‘There. Now put the phone on the pillow,’ she said, and he felt a rush of heat as tears gathered behind his eyes. He didn’t want her to go. He wished she was right beside him, someone whole and warm and solid to hold on to. The nightmare had devastated him. Waking up in a strange bed had made it worse, none of his own familiar things around him to ground him in the present. The run through dark streets had made him feel haunted, chased by memories on every corner. Now he just felt alone.
Like she could read his mind, Gabi said, ‘I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.’ He could imagine her lying on her bed too, the light of her lamp making her look candlelit, soft, beautiful.
‘My phone is on my pillow too,’ she said. ‘It’s going to be there all night.’
She was staying. Something inside him softened, even as his chest ached. Walker felt his body begin to relax, muscle by muscle, one vertebra after the other, until he sank into his mattress.
‘You’re not on your own. There’s nothing to worry about.’ Gabi’s voice was quieter now. ‘And if you want me, just say my name.’ The same name he’d called earlier when he came. He sighed and felt his fingers relax on the sheet; he hadn’t even realised how tightly he’d been gripping them. He yawned, loudly.
‘Good,’ whispered Gabi. ‘Now, you’re going to go to sleep. You’re going to dream good dreams and you’re going to wake up tomorrow feeling better.’
Walker closed his eyes.
‘Just listen to my breathing.’ Gabi’s voice was close, as if she lay beside him.
He reached for the phone and moved it closer to his face on the pillow. The sound of her breathing was all he could hear. In. Out. Soft. Slow. He focused on the sound, the rhythm, and let it take him away.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Gabi
Gabi awoke to the sound of Walker’s contented snores. Confused for a moment, she reached a hand behind her and hit cold, empty sheets, before opening her eyes to see the phone beside her on the pillow. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, smiling at the snuffling, putting a hand over her mouth so her laugh didn’t wake him. She checked the time; it was well past nine. He’d had a good eight hours after his nightmare. That should set him up for the day. She carefully lifted the phone and pressed red to end the call.
Downstairs, Amber was already home. Gabi pushed the kitchen door open to see her friend wearing the same clothes she’d had on yesterday. Her grin told Gabi everything she needed to know about how her night had gone with Alex.
‘Someone’s in a good mood,’ Gabi teased. Amber winked, making Gabi laugh.
‘You guys want coffee?’ Amber asked as she turned down the music, holding up two cups.
‘Just one for me,’ Gabi replied, pulling out a stool and propping up her leg.
‘Walker’s gone already?’ Amber asked, putting one cup back on the shelf. ‘Got an early shift?’
‘Coffee first, then I’ll tell you the full story,’ Gabi said. When they both had a cup in front of them, she told Amber what had happened: from the best sex of her life to the worst wake-up call ever in the middle of the night.
Amber’s face fell as she cupped her coffee with both hands. ‘Poor Walker,’ she said. ‘He must see some awful things in his job.’
Gabi went on to tell Amber about the pillow talk.
‘Well, that’s a different kind of late-night call,’ Amber said, with a tilt of her head. ‘Not one I’ve had before.’
Gabi sipped her coffee. ‘Same here.’
‘Kind of you, though,’ Amber said.
Gabi shrugged. ‘I was just looking forward to round two,’ she said with a laugh. ‘What about you and Alex?’
‘I gave in to the force. . .’
‘Again.’ Gabi smiled.
Amber rolled her shoulders and stretched. ‘What can I say? It’s a strong force.’
The front door opened, and Jayden skidded in, throwing his rucksack at the hook, not caring that it hit the floor. Amber pulled him in for a cuddle, but he brushed her off.
‘Was it a fun sleepover?’ Amber asked and he stopped mid-mouthful, frowning, and signed something quickly to his mum. She started to respond, but Jayden was determined to finish his story. Only when he finally finished did she reach over to stroke his cheek and sign again. She held up two fingers and then a gesture that looked like the roll of a dice. He sighed in frustration but then nodded in agreement. Amber passed him her phone and he slouched at the kitchen table, watching street dance videos as he ate his second breakfast of the day.
Amber rolled her eyes and turned back to Gabi. ‘He’s had a falling out with his friend. Apparently, he took Jayden’s phone and used up all the battery.’ Gabi glanced at Jayden, but he was oblivious, focused on the screen.
