The Guardian: Before I Wake (The Guardian Series Book 2) by Jones Amanda

Author:Jones, Amanda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rebel Dutchess Press
Published: 2023-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

DREY

The lot to Frankie’s is mostly empty, save for the recognizable cars of a few retired regulars that eat dinner here almost every night. The crowd won’t start to pile in for several more hours.

Making my way through the lot, I skip inside, eager to see Ang. In an effort to secure some much-needed sleep after Ami left, I avoided texting her, opting to surprise her instead. Otherwise, the woman would’ve been pounding on my door the first chance she got.

Ang isn’t the only one I dodged in favor of sleep. I didn’t call for Dex either, and when I woke up this evening to get ready for work, there were no signs he’d been home while I slept. I don’t miss the way my stomach twists in deep-rooted disappointment at his absence, nor do I ignore how incredibly fucked up that reaction makes me.

I know Dex like the back of my hand. There’s no way it isn’t killing him to keep his distance right now, but he is undoubtedly trying to be respectful of me. I didn’t call for him after Ami left because I wanted to be alone. I craved a few hours of sleep where I could escape the labyrinth that is my thoughts these days. He gave me exactly what I needed. What I silently asked for.

Would Michael have not come home?

Stop it, I internally scold myself, ashamed I even allowed such a thought to enter my mind.

“Stop what?”

My head snaps to attention, taking note of Laura wiping down one of the tables to my right. Shit, did I say that out loud?

“Oh, hey!” She smiles when she looks up at me. “You’re back.”

“I am.” I laugh as she throws one of her arms around me, clutching the rag and spray bottle with the other.

“How was your trip? One for the books?”

“It was… eventful.”

“Good.” She pats my shoulder before pulling away. “I’m glad you’re spending more time outside this town. Not that Bridge Creek isn’t a great place to settle down, but experiences are important. How can anyone make decisions about what they want for the rest of their life if they haven’t experienced more than one thing?”

Her words hit hard, carrying a meaning she isn’t even aware of.

“Audrey?”

“Hmph?” My attention snaps back to her, and I realize I just completely zoned out. “Sorry. Running on limited sleep.”

“You okay, girl? You’re looking a little pale.”

“Yeah. It’s just…” I swallow back whatever lie I was about to spit, allowing a spontaneous sliver of truth to slip free instead. “This trip. It gave me a lot to think about. Things I wasn’t considering before.”

Her expression softens in understanding. “It’s okay to want different things, Audrey. Change isn’t always a bad thing. Do you? Want different things?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper, swiping the stray tear from my cheek. “Change brings hurt. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“Your actions can’t be dependent on the happiness of others. If everyone thought that way, the world would be filled with nothing but miserable people.

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