Two healing souls- Book 2

CHAPTER Five

　　Gracie

　　I got woken up with the sound of Ryland whimpering and talking in his sleep.

　　“No, leave her alone,” he cried.

　　I knew he was having another one of his nightmares about his sperm donor! He still has them some nights, not as much as he used to, but they still came from time to time. I would need to let him come out of it himself because I tried to wake him once, and it made him freak out more. I learned not to do it again! I hated that I couldn’t do anything.

　　He continued to whimper and repeat the words ‘stop’. It broke my heart hearing him like this. He was thrashing about the bed. This continued for a good ten minutes before he suddenly shot up.

　　“Gracie” His voice sounded broken and panicked as he spoke my name.

　　“Ryland, I am right here,” I whispered.

　　He turned to face me, and the light from the moon coming through the window was enough to show me the sadness, the fear in his eyes. He was sweating.

　　“I wish they would stop! It has been years since it all happened,” he sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

　　“Come here, my love,”

　　He came closer to me, wrapping his arms around me, burying his face in my tee. He clung to me, and I could hear small sobs.

　　“I got you, baby boy,”

　　“Please don’t ever leave me,” he said between breaths.

　　I gently stroke his hair, and he held me tighter. A silence filled the room. Neither of us needed to say anything. All he needed was to know I was here for him.

　　“Sorry, Gracie,” I heard Ryland whisper after about twenty minutes.

　　“You have nothing to be sorry about,” I said, kissing him softly.

　　“You shouldn’t have to put up with my s**t, Gracie. You have enough to deal with,” he stated, sitting up.

　　I moved, kneeling in front of him, I rested my hand on his cheek, making him look at me.

　　“Ryland, we are in this together, all of this,” I said, “We help each other, and no matter what I am going through, I will always be here for you. I promise,”

　　He still struggled at times to show his emotions and tell me how he was really feeling.

　　“Thank you,” he managed to say, “I don’t know where I would be without you, beautiful,” he added, kissing me.

　　I think at some point we both need to go and see someone, but that isn’t something either of us is ready for, not right now.

　　“Do you want to find something to watch for a bit” I suggested.

　　When he does have his nightmares, he doesn’t fall back over, not straight away, because he is scared that they will start again. He usually stays awake for at least an hour.

　　Ryland nodded, and we found something to watch. He pulled me close, and I rested my head on his chest. I could hear his heart going. It was still pounding from the nightmares. It began calming down, though, as we cuddled in silence.

　　“So, you like the name Callie, uh, for a little girl” he said suddenly.

　　Wait! What How does he know the name I like for a little girl I have not ever told him that. I looked up at him, a confused look on my face.

　　“How do you know I like that name”

　　“You were talking about her in your sleep ” he smiled.

　　“I was How do you know I was talking about my little girl” I didn't even remember dreaming of anyone.

　　“About our little girl. And to answer your question, because of what you said,” he told me everything I said. I was dreaming of our little girl That was crazy. That is something for way, way in the future.

　　“Sorry, I hope that didn’t freak you out,” I said, embarrassed.

　　“Nope! Not at all. It made me smile,” he gushed, kissing me.

　　I was glad it didn’t freak him out. And it would seem this conversation had cheered him up, which was also a good thing.

　　“Good, now, do you think you are ready to try and sleep, Ryland”

　　“I think so, yes,” he replied.

　　He stole a goodnight kiss, and we got ourselves settled back down for the night. I wouldn’t fall asleep until I knew he was in a tranquil and deep sleep.

　　“Sweet dreams, my love, I love you,” I said.

　　“I love you too, beautiful,” he responded.

　　It didn’t take him too long to fall asleep again, and I followed, though I wouldn’t go into a deep sleep tonight in case Ryland had another nightmare.

　　***

　　I awoke, and like always, the first thing I did was reach for Ryland, soon realizing the bed was empty. I sat up, looking around, but he was nowhere in sight.

