“Yeah, honey, it’s me.”
Slowly, she pushed up, her arms trembling, while she scanned him from head to waist. “You’re okay.”
His brows twitched. “I’m okay.”
She looked around the room. “I’m in Amber Ridge.”
“Where were you a second ago?”
Her gaze flew back to him, and he could have sworn he saw ghosts in her eyes. “Cheyenne. It was the night my home caught on fire. I had to climb out of my window, then break the laundry window to get Charlie out.”
The thought of her breaking back into a house that was on fire made his skin crawl. “Do you dream about that night often?”
“I used to. Especially after Charlie passed away. But usually the nightmare follows the night exactly.”
“It didn’t this time?”
“No, this time…” She frowned, something he couldn’t place passing through her expression. Something that made his stomach drop. She lowered her head into her hands. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“I woke you with a silly dream and—”
“Hey. It’s not silly. It’s something that happened to you. Something that still affects you. What can I do to help?”
“Can you get me some water?”
“Sure.”
Becket leaned over and pressed a firm kiss to her temple before climbing out of bed. Even when he got downstairs, his chest was still too tight. He could barely breathe. Hehatedthat she’d been caught in a fire. That she’d had to escape then reenter to save her dog, only for Charlie to die less than a week later. And he hated that the event stayed with her. That she had nightmares about it.
Had this nightmare been caused by the small grease fire in the kitchen a couple of mornings ago?
He filled a glass with water.
There was something about the way she’d looked at him though. She’d been relieved when she’d first seen him, but then that fear returned to her eyes. Why? And how had her dream been different than usual?
He took the water back up the stairs, only to stop at the doorway. Sky was still sitting on the bed, sheets pulled up around her chest, but she was looking out the window, an intense frown carved into her brow.
She was so deep in thought, she didn’t hear him come in.
“Hey.”
She jolted and turned to face him. “Hey.”
He perched beside her on the bed. “Are you doing okay?”
She nodded. He didn’t believe her for a second.
He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “Sky. You can talk to me.”
Her brows flickered. “Thank you.”
Becket sighed. He wished she’d talk to him. But he couldn’t force her. He just had to hope that when she was ready, she’d open up about her nightmares and flashbacks.
“Let’s get some rest,” he said gently.
She nodded and sipped her water. When she curled back up under the blankets, she was right on the edge of the mattress. He could have laughed. There was an entire bed between his side and hers. No way were they staying like that.
