by R. J. Lloyd
Neither spoke a word during the several minutes’ drive to the expressway. Eva gripped his seatbelt as hers stayed slack next to her seat. Her fingers were wrapped so tightly that her knuckles were white. And her face buried against his shoulder.
“Eva?’ He put his hand on hers. “Please put your seatbelt on.”
She sat up and looked around. “Is he gone? Like, he’s not following us, is he?”
“Yes. He’s gone. I don’t see him back there.” Ian adjusted in his seat once she sat up. “We lost him in the parking lot. But we need to ditch this car. We will drop it off at the rental place. I’ll eat the damage on my insurance. And I’ll grab a different rental from somewhere nearby. I don’t want to use the same place just in case your dad tracks this one and brings the police. They’ll have to tell the cops about any other vehicle we take.”
“I’m so sorry.” She started to cry. Her breathing was still bordering on hyperventilating from the ordeal, and the sobs only made it worse.
He shook his head. “What for?”
“All of this.” She waved her hands in the air. “I can’t believe you’re even dealing with this. I mean, the cost of the car alone is bad enough, but the danger? I am so sorry. I don’t know what my father is trying to do, but I’m so sorry you’ve been dragged into this.”
Ian pulled off the expressway and into a crowded parking lot in front of a shopping complex. He put the car in park and turned to face her, taking her hand in his. “Eva, I don’t know what to make of any of it. I mean, I met you in a dream. A dream. Like a real dream. And not just one. We met, dated and even made love in a dream all before actually meeting in person. And now you’re real. I can’t explain any of it, but I do know I can’t just walk away now.”
Her voice quivered as she replied, “I don’t think it’s even sunk in yet that you are… real. I mean, how can I be sure I’m not still dreaming?” She slumped back against the door.
He grinned. “At this point, nothing would surprise me, but I love you, so I’m going to do what I can to keep us together. I don't care if it’s in reality or in a dream world at this point. I know that sounds crazy, but I don’t care anymore.”
Eva looked at him for a minute before leaning forward and laying her head on his shoulder. “Then let's keep going.” She wrapped her hands around his arm, looking up at him. “But where are we going?”
He lifted his other shoulder, looking out around them. “I don’t know, actually. We’ll figure it out. Right now? Away from here.”
“Alright.” She sat up, letting her fingers run down his arm as she moved to put her seatbelt on.
Ian put the car in drive and drove to the rental place. At first, the attendant tried to make a big deal about the damage, but Ian slid a copy of his insurance and a few bills across the counter. The young man in a suit looked between Ian and his papers and smiled. He took a copy of the insurance, pocketed the cash and handed Ian back the document. “We will take care of this, sir. I trust your insurance will cover everything. We have your cell phone on file and will call you if we need anything further. You have a wonderful day.”
Ian nodded at the young man, and they left. He’d looked up other rental companies online before they got there. Having found one just up the block, they walked, making a conscious effort to blend in as much as possible.
Nervous that the previous company would process paperwork before they finished getting the new car, Ian agreed to every add-on just to rush things through. He didn’t feel like he had taken a full breath until they were back on the road.
Eva, curled up in the passenger seat, leaned against the door, was sound asleep within minutes. He drove north out of town and took 80 West, unsure where to go. All he knew was that they needed to get lost for a while.
Fourteen
Eva
Drifting off in the car was easier than Eva thought it would be. She hadn’t slept well while locked in that room. Her nerves had been completely fried from constantly being on guard, scared what might happen next.
She was still nervous, sure, scared of the possibility of being tracked down. But riding down the expressway with Ian seemed safer… far safer.
She gathered up his jacket for a pillow and fell asleep, smiling at the feeling of his hand on her leg, letting her know he was right there.
“Eva?” His voice was deeper than she remembered.
“Dad?”
The place looked like hers and Ian’s. Well, it looked the same. It felt the same. It even smelled the same. What was different was that her father stood in the middle of it. The very man who made her waking life a complete nightmare was now in her dream world.
He took a step forward. “Yes. It’s me. You need to come home. You’re not safe with him.”
She held her hands out, motioning for him to stop. “You locked me in an institution for violently ill people. What room do you have to tell me what is safe for me and what isn’t?”
“Have you ever known me to do something that wasn’t in your best interest?” he asked.
She stood and looked at him, trying to put a finger on what was different about the man she’d always trusted. Then, his face changed, and he no longer looked like her father. His features blurred. The color of his clothes faded. His entire outline became fuzzy until, eventually, he just disappeared.
It was all very surreal as Eva stood, staring at the spot where her father had been standing, unsure if he had been in the dream like Ian could or if she had imagined him there. Either way, it was extremely unsettling.
