Page 60 of Fracture

Lorelei let out the breath she was holding and positioned herself in front of the chair. Her head was close to the couch, but her body stretched away so Vinnie wouldn’t step on her if he got up during the night. She shoved the pillow into the right spot and put her head on it. She twisted the blanket around herself.

The floor was not comfortable.

She turned on her side and immediately rolled onto her back again. She should have brought another pillow for her ankle, but she didn’t think about it.

She closed her eyes and drew a breath. It didn’t matter if she slept like shit, she had Vinnie there. He would keep her safe. He would make sure she was okay.

He groaned and moved, rolling over and letting his hand fall over the side of the couch.

She looked up at it. She reached up and threaded her fingers through his. He squeezed her hand, and she finally relaxed. He was there. She was okay.

14

Vinnie stirred when Lorelei cried out. His mind processed her call before he woke.

She cried again, a whimper.

His eyes opened, taking in the room and searching for her.

He was on the couch. The day before came back to him with sharp and painful clarity. She didn’t need him.

She made another noise, and Vinnie realized she wasn’t in the bedroom. She was there. Close. In the room with him.

He looked down and saw her outline on the floor.

She thrashed and flung her arm.

He reached for her, taking her hand.

She stilled immediately. A rapid breath said she woke up. She let it out slowly, as though trying to pretend she was still asleep.

Vinnie let her have the moment, not calling her on it. He rubbed her knuckles, hoping it soothed her. It usually did, but she was usually asleep when he was helping her through a nightmare. She rarely woke up.

“Are you awake?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Unlike the night before when she spoke in a normal tone as he pretended to sleep.

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry I woke you.”

“You can’t help having nightmares.”

She breathed in what sounded suspiciously like a sob.

“What are you doing out here?”

Her hand tightened to a fist, the air in the room thick with sudden tension. “I didn’t want to be alone.”

“Did you have a nightmare earlier?”

The sound of her head rubbing the pillow told him she was shaking her head. “I wanted to be close to you.”

“It didn’t keep your nightmare away tonight.”

“That’s not why I wanted to be close to you,” she whispered.

“Then why?” The question came out harsher than he intended.

She was quiet for a long moment. She was still awake, but she was choosing her words carefully. “I had a memory come back tonight when I was at dinner. It was Karli and me when we were kids. Our families rented a beach house. It was so vivid and… fun. I felt alive. I was surrounded by family and happy.”