　　“Ryland” I called out but didn't get a response. Where was he I grabbed my phone to call him and saw I had a text from him. I was scared to read it in case he had left or something. I took a deep breath and opened it to read.

　　Good morning, beautiful. I am away for a run to clear my head a little. I will be back soon with breakfast and coffee, mwah! Xxx

　　I instantly relaxed after reading it. He sent that about two hours ago, so he shouldn’t be too long. I got my ass out of bed and started packing our things away since we need to check out in a few hours. We would keep everything in the back of the car until we did what we needed to before heading home.

　　A part of me didn’t want to go home. I wished we could stay here in New York a little longer, but it wasn’t possible, we had to get back to school. Though, I was happy we did this, even if we didn’t get the results I so desperately wanted. Everything else had been perfect.

　　I had just finished putting everything away when the hotel door opened.

　　“Hey, sweetness,” I soon had a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind coupled with soft kisses on my shoulders.

　　“Hey babe, how are you feeling” I asked as I turned to face him. He was in his running clothes, all hot and sweaty. Strangely, I find that very sexy.

　　“Better now,” he smiled.

　　Ryland brought me into him, covering my lips with his in a sensual kiss. I smiled, my arms automatically going around his neck, kissing him.

　　“Good,” I mumbled to his lips.

　　“Now, let's eat, get showered and head out,” he suggested.

　　I gave him a nod; we grabbed ‘breakfast’ and sat on the bed. I excitedly opened the bag to see what he had brought me—I was so damn hungry.

　　“Oh, yay, New York bagels and cream cheese,” I beamed.

　　Are they called New York bagels when you are in New York or just bagels Random, I know.

　　“I thought you would like those,” he laughed.

　　I grinned widely at him, pecking his lips before turning my attention to the said breakfast. It looked good, and I couldn’t help but take a large bite from it. Ryland was used to me by now.

　　“How was your run”

　　“Good, I could get used to running here, running in Central Park and through the streets of New York,” he smiled, “Can’t we just stay here Find jobs, find somewhere to live”

　　“If only it were that simple,” I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder.

　　“If only..” He slipped his arm around me, kissing the top of my head. Yes, staying here, running away from everything, may sound appealing, but I knew it would be something we would regret in the long run. I am sure we can make it through to the end of senior year.

　　“You said you want to move here for college, but would it be permanent” he asked.

　　“I am not sure. I will need to see how it goes,” I replied, “But when the day to have a family comes, I don’t want to stay in the city. Why do you ask”

　　“No reason, just curious, what are your thoughts on travelling Maybe every summer while at college” he asked.

　　“I would love that,” I said brightly.

　　“Hearing that makes me happy, I want to see some of the world, and I would really love to do that with you,” he gushed, kissing me.

　　“Then that is what we shall do,” I would love to see the world too, find out what else is out there.

　　“I would love to do a lot of things with you,” he noted between kisses, “but some of those things will have to wait,”

　　“What other things” I was curious about what he was talking about.

　　“I will tell you another time, a little too soon to share,” he smiled.

　　I pouted, hoping that would work and he would tell me. It didn’t. Ryland just laughed at me, shook his head, and proceeded to distract me with his lips. I will get it out of him, eventually. But now, all I could think about was how good his lips felt. That is why he was kissing me, he knew it would stop me from talking and asking any more questions.

　　“So, we have a couple of hours free,” he smirked into my lips.

　　“Yes, what shall we do” I giggled in response.

　　I knew what he wanted to do, but I would tease him a little first. He kissed my neck, and I couldn’t stop a loud moan falling from my lips.

　　“It involves no clothes, a lot of noise and you calling my name,” Between each word, he kissed or nibbled on my neck.

　　“Mmm, yes, let’s make the most of our alone time,” I breathed out, removing his tee from him.

　　“I thought you would like that idea,” he winked, removing my tee also, “I can’t wait until we have our own apartment, and we can do this anytime we want, in any part of the place,” he added as his hand wandered.

　　“Mmm, me too!” I panted out.

　　I would say that this was the perfect way to start off the day.