Ever: The Ever Trilogy, Book One (Volume 1) by Jessa Russo [paranormal] Page B

was there.
    He quickly jumped back, away from the bed. I stopped myself mid-reach, suddenly realizing my mistake. I couldn’t hug him. I would have fallen forward— through him—and off the bed. I leaned back against my headboard, disappointed once again that I couldn’t touch him or reassure myself of his safety by holding him.
    I was soaked with sweat, my pillow a wet, crumpled mess behind me, and my sheets scrunched up into a tangled pile again. My hair was plastered to my back.
    After a few long seconds, Frankie sat down on the edge of the bed and slowly took in every inch of me. Looking down, I realized I must have stripped out of my cover-up sometime during the night. I was still in my bikini from yesterday, having been too exhausted earlier to change out of it. I looked around and found my cover-up in a ball on the floor next to my bed. I reached for it quickly, throwing it on over my head. Not that it covered anything.
    Frankie smiled at me, amused by my haste, before his face turned serious. “Are you okay, Doll?”
    “I was searching for you. But … but I can’t remember why.”
    “Yeah, you were calling my name again.”
    “I can’t remember anything about my dreams. It’s really weird.”
    “It’s okay, Doll. They’re just dreams. You’re safe … and look … I’m completely intact and right here.” Noticing the slight tilt of my head and raised eyebrows, he realized the irony of what he’d said. Chuckling quietly, he stood and splayed his arms out as if saying voilà .
    “Well, not intact , exactly, but here nonetheless.”
    His smile faded, and his tone became serious once more, “And I’m not going anywhere, Doll.”
    I smiled at him, finding comfort in not only his promise, but again in just his presence. It seemed everything was all right in my world when Frankie was around.
    He sat down on the bed again, and I found myself wanting badly for him to lie with me. I wanted to wrap myself around him and never let him go. I’d never felt so safe with someone or so drawn to them—Frankie had been my entire world for so long. My safe place.
    I was surprised to realize that I was simultaneously feeling that same strong pull toward Toby. I was either becoming totally boy crazy or totally crazy crazy. Either way, at that moment, my new feelings for Toby aside, I wanted nothing more than to be able to lie with Frankie, reassuring myself of his safety.
    Somehow, as if he could read my thoughts, Frankie looked down, waved his arm over the bed, and raised his eyebrows as if to ask, ‘ you gonna make some room? ’
    I scooted back against the wall like I had before, and Frankie lay down next to me. He didn’t say another word, just stared into my eyes. I drifted off to sleep, knowing he was watching over me.
    I woke up freezing cold from sleeping in nothing but a bikini and my scant cover-up, my sheets still in a tangled mess on the floor where I’d left them during the night. But sleep had come, and like the other times, something about having Frankie there was so soothing I’d slept soundlessly.
    My bed was empty, and I quickly discovered that my room was as well. I felt an ache of disappointment that I quickly tucked away. What was I going to do with myself? I can’t keep having these feelings for Frankie, cannot be in love with him. Next door lived a real flesh and blood guy—and super-hot flesh and blood at that—who actually wanted to take me out, and who could actually, potentially— possibly? —become my boyfriend.
    Hopefully.
    It was obvious that something had to shake me of the impossible feelings for Frankie.
    I glanced at the clock. Shoot! It’s already ten! I had a date with Toby at eleven. That left me with only one hour, which normally wouldn’t be a problem, but I was so excited, I knew it was going to be another What’s in Ever’s Closet? Fashion Show kind of day. I decided to call Jessie to ask her to come over and help me find something to wear. Truth be told, her