I wokewith a jolt and panicked at the hand that was under my shirt on my bare skin. I quickly tried to move and pushed at the hand on my stomach.
“Ryan.”
Russell.
We were in the car, and the rain was battering the windshield while thunder boomed overhead. I blinked a few times, trying to shake the dream. It hadn’t helped that I was constrained by a seat belt, making me feel even more trapped and panicked.
“Ryan, my boy.” Russell’s voice dripped with concern, which made me feel more pathetic and vulnerable.
“Sorry, it was a dream,” I explained.
Even though I had pushed Russell’s hand away from my stomach, he kept his hand on my thigh. Instead of rubbing my leg in a consoling fashion, he gripped it.
“I’m aware it was a dream—”
“I’m fine now. I’m sorry.”
“You are fine and safe, but you have nothing to apologize for.”
Yeah, right. Poor guy can’t even drive through shitty weather being able to concentrate on the road without having to babysit my ass.
I could hear the blinker of the SUV signaling our move from the left lane to the right lane. In a trance, I stared out the windshield. Though the wiper blades moved swiftly, I was able to see some sort of building or structure in the distance. As we approached it, the blinker came on again. It was a rest stop.
Russell pulled into the side of the parking lot for regular cars and into a covered spot. There weren’t any other cars around. Right in front of us were some metal picnic tables strewn on cement slabs in a grassy area. On the other side of the picnic area there were a few semi-trucks. Probably waiting the storm out.
I felt terrible.
“Ryan—”
“I was having a dream, and I think the thunder snapped me out of it.”That’s what woke me up. Dad slamming the door was the thunder. At least he hadn’t started whipping me yet.
“I thought you were having a dream because you were fidgeting and reaching for your stomach. I started rubbing on your stomach, hoping you could feel my hand and not theirs.”
Theirs.
I quickly jumped in to let him know it wasn’t a terrible dream.
“It wasn’t that bad, Russell.”
“Anytime those animals are around you in your dreams is terrible. I hate it.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”
“I know you can’t, Ryan.”
I pulled my eyes away from the semi-trucks and looked down at Russell’s hand on my leg.
“Tell me about the dream,” he insisted.
My head throbbed, and I didn’t have the energy to argue with him. I explained all of the dream and didn’t leave anything out. When I finished, I took a sip from the bottle of water Russell held out for me. Thankfully, he hadn’t said that he was sorry. I hated sympathy. I didn’t need it.
“Since we’re stopped, do you need to use the bathroom, Ryan?” I glanced over at the entrance for men. “Getting out and walking around for a bit might help.”
I unbuckled my seat belt and opened the door.
“Do you need to go?” I asked as I stepped out into the cold air. Russell unbuckled his seat belt and opened the door.
“I don’t have to go, but I’ll stretch my legs some.”
