Chapter 11: Just a dream

I change into my pajamas and crawl into bed going through my missed calls and messages.

Liam: Hey baby. Text me when you get settled into bed.

It's 11 here so it's only 8 back home. I shoot him a quick text.

Willow: I'm lying in bed baby where are you.

Liam: Wishing I was there with you. What are you wearing.

Willow: My black lace thong you got me for Christmas and a new black cami.

Liam's: How's the temperature.

Willow: My nipples are so hard right now it must be 30below. But there's a heat wave down south making me all wet.

Liam: Let me see those perky nipples.

I pull down my cami exposing the nipple of one breast and take picture.

Liam: Squeeze it for me baby.

I squeeze my nipple turning it almost purple and send another pic.

Liam: Slide your fingers down your panties and touch your self. Tell me how it feels.

I slide my hand down into my panties and lightly touch the soft little nub of my clit.

Willow: My clit is hard and eager for your touch.

Liam: Lick your finger and wet your clit like it's my tongue.

Willow: You're tongue feels so good, my pussy is throbbing for you to be inside me.

Liam: Put your finger in your pussy and play with your self. Slide it back and forth across your clit and back, deep inside you.

Willow: Oh Liam. I'm so wet. Wrap your hand around your cock and stroke it for me.

Liam: My cock is dripping for your tight little pussy. I'm going to thrust so deep inside you I'm going to make you scream.

I insert my finger further inside and rub my palm along my clit while pumping my finger in and out. My wetness spreads as my body tenses at the peak of an orgasm.

Willow: God I miss you and it's only been a day.

Liam: I miss you too baby. Did you come for me.

Willow: Yeah, did you.

Just then my phone rings. Liam is done texting and calls.

Liam: You know I did. Not the easiest thing to do being stuck at the station. So how did it go.

Willow: It was neat. I met a few really good and really nice authors.

Liam: What about the award?

Willow: Oh that. Um yeah...

I pause for dramatic effect.

Liam: Ah Willow I know for a fact you deserved it.

I start laughing and he goes silent.

Willow: I won.

Liam: Willow! I knew you would. Congratulations baby you deserve it. So do you still have to stay a second night or can you come home early.

Willow: Kelly booked some interviews for tomorrow with some magazine writers and bloggers. Plus I promised Kevin we would go have dinner with his brother and wife so he can meet his newest niece.

Liam lets out a gruffly moan.

Willow: Hey. What kind of person would I be if I didn't. Kevin has been awesome and deserves this chance. He doesn't get out here as often anymore so.

Liam: I know baby. That's one of the things I love about you. You're always thinking of others.

I yawn as sleep deprivation starts kicking in. Liam chuckles.

Liam: I was that good huh?

Willow: Yup.

Liam: Alright baby. I'll say good night then. Call me tomorrow after the interviews.

Willow: Ok. Goodnight Liam. I love you.

Liam: Love you too.

Feeling like I had just fallen asleep, I am suddenly jolted from my bed by a loud thud. I toss on pajama bottoms and peek through the peep hole. There's no one there. Maybe Mike and Mick are changing shifts. I crack the door open to get a better look. Mike is face down on the ground.

Willow: Mike

I yell running to jim on instinct. I can't feel a pulse. I bang on Kevin's door but he's not answering. I barge back into my room to get my phone when I am grabbed from behind. There's a sharp sting in my arm. I look down and see a syringe. I kick and scream and slam my head back hitting who ever it is in the face. He lets me go and I yank out the syringe spinning to see Mark holding his nose. I try to stab him with the syringe when another voice calls out to me. It's Kevin.

Kevin: Willow! Willow wake up.

My eyes flutter open and for a second I am startled slamming my fist into The blurred image before me. Big hands grab my arms holding me still.

Kevin: Willow it's me. It's Kevin

I freeze and look at him.

Willow: Kevin?

I manage to get his name out through my panting as I try to calm my self and take in my surrounding.

Kevin: Yeah it's me kid.

Willow: Oh my god Mike. Is he ok.

Kevin: Mike? Yeah why?

Willow: I don't know I guess It was just a dream, I'm sorry I woke you, and hit you. Did I hit you?

He chuckled at me.

Kevin: I'm fine. You want to talk about it.

