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The smile that broke out on his face made her heart skip a beat. He brushed a strand of hair from her shoulder before he pressed his lips there.
“Hi, gorgeous.”
Her eyes immediately searched for his friends, luckily finding just the two of them in the hut.
“Where are the others?”
“They’ve taken Rod’s fishing poles, and I saw them go behind that big rock where we talked yesterday. I hope they have better luck today since we have had nothing to eat except for a bag of nuts and some green olives.”
The mere mention of food made her tummy growl. She hated the idea of leaving Jack’s embrace, but she sat up on their makeshift bed of leaves anyway to find something to eat instead today.
“What time is it?”
“Ten past eight,” Jack said.
He also sat up and stretched his arms above his head. She quickly looked away when a part of his eight-pack peeped from under the hem of his ripped shirt.
“I hope Cami and Dom will get here soon,” she said.
“Me too.”
The way he stared at her made her awfully self-conscious. “What’s wrong?”
“We heard you shout in your sleep a couple of times.”
She shifted on the bed, pulling up her knees to her chest. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you guys?”
He rested his big hand on top of her knee. “Nah, don’t sweat it. I was already up. The others wanted to wake you, but I told them you needed your sleep.”
“Thanks.”
She was grateful that he didn’t make a big deal out of it.
“Why were you up?”
Jack let his long legs fall over the edge of their hut’s bamboo platform. He stared at the beach in front of them for a few long seconds.
He finally said, “I had a fucked-up dream. Couldn’t sleep after that.”
She sat down next to Jack and also dangled her legs over the edge. She rested her head against his bicep, unsuccessfully searching for Reed and Zane on the rocks ahead before she remembered they were behind the big rock.
She took in the sunrays warming their pearly white beach, the friendly cirrus clouds in the sky, and the peaceful ocean ahead. Today would be a good day to find her friends.
"What did you dream?" she finally asked when he didn't elaborate on his dream.
His green eyes pierced her soul when he said, “I dreamt we were on our way to meet Nicole for cherry ice cream. We were laughing in the car, both excited about you meeting my sister for the first time…”
Her throat thickened as she could guess what turn his dream would take, since his voice sounded heartbroken.
“Then, somehow in my dream, you and Nicole switched seats, and you were screaming for help, slamming your fists against the backseat window.”
She wanted to stop him from reliving his nightmare, but he already continued, “Holding you in my arms, resting my palm on top of your chest so I could focus on your breathing, calmed me last night. I never had that before. I’m grateful you’re here with me.”
She smiled when he kissed the top of her head.
“I’m happy to help. Sleeping in your arms felt right. I wasn’t even aware I had nightmares last night.”
“Good. I know you’re probably done with the heavy shit just like me, but I just wanted to say one last thing.”
