I should have established a boundary. I should’ve told her I was fine, that I didn’t need her to stay. But I didn’t. I let her settle in beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her leg against mine, her shoulder just barely brushing me.

Beverly shifted a little, adjusting the blanket, and I felt the warmth of her leg press more firmly against mine.

I should’ve moved. Should’ve put some space between us.

Instead, I stared at the ceiling, willing my heart to settle. It wasn’t hammering anymore, but it still felt too loud in my chest, like it hadn’t quite caught up with the fact that I was awake now. That I was safe.

Beverly exhaled softly beside me. “Can I ask you something?”

“You’re gonna ask anyway.”

“True.” A pause. “What…what was it about?”

I swallowed. My throat felt tight again, as if my body wanted to shut down at the mere thought of it.

I shook my head. “Don’t know.”

Beverly hummed.

She wasn’t convinced but wasn’t going to push.

We lapsed back into silence, the kind that would’ve been unbearable with anyone else. But Beverly could hear all the things I wasn’t saying, and she didn’t need me to say them.

Eventually, her voice came again, softer this time. “Do you think Jamal’s asleep?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What?”

She grinned, though I couldn’t see it—I could hear it.

“Jamal the Great. Think he’s sleeping, or is he somewhere out there, plotting world domination?”

I let out a snort. “He’s definitely awake. No way a mind like his ever rests.”

“Of course. Great minds don’t need sleep.”

I exhaled through my nose, almost a laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”

“You like him, don’t you?”

I frowned. “What?”

“Jamal.” She nudged my arm with hers. “You like him.”

My frown deepened as I blinked into the darkness.

“I just met him today.”

“Yeah, and?”

“He’s…different.”

“Different is good.”

“I know.”

Beverly hummed thoughtfully. “I think you need that.”

“Go to sleep, Beverly.”

I wasn’t sure if I would be able to sleep again, but if I did, I had a feeling the nightmares wouldn’t be as bad.

The quiet settled again, and for a moment, I thought she had fallen asleep. But then she shifted, rolling onto her side to face me. “You should talk to him more.”

I sighed, my gaze still fixed on the ceiling. “We’ll see.”

“‘We’ll see’ is Blake for ‘I don’t want to, but you’re gonna keep bugging me about it until I do.’”

I let out a slow breath, closing my eyes. “Night, Beverly.”

“Goodnight, Jurassic Park.”

* * *

I didn’t remember falling asleep.