Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty-Six
Brad laughs. "You are probably right. I am constantly worried about you baby." He kisses the top of my head again and let's go of me, returning to the table. I can feel him watching me, but I focus on cooking.

I make a new batch of bacon, and some scrambled eggs with toast. Simple, but delicious. I make two plates and walk over to the table setting Brad's down in front of him. He smiles at me. "Thank you baby. It looks delicious."

"If not I can always try again. You know they say third times the charm." I say laughing at myself. I can't believe I got so lost in thought that I didn't notice the food burning. 

Brad chuckles shaking his head. "This is perfect baby."

We eat in comfortable silence. When I'm done eating Brad grabs my plate, walking to the sink before I even have a chance to do it myself. "Thank you. I could have got my own plate though." I say watching Brad. 

Brad shrugs. "You cook. I clean." He walks over to me and kisses my cheek. "Go lay down on the couch or in bed baby. I will be in there in a second and you can take a nap. You need some rest sweetheart."

I smile at him. "Thank you. I will see you in a minute." 

I stand up and walk into the living room. I don't want to sleep in bed. I think a quick nap on the couch should be good enough, if I can even sleep at all. I lay down on the couch attempting to get comfortable while I wait for Brad.

A few minutes later he comes into the living room. I sit up enough for him to sit down, and then I lay my head on his lap. Wiggling around a little until I am comfortable. I curl up on side. Brad puts his hand on my head, running his fingers through my hair. He does this over and over again, knowing that I love my hair being played with. It is very relaxing to me. 

"Get some sleep sweetheart. I will be right here when you wake up." Brad whispers, and I close my eyes. Hopefully I can get some sleep, even just two hours would be better than nothing at this point. 

I lay there for a while, mind racing with all the normal craziness that goes on in my head. Thoughts of my husband, thoughts of my dreams and how weird it is that Brad is having the weird dreams too, and thoughts of the guy I barely know, that has somehow worked his way into my mind. 

I fall asleep thinking about Mateo. The gorgeous mystery man with such familiar eyes that I just can't figure out where I've seen before. His smile, and how easy it is to talk to him. I haven't really been able to talk to anyone that easily besides Brad since everything happened. 

My thoughts work their way into my dreams somehow. I'm in my apartment. This apartment with Brad and I wake up to find someone watching us sleep. Just a shadowy figure standing in the darkness of the room. I should scream, wake up Brad, or stab the guy with something, but I don't. I don't feel threatened or even scared. 

I just watch the shadowy figure as he steps closer to us on the bed. With each step the figure takes my heart pounds harder and faster against my chest. When I am finally able to make out the figures face it's not who I was expecting. Not my husband, or one of his many workers or even our creepy ass landlord. 

It's Mateo. He smiles at me and whispers "Don't run. Stay." Before I can say anything back he just vanishes back into the darkness of the room, leaving me and Brad there alone as if he was never even there to begin with. 

"Wait, don't leave." I holler into the darkness of our apartment but it's to late. 

"Baby, wake up. Wake up. You are just having a bad dream baby." I hear Brad saying stuff close to my ear and I open my eyes slowly. 

"Hey baby." He says smiling at me. "You were having a bad dream, tossing and turning. Yelling something in your sleep. I'm not sure what you were saying though." 

He kisses my forehead and I glance around the apartment. It was just a dream. Mateo was never here. Why would he be? He's never been here before and he definitely wouldn't be telling me to stay. 

"Are you okay?" Brad asks, rubbing my shoulder soothingly. 

I force a smile. "Yeah. I'm okay. It was just a dream. How long was I asleep?" I ask, stretching a little. 

"About three hours baby." 

Three hours? Wow it doesn't even feel like I was asleep for ten minutes. He just sat here and let me sleep on his lap for three hours straight? 

"I can't believe you just sat here and let me sleep that long. You didn't have to do that." I say, turning my head so I am looking up at him. 

Brad smiles down at me. "I would have stayed here for ten hours straight if it meant you got some decent sleep baby." 

"Thank you!" I say, looking up at him. 

Brad is so sweet and caring. I feel horrible that I'm letting Mateo affect my decision to stay. It has always been me and Brad ever since the day we escaped. Everything we have done is to keep each other safe. I shouldn't let Mateo change that. 

"You're welcome baby. Do you feel any better?"

I smile up at him. "Yes I do, thank you." 

"Of course baby." He leans down and gives me a quick peck on the lips. 

I stare up at him for a second, I need him to be safe. I need us to be safe. No matter what we have to give up. "Do you think we should move?" I blurt, unable to stop myself. 

Brad's eyes go wide with concern. "Do you think we need to move? I thought you said it was just a dream. Do you think someone has been in here watching us while we sleep?" He asks question after question and I can tell he is starting to panic. His breathing turns kind of heavy and erratic.

I sit up, turning so I can look him directly in the eyes. "No, of course I don't think anyone has been in here watching us. It was just a dream, I promise it was just a dream. You don't have to worry about that." I say trying to convince him and myself that we have nothing to worry about.