Ian hit a pothole while headed down an off ramp, waking Eva from her dream. She looked around for road signs, seeing they were in Buford, Wyoming. Something about the randomness of where they were and the tension from her dream, caused her to let out a giggle.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” Ian steered the car into a hotel parking lot just off the expressway. “I need to get a good meal and a couple hours of sleep. We can formulate a plan when I wake if that’s okay with you.”
She reached over and patted his shoulder, looking out the window distantly. “That sounds good. I need to stretch my legs.”
“You okay?” He parked the car.
She sighed. “I just had an odd dream.”
“You know, I don’t tend to dream anymore when you’re not there now that I think about it. I take it you do?” he asked.
She replied, “No, not usually. And I don’t know if it was real in the way we are real or just my subconscious trying to scare me, but my father was in it.”
“Your father?”
“Yeah. He was there… in our diner. And he tried to warn me about you.”
“Warn you?” Ian turned toward her, his brows pulled in. “About what?”
“I still don’t know. I was trying to figure out what was going on while I was asleep, but I didn’t get enough time with him. I actually didn’t want to be anywhere near him. However, I got the impression he thinks you’re dangerous. Or what we have is dangerous,” she explained.
He slumped back, fidgeting with his keys. “I don’t know what to think of all of this, but never have I thought we would be dangerous.”
“I’m sure it’s just my mind trying to fill in something since you were not there. You know, picturing being in that place since I’m used to it and seeing him since he’s… you know.”
“That makes sense.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Food and sleep. I’ll spring for dinner if you’re hungry.”
“Starving.” She unbuckled her seatbelt. “I was too scared to eat the food they gave me.”
“Probably wise,” he agreed.
Once out of the car, he took her arm and led her inside, careful to scan the other cars and people for any signs that they had been followed. Satisfied they were safe, he addressed the front counter attendant. “Two rooms, please.”
Eva put her hand on his arm. “Two? Are you sure that’s safe?”
“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. I guess I figured
since we hardly know each other that you’d want your privacy.” He smiled.
She smirked. “Hardly know each other, huh? Well, maybe in some ways. But taking everything into account, I’m pretty sure we know each other really well.”
He laughed. “Oh, yeah. Well, yeah. There’s ummm…”
Eva looked at the front desk attendant and smiled. “One room, two beds, please.”
The hotel employee busily wiped down the counter and didn't look up. Eva and Ian waited a moment, but she never stopped to acknowledge them. Ian waved his hand to get her attention, but she didn’t respond. Finally, getting a bit impatient, he slapped the counter. “Excuse us. Can we get one room with two double beds, please?”
The woman looked startled as she realized there was two people standing on the other side of the counter. “I’m so sorry. I didn't see you there. I must have been really into my work.” She cleared her throat. “One room, two beds? Certainly. Two keys?”
“Yes, please,” Eva replied.
“You sure?” Ian looked at her.
“Sure about the two keys?” Eva laughed.
Ian chuckled. “No, about the one room.”
She leaned against the counter. “Honestly, if nothing else, I’ll feel safer. I really don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“One room it is.” Ian slid his credit card across the counter.
Once up in the room, Eva hopped onto one of the beds and looked through the menu. “I’m pretty sure my dad doesn’t have the banks in his pockets, so we need to go get toiletries and clean clothes after we eat. I’d like to get cleaned up before we sit and talk about any plans. My head won’t be in it.”
“Fair enough,” Ian replied. “I’m sure there’s a store nearby.”
She watched him as he ordered their dinner and then settled into one of the chairs next the window. Picking up the tourist book and pretending to flip through it when he would look over at her, she tried to observe him. But really, she was in awe. Months had gone by that she dreamed of him and never knew he was real. Then, on a whim, they agreed to meet, only to find out he wasn’t just a part of her imagination. He was real, and he was sitting in the same hotel room as she was.
She felt her cheeks flush as her mind replayed images from dreams they shared about having sex and professing their love for each other. How raw and open they had been together. Her mind wandered through moments they’d dared to have that were causing the room to feel much warmer than it actually was.
Ian propped his feet up on the side of the bed and leaned back. “What?”
“Huh?” She lifted the booklet up to cover her face.
“What?” he asked again.
She scowled at the smile on his lips. “Nothing.”
“Nothing, huh?” He crossed his arms. “Eva, this may be a different world than we’re used to being together in, but I’m pretty sure you are still the Eva I know from in there. And I know her very well. So, give. Why the red cheeks?”
“I hate you right now,” she grumbled, trying to hide a giggle.
“Love?” He walked over and sat on the side of the bed she was on. “Did you say you love me?”
Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red. She huffed and tossed the booklet on the night stand. “This is so stupid!”
He gasped. “Stupid?”
“Yes!” She stood. “I feel so incredibly comfortable with you, but at the same time, I feel completely awkward!”
Ian laughed and reached out for her. “Come here.”
She took his hand and let him lead her back to the bed next to him. Sitting completely upright, knees together and eyes forward, she did everything she could to avoid giving into her urge to lay her head on his shoulder, or to jump in his lap.
