubby and turned on the light. I reached for him. He held me and soothed me. He tried to leave once I calmed down, but I grabbed his shirt and made him stay with me. Oh my God, how am I ever going to face him now? I can’t explain what happened without explaining my guilt that caused the nightmare.
                  I quickly jump in the shower and let the scalding hot water try to wash away my embarrassment from last night. Maybe Cam won’t say anything and we can both pretend that it never happened. I wish I could be so lucky.
                  After the hot water runs out, I decide I’d better turn the water off since there are five guys that might want to take a shower at some point. Though I take my time getting ready, not wanting to go out there and see Cam.
                  Eventually, I realize I can’t prolong it anymore. When I go out into the living area of the bus, I see that no one else is up yet. I decide that the only thing to take my mind off last night is baking and I did promise the boys a pie.
                  Around 9:00, as I’m getting the pie out of the oven, I hear someone join me in the room. I know it is Cam before I even turn around. I