Willow: I don't know? Are you sure this isn't still part of the dream.

Kevin: I'm sure.

He pinches my arm, and laughs.

Willow: Owe! ok, ok.

I look over at my phone to see it's 6am.

Willow: Well shit. It's time to get our jog on.

Kevin: Are you serious.

Willow: Come on old man.

He shakes his head getting up from the bed.

Kevin: Meet you in the hall in 5.

I change quickly into my winter jogging clothes and shoes suitable for January in New York, and meet Kevin in the hall. We cross the street heading into Central Park. I don't know why but I have always wanted to jog through Central Park.

Kevin: You want to talk about earlier.

He huffs like he hasn't worked out in ages even though he clearly does aside from his little beer gut. Other than that he's still in good shape for someone 20 years older than me.

Willow: It was just a dream.

Kevin: A nightmare more like it.

Willow: I found Mike knocked out in the hall, and you wouldn't answer your door. Then someone grabbed me. I thought it was all real. I even felt the pain when Mark stabbed me in the arm with a needle. That's what made it so much more crazy. The sounds, the smells and the feelings. It felt like it was really happening. I'm use to writing about things like this not actually living it, you know.

Kevin: Yeah I do. That's what it's like to have PTSD.

We come to a bridge and decide to take a rest. I lean over the railing looking down at the small creak lightly frozen over.

Willow: Do you have it from your time as a Navy seal or a cop?

Kevin: I had it mildly for a short time when I was recovering from the explosion that got me discharged. Luckily LA accepted me and gave me some purpose. But things are so fucking corrupt in LA. That's why I took this gig. It's more about honorable codes than rules and regulations. A lot like over seas.

He looks over at me with question.

Kevin: For the most part you've handled this stalker thing pretty well. Maybe too well. But after this morning I have to wonder if you're holding something back.

I look out across the vast park as more lost memories surface from college, and the day of the accident.

Willow: My writing is a good distraction from reality. Especially when I was a teenager full of hormones and emotions, on top of your typical high school drama. I was writing constantly. My mom who was my biggest fan and critic, dabbled in writing but settled on being an English professor at USC. Only 1/2 a semester into my freshman year my parents died in a car accident. I stopped writing, and got lost for a while. It wasn't till my ex took the one thing away from me that mattered most that I started writing again. A part of me feels guilty. It's like one trauma caused my writers block and another lifted it. What kind of a mother does that make me.

Kevin: I've lost a lot of people, I've seen a lot horrific things but the loss of a child....

Kevin pauses for second shaking his head.

Kevin: One thing I do know is that you are an amazing person and I know you must have been an amazing mother. Never feel guilty for loving your life. If I allowed guilt to control me I'd be some drunken has been vet living in the streets.

I put a hand on his arm and smile at his kindness.

Willow: You're a good guy Kevin. Come on. It's too cold to stand around out here and neither of us has had coffee yet.

I take off running all the way back to the hotel. Kevin catches up just as we get to the front doors. He bends over trying to catch his breath.

Kevin: I will do everything in my power to protect you from this guy and anyone that messes with you, but if something did happen, I want you to RUN.

I burst out laughing as I get in line at the small coffee shop in the lobby and order us both a coffee and ham and cheese croissants. We take a seat at one of the small metal tables near the window.

Kevin: How did you lose her?

Willow: I tried to kick my ex out for cheating on me and for being a verbally abusive asshole. We got into a fight, he managed to get Page into his car. They were found hours later in a trench, both DOA

Kevin: Fuck. I'm sorry that happened to you Willow.

Willow: I hope you know when this is all over I'm going to write about it and you are definitely going to be in it.

Kevin: Oh yeah, will I get be the lead love interest with an Adonis bod.

We both crack up finishing our breakfast and coffee. When Karl, Moa and Benny make an appearance.

Willow: Morning, can I get you guys a coffee.

Karl: We're good. Thank you.

He smacks Kevin in the arm playfully.

Karl: I just wanted to get the room info for the interviews so we can set up.

I text Liv real quick and get the room and confirmation number and follow Karl to the front desk to have someone let them in the room.

The interviews all go rather well. A lot of questions about who inspired me, and how much of my writing is influenced by my love life. To which I give very little detail.