Bridget stared down at Jerica, her gaze moving from her eyes to her lips. The memory of their kiss the day before flashed through her mind. That had felt wrong, but would it be the same today? Reaching up, Bridget brushed two fingers across Jerica’s lips.
“May I—”
Jerica didn’t hesitate as she surged forward, their lips connecting. Taken aback, Bridget held firm before her brain caught up with her body. Moving in more, she kissed Jerica back with as much emotion as she could muster.
Rain pinged onto the tin roof of the deck as the scent of wet dirt floated up to them. Bridget sucked in a deep breath as she parted her lips, Jerica mimicking the move. She gave her one open mouthed kiss before pulling away and pressing their foreheads together. Shame swirled in her belly, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it.
Anyone could have come by and seen them, any one of Eli’s guests or Eli herself. Closing her eyes, Bridget kissed Jerica’s cheek gently. “I’m glad you came up today.”
“Me too.” Jerica pulled away. “But I also suppose I should start driving back since I’m pretty sure this is only the start of a very long storm.”
Bridget shook her head. “I honestly haven’t looked at a weather report in weeks.”
“Good for you. Take the time for yourself.” Jerica pulled Bridget in for another soft kiss.
She was right. This time was different. It wasn’t awkward or full of stress, even if that niggling sensation of guilt pushed its way through her. Another five minutes of being close on the porch swing, and Jerica finally rose to her feet. She said her goodbyes, gave Bridget a quick kiss on her cheek. Bridget watched her drive down the road until she disappeared into the distance. Bridget found herself smiling again before shame filled every crevice it could find in her body and in her mind.
* * *
The crunch was the first thing she heard, but she was already in a panic. Her belt kept her in place, locking her to the seat. No matter how she tried to get out, she wasn’t able to. Bridget pushed harder, moved faster, but she was stuck.
Everything happened in slow motion, the crunching getting closer and closer to her, the rocking of the vehicle as it was pushed in abnormal ways. Bridget wanted to scream out, the pressure in her chest building as if she was going to burst, but no sound erupted. Everything swirled around inside her, and she was barely containing it, even though she didn’t want to.
The crunch again, this time closer. Turning, she saw the black rubber of the large tire coming toward her, the spin as it moved in her direction. Bridget threw her hands up, blocking her face as if that would protect her as it crushed her into a million pieces.
Pain seared through her arm and her chest. She could barely breathe, gasping as if it would make any difference. Popping her eyes open, she felt weightless, as if she was floating above the world. She was so lightheaded, spinning in an instant of opening her eyes. Clenching them shut again, Bridget sank into what she felt. The noise was so loud that she could barely hear anything else, couldn’t think, couldn’t figure out where she was or what was going on.
The shake against her arm jarred her. Sitting straight up, Bridget opened her eyes wide, staring right into Eli’s worried light brown eyes. Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath, a cold sweat covering her body and soaking her clothes and hair and sheets.
“You were having a nightmare,” Eli said, fear riding on the back of the worry. “I took me a bit to wake you up.”
Bridget sucked in a breath, cringing when she realized she was putting weight on her bad arm. Eli helped her to move so she was leaning against the headboard.
“Let me get you some water.” Eli disappeared from the room, and Bridget realized every light was on in the living area and her bedroom.
The dream must have been far worse than she thought, though the sting of it was already fading. Every nerve in her body was ready to go, fight or flight, and she gladly would have taken either. Except she was stuck with fright because she could barely move. Eli came back in, a water bottle in her hand. Twisting the top, she handed it over.
Bridget gladly drank, the cold temperature floating through her overheated body a soothing balm. Eli didn’t just sit on the edge of the bed like Bridget expected, she crawled onto the mattress and sat next to Bridget, mimicking her position against the headboard.
“You’ve been having nightmares for days, but this was the worst one yet. I had to wake you up.”
“I’ve been…what?”
Eli frowned. “You don’t remember them?”
Bridget shook her head in surprise. “I barely remember this one.”
“What do you remember?”
“I was in my cruiser, stuck, could hear the crunching of metal. Then it was like I was floating.”
“I wonder if that’s the life flight.”
Bridget grimaced and sucked down more water. The rational side of her brain was already coming around and taking over, putting up barriers and walls right where they were supposed to be. It was the perfect way to distract and protect herself. “Probably. I don’t remember any of it.”
“I bet you do, and that this is just your body’s way of telling you that you remember.”
“Great,” Bridget murmured. “Just what I wanted…nightmares.”