The Princess and the Greek God

7 Secrets

*UNEDITED

"Eirik!"

I screamed out his name in fear and woke up in a cold sweat. Then I realized I wasn't home yet. Worse, I was still inside Nadav's car. We were still inside his car, parked just outside my house.

He looked at me with great concern, trying to process the right words to say.

"I didn't want to wake you up...you needed to rest..."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"About an hour. You fell asleep 10 minutes after we left the club. I debated on whether I should wake you up or not when we got here."

"What if I didn't wake up? You'll sleep with me here?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Thank you, Nadav."

He held my left hand and looked at me.

"Are you alright?"

I've lost count as to how many times I've heard that question tonight. I've lost count too on how many times I had to say I was fine.

I couldn't give a quick answer. He knew something wasn't right. And here I thought this was going to be a perfect night.

"Nadav, I..."

"Let's get you inside, princess. I'll make you something warm to help you relax. What would you like?"

"Tea would be fine, I guess."

I knew he heard me. He heard me scream out Eirik's name and yet he's not asking me about it.

Maybe he wanted to, he just didn't know where to start.

It's that dream again. I haven't had that dream for almost two years now but the incident at the club made me dream of Eirik again. And here I thought I am finally recovering.

Recovering? The only way you can recover is when you develop amnesia, dear Isla. You never really forgot what he did to you. You just thought you did.

I sat by the kitchen counter and watched Nadav make me a chamomile tea. We were both quiet as I contemplated on whether to tell him about Eirik, even if he doesn't ask; or if I should wait for him to ask me about it.

"Here you go. It's still really hot so let it cool for a few more minutes."

He carefully set the transparent cup with the tea bag still inside as the soothing fragrance of the chamomile filled the kitchen. I stared at the cup for the longest time then I felt Nadav sit beside me.

"Isla,"

"I'll be fine, Nadav."

"You've been saying that even before we left the club. I'm really worried about you."

Should I tell him? How would it change things between us if I tell him now? It's not like I'll feel better in an instant once I tell Nadav about Eirik.

Why are you so worried about telling Nadav about Eirik? It's not like he's going to leave you - he's not your boyfriend. He's just a friend, remember?

"I'm just tired, really tired..." and scared, was what I wanted to add. "He was my ex-boyfriend." There you go, that wasn't so bad, was it? Peeling off that band aid and exposing the wound.

I didn't - couldn't look at Nadav. If I did, I might not be able to continue with the 'confession."

"I met him a few months after I left Victor. It started well at first then a month later, the nightmare began." I stopped in an attempt to choose the right words. "He suddenly changed...no, maybe he didn't change. He just put his best foot forward. He was possessive...overly possessive that he threatened to hurt me every time he suspected I was seeing someone else.