Chapter 236

Toya leaned over and kissed my head. “Let’s stop talking about it.” She pulled back a little more and fluffed my hair. “Wendy, hand me the blow dryer.”

Wendy got up and handed over the dryer. But I turned. “You don’t have to.”

Toya pulled me back like my mom used to do when I was little. “Sit still. You can’t go to bed with wet hair. And you can’t get sick. We have a long day ahead and need to be up in a few hours.” She clicked on the hair dryer, and Wendy came over and whispered in Toya’s ear, then she slipped her shoes on and left.

“Where is she going?” I yelled over the sound.

Toya leaned closer and spoke directly in my ear as she continued to blow dry my hair. “She needed to grab some things from our place. She will be back in a minute.”

I just nodded because I was too exhausted to ask. I leaned against my own knees with my eyes closed as Toya dried my soaked hair. It was the most peaceful feeling I had had since I was a child.

I hadn’t realized how tired I was until Wendy was shaking me awake. “Amy, it’s time to go to bed.” I lifted my head and wiped my eyes.

“What happened?”

She smiled as she wrapped her arms under me and lifted. “You fell asleep.”

“Where is Toya?” I automatically wrapped my arms around her neck, like I did when I was five and my father took me to bed. “And when did you get this strong?”

Wendy laughed and carried me to my room. “Toya is changing. And you made me this strong with all your grueling workouts.”

She placed me at the foot of the bed and walked around to pull the covers down. I realized belatedly that she was in a tank top and sweatpants. “I’m sorry for keeping you two up so late.” Wendy came around and picked me up again. I wanted to fight, but my eyes could barely stay open.

“Don’t be.” She slid me into my bed, pulling the covers up. “I wanted to be here.” Then she walked around the bed and slipped in next to me.

“Wendy?”

“Yeah, Amy?” She snuggled into the middle of my bed, and I wanted to laugh.

“What are you doing?” I could hear my words slurring.

The bedroom door opened, and Toya came in, wearing a tank and some shorts. “We are sleeping here.”

I cracked an eye. “You don’t have to.”

Toya just shook her head as she slid in next to Wendy. “You are foolish if you think we are leaving you after everything that happened today.” She pulled the blanket up, and we all settled into a cool silence.

I rolled over to face them. “You forgot to turn off the light.”

Toya rolled to face me with a grin. “You’re a bitch, you are lucky I love you.” She slipped out of the bed with mine and Wendy’s laughter chasing her. She clicked off the light, and the soft recessed lighting across the room flickered to life. “Wait, you have a night light?” Toya slipped back into the bed with a smile on her face. “A grown woman with a night light.”

Chapter 237

A soft chuckle escaped me. “Normally, I turn them off.” I pointed to a button built into my side table.

“Normally?” Wendy cracked her eye.

“If it doesn’t bother either of you. Would it be okay if I kept it on?”

Wendy opened both eyes and faced me fully, and Toya popped up on her elbow. “Amy?” Wendy’s soft voice had this calming effect.

“I’m okay.” I could hear the lie in my voice, but I pushed on. “Or I will be okay. But tonight, tonight I’m five again and afraid of the dark.” I laughed, but I felt the sob hit me. In an instant Wendy shuffled over to Toya’s side of the bed, and Toya had come around to my side.

“Move.” Her voice was soft, but she pushed me into the middle of the bed without giving me any way to say no. Then she slid in behind me.

“This isn’t necessary.” I tried to argue, but when their hands wrapped around my middle, I felt the tight ball of panic that I had in my chest ease just a little.

“It might not be,” Wendy started.

“But it makes us feel better, too,” Toya finished.

I sighed as Toya pulled the blankets up around me again. I settled into their arms, and when I closed my eyes, the Mara didn’t jump out at me. I felt safe, and I guess I needed this more than I thought I did. Their breathing was already soft and slow. I had thought they had already fallen asleep. “Thank you.”

Toya snuggled in closer. “You are our best friend, Amy.”

“We will always be here to help you.” Their words comforted me, and I finally fell asleep.