Sweet Dandelion

He maneuvers his body, climbing into bed behind me. He holds me against his body.

“I’m here, Meadows. I’ve got you. I’m not letting you go. I won’t let the dream get you while I have you.”

I open my mouth to argue that his presence won’t be enough to chase it away, but I opt against it, and then by some miracle when I do fall back asleep to him humming in my ear, the dream doesn’t return.

I think Ansel Caron might be my knight in shining armor.

I’m sorry, Lachlan.

Chapter Sixty-Nine

I wake up wrapped in Ansel’s arms, his breath blowing softly against the back of my neck. His arms are twined around my body, with his legs fully curled against the back of mine. My left arm rests on the top of his. There’s something acutely intimate about it, despite the fact nothing sexual happened.

I start to wiggle out of his hold, needing to pee, but he tightens his grip.

“Five more minutes. I’m not ready to get up.”

“I need to use the bathroom.”

He pinches my stomach. “Five minutes.”

“Ansel,” I laugh, “let me go.”

He groans, releasing his octopus hold on me. “Fine, Meadows. Go to the bathroom. What time is it anyway?”

I pick up my phone. “Four in the morning.”

“Fuck, we slept a long time.”

Considering we fell asleep after eleven in the morning the previous day, he’s not kidding. Seventeen hours is a hell of a lot of sleep, but we both needed it.

Climbing out of bed, I head to the tiny bathroom in the room next door to relieve myself. Washing my hands, I glance at my reflection in the mirror. I look surprisingly well rested considering I woke up with that horrible reoccurring dream. I think I have Ansel’s presence to thank for that.

After I’ve brushed my teeth, I climb back into bed beside my best friend. He reaches for me, pulling me against his solid chest. I wrap my arms around him and he tucks my head under his neck.

“I’m really glad you’re here,” I whisper like a confession into the dark bedroom.

He squeezes my arm. “Me too.”

“I’m not sure I could have done this by myself like I thought I could.”

He’s quiet for a few heartbeats. “You would’ve been fine.”

“You think so?” I twist my head, resting my chin on his chest so I can look at him.

He angles his head toward me. “I know so. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. But,” a grin spreads slowly over his face like a rising sun, “you wouldn’t have nearly as much fun.”

I laugh. “Now that’s definitely true.”

“What do you want to see today?” he asks, rubbing his fingers lazily against my arm. It feels good and my eyes close, basking in the touch.

“Everything.”

“I don’t think we can see everything in one day, Meadows.”

“I want to experience the city, the life, that’s what this whole trip is about for me. Living, not just visiting.”

“Well, Meadows,” he presses his lips to the side of my head, “let’s get out there and live.”