“Eva?”
“Yes?” She refused to look at him.
He put his finger to her chin and turned her face to meet his. “Eva.”
Her lids fluttered as she fought back the blood rushing to her cheeks. Allowing her gaze to move up until she looked him in the eyes, she sighed. “Yes?”
His voice turned ragged as he spoke. “I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this, or even what this is. But I do know I fell in love with you when we were together in… in that other world. And I feel that same love for you as we’re sitting right here, right now. Whatever happens next…”
She cut him off, only not with words. Instead, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his, longing to feel his arms wrapped around her and the warmth of his lips on hers. Instead, her nose landed squarely on his eye. Before she could correct her mistake and connect her lips to his, he jerked back and his hand flew to his face.
She jumped up from the bed and covered her mouth. “Oh no! No! I’m so sorry! I can’t believe I just did that. Can you tell I’m not coordinated in reality? Maybe I’m nervous. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. Maybe…” She rambled.
He laughed, still rubbing his eye. “It’s okay. I’m fine. I turned my head, not expecting that at all. So, it’s partly my fault.”
She looked down at the floor. “I shouldn’t have surprised you like that.”
Ian stood and pulled her up with him. He placed his hands on her hips, guiding her to him. Wordlessly, he slid his hands up her sides to either side of her face and pulled her in for a kiss.
His lips were gentle at first. Then, he pulled her in closer, and there was a hunger, an urgency behind his movements. A feeling that caused her to wrap her arms around him and mirror his hunger with her own.
“Yes, you should. And when we stumble, we will be able to follow up with amazing kisses like that,” he whispered in her ear.
He kissed her again.
Eva felt her knees go weak. Warmth swept through her, and she was torn out of the fears and the confusion. The feel of his lips against hers and his body pressed against her body took her back to how they felt for each other in their other world, without all the stress of reality pressing down on them.
Ian swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her down. Skillfully and quickly, he slipped her clothes off before disrobing himself, tossing each article of clothing in various directions.
Sliding into her slowly, he pulled her legs around his hips. The lines of his muscles flexing as he moved in and out of her. Her hands ran over his shoulders, her eyes taking him in.
It was the reconnection they needed. And that night, Eva felt just how coordinated the two of them could be together.
Fifteen
Together
Ian woke in the middle of the night. A moment of panic swept through him, worried he’d let his guard down and something bad had happened. But before he could shoot up from the bed, he saw Eva sleeping peacefully only inches from him.
He let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Carefully scooting toward her, Ian pushed a lock of Eva’s hair away from her face and kissed her shoulder before settling back down.
Sleep didn’t return. His mind was too busy running through scenarios, plans and options that his eyes refused to stay closed. He lay there holding her, working on what to do next.
A few hours later, Eva started to stir. He watched as she stretched out and yawned, admiring her beauty. All those months spending time in a dream state, he’d never gotten to fully experience her in the way they had just shared. There was always a slight disconnect or unrealism. Nor had he ever gotten to wake up with her in his arms.
She rolled over to face him, and he kissed her forehead, grinning as a sleepy smile played on her lips.
“Good morning.” He swiped a few strands of hair from in front of her eyes.
“Mmmm. Good morning,” she replied, the grogginess of morning hanging heavy on her words.
“Breakfast?”
She blinked several times, letting her eyes adjust to the light. “You’re very chipper.”
“Yeah. I guess I am.” He chuckled. “That, and I’ve been awake a while. I’m starving.”
“What did you have in mind?” she asked.
He sat up. “Room service?”
She propped herself up on her pillow. “Perfect.”
Ian picked up the room phone and called down to the front desk, ordering several items and pointing at the menu to see if there was anything additional Eva wanted. After completing the request and hanging up, he reached out and pulled her toward him, breathing her in. “We need to start thinking about our next move.”
She let out a sigh. “I know. I’m not ready, but I know.”
“What’s our chances if we just stay off the radar that he will let this go?” he asked. “Do you think he will even come for you again?”
“I don’t know.” She closed her eyes. “The man who did this to me isn’t my father.”
He leaned forward. “What?”
“I mean, he’s not the father I know him to be,” she corrected herself. “My father is kind, supportive and would never do anything like this. Sure, he can be stern and blunt, but I never doubted that he cared about me. I don’t know who this man is. And because of that, I don’t know how to predict what he will or will not do.”
“So, you didn't see any of this coming?” he asked.
She shook her head “No. Not at all. I can’t honestly say which I was afraid of more—being thrown in that place, or my own father.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.
He moved fast as her tears began to fall, scooping her up and holding her tight as she cried for several minutes. As her sobs came less and less, he wiped her cheeks and brushed her hair back. “Eva, I can’t pretend to know what’s going to happen. However, like I said yesterday, we are going to make it through all of this.”