Page 194 of Where We Stay

“Where’s Aspen? Where’s Dean? Why are you here?” I scream, my breathing growing heavier and more erratic.

“Nice little family you’ve found yourself, Blair.” His voice comes from somewhere behind me. “But they can’t save you.”

I run, but I’m not fast enough. Ben is on my heels. His hand closes around my hair, wrenching me backward.

“No. No, no—NO!”

“Blair.”

Dean.

I can hear Dean, but I can’t see him. I try to scream his name, but nothing comes out.

“Blair, baby. I’m here.”

Where? Where is he?

Ben’s face begins to warp in front of me, his features twisting into someone else’s.

“Blair. Wake up.”

My eyes shoot open, tears already running down my face. I’m gripping Dean’s shirt like it’s my lifeline, but for one terrifying second, I’m not convinced it’s really him.

I shove at his chest and scramble backward.

“Baby, it’s me.” Dean immediately lifts his hands away from me. “It’s Dean.”

Dean.

I blink rapidly, forcing myself to take in the room around me.

His bedroom. His voice. His face.

I’m awake.

I move toward him again, and Dean waits until I close the space between us before wrapping his arms around me. I bury my face against his chest, breathing him in.

“You’re at my house,” he murmurs into my hair. “I’m right here.”

My entire body is still shaking. I haven’t had a nightmare in a while, but I suppose it was only a matter of time after Ben found out my new name.

I’ve been putting on a brave face, but the fear is still there every fucking day. Every unfamiliar car that passes. Every time my phone rings. Every stranger who looks at me for slightly too long.

Some part of me is always convinced it’s him.

Once my breathing begins to settle, I finally realize how I ended up in Dean’s bed. The last thing I remember is watching Yellowstone on the couch, barely able to keep my eyes open.

I tilt my head back to look at him. “Did you carry me to bed?”

“Of course,” Dean answers, as though I should have expected nothing less.

Honestly, at this point, why wouldn’t I?

I’m convinced this man was sent by all the gods. If there are any, they fucking owe me.

Dean brushes the damp hair away from my face. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shake my head. “No.”