Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Hey, Ellis.” I was being shaken awake by strong arms, and my body went into fight-or-flight mode, wrestling whoever it was so I could get away. “It’s just me—Nolan.”
I blinked open my eyes to find a worried best friend looking down at me, his eyes shiny, his hair a wreck.
“Holy hell, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You were having a nightmare.”
“Shit.” I scrubbed my hands over my face, feeling embarrassed that I’d been loud enough to wake him.
Nolan lifted the twisted blanket that had fallen to the floor. “C’mon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Come sleep in here.” He motioned toward his room.
He was bare-chested and only wearing a pair of nylon shorts. I didn’t know why I was suddenly focused on that. I wasn’t much better, having removed my shirt and hoodie.
“In your bed?”
“It’s a king, so no big deal. This way, I can keep an eye on you.”
“No,” I said, though I was already shuffling toward his door. “I don’t want to dist—”
“It’s all cool. Just lie down and go to sleep.” Nolan’s tone was commanding, and I couldn’t help but listen. I didn’t want to disrupt his night any more than I already had, so I just shut my mouth.
I watched as he slid under his covers and got himself situated. “I’ll be right here, and this way, we can both get some sleep.”
“O…kay.” I was still and quiet for a moment, then got my ass in gear enough to scoot in beside him, keeping a wide berth between us.
The cat wasn’t having it though. I hadn’t realized she’d perched herself near Nolan’s feet. She harrumphed and walked out, and I nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity of it. Of all of it. Christ, what a night.
But there was something to Nolan’s plan. Just having him near made me feel safer than I had all night. Of course he was more than a warm body. He was my best friend, my loyal bandmate, and he would protect me if I ever needed it. That must’ve been why I finally fell into a dreamless sleep.
5
Nolan
I was in my car, waiting to drive with Ellis to practice.
We’d canceled our Thursday night show out of an abundance of caution, even though Ellis complained we shouldn’t. He hated disappointing people. But he’d seemed out of sorts, and we didn’t want to put any more pressure on him. Normally, when he got going at a show, he was wild and almost frenetic, but the past few days, I’d seen a different side of him. He seemed subdued, almost fearful. It was hard to watch.
As soon as Anthony and Perry heard about the break-in, they didn’t even question the decision to cancel the show. Plus, once Ellis’s parents found out, they’d shown up at his apartment a few days in a row, and his stepdad had spoken to Leonard about extra security.
Ellis looked embarrassed when his mom begged him to move home again the second evening they arrived. I had saved the day by inviting them out to dinner and then staying until they finally left him in peace. Well, peace wasn’t exactly the right word, not after what he’d been through.
The night after the break-in, there was a knock on my door, and I wasn’t surprised to see Ellis standing there. I’d offered, after all. He’d initially refused, but I’d had a feeling he’d change his mind. He’d been sleeping at my place every night since, but we didn’t talk about it. Not even to the other guys. Ellis might be mortified if I mentioned it.
But I was all in. Whatever he needed and for however long. He was a chaotic sleeper, though, his limbs in constant motion, and I’d almost gotten elbowed in the nose a couple of times. But once his body settled, he melted into the covers. I figured he’d been that way as a kid too—so much energy to burn. I knew he took meds to stay calm and focused, and they seemed to work for the most part. But they did not calm his sleep.
Regardless, we’d seen each other through thick and thin, and if I could be a comfort to him, I was glad for it.
His mom was still blowing up his phone, apparently, and as he slid into the passenger seat of my car, I heard her voice on speakerphone.
“Mom, it’s all cool. Leonard installed extra locks on the first-floor windows, and everything is secure,” he said with an eye roll in my direction.
“I know you, Ellis. You pack those feelings away, and we’d never know if you were scared or—”
“I’m here, Mrs. Bloom,” I said to try and ease the tension. “And I’ll stick by him for as long as he needs.”
“Did you know there were robberies in the neighborhood before you told him about the apartment for rent?” she countered.