Page 133 of Under Her Skin

He rolls right off the bed and I feel cold. I pull the blanket back to cover me and he comes back to the side of the bed with a little grin on his handsome face. My hair he brushes back and kisses mycheek.

“What do you want to do today, my little, sweetprincess?”

Lie around in bed with you allday!

“Idon’t know,Blake. What do you want todo?”

He kneels down beside the bed and runs his hand over my cheek. “I only want to make youhappy.”

He only wants to make me happy yet my stomach dropped when he said the words. I gaze into his eyes and then I smile despite my internalfeelings.

“How about you go to the store and get me some things so I can make a really great lunch. I’m thinking Monte Christos and homemade sweet potatofries.”

“Mmmm,” he moans. “Sounds good. I’ll take a shower and get dressed and you make me a list of what you need.” He stands up and strides his delicious naked body to the bathroom and my mouth waters for more ofhim.

My cell phone buzzes and I pick it up off the night stand to see my mother has left me a text message. -Your grandfather told me he told you about yourfather.-

I call her to talk and she answers on the firstring.

“Hi Tabitha,” I say. “I hope you didn’t get too angry withGrandpa.”

“I did, but don’t worry about that,” she says. “I never wanted you to know about Rodney. You see, it was his all-consuming love of me that sent me running from him. And the truth is he got me pregnant on purpose. He wanted me to marry him before we even finished high school. He trapped me, by getting me pregnant. He used a condom, but had purposely poked holes in it. Only his trap didn’t work, and Iran.”

“Wow!” I say as she finally tells me the truth about things. “But why run if he was willing to do right byyou?”

“I was eighteen. Not at all ready to marry him or be a parent. He didn’t understand, didn’t care to I suppose. He wanted me and kids and he did what he could to make that happen whether I was in agreement or not.” She makes a long sigh then sniffles. “Your grandfather also told me you’re in Lubbock with some man. I just wanted to let you know that you remind me so much of yourfather.”

“How? How can I remind you of him, he’s crazy?” I ask in completeconfusion.

“You have the same tendency he has to strive hard to get what you want. The cooking degree, you know how hard you’ve worked to get that. And this man you’re with now, well, how deeply do you feel for him?” sheasks.

“I love him like I never thought possible to love someone,” I answer. “I feel at home withhim.”

Another deep sigh my mother makes then says, “Shelly, that’s bad. It’s not normal to think that much about someone, especially so damn soon. I’m really afraid that if this guy dumps you, like the rest did, you’ll end up like your father, going crazy like he did when I lefthim.”

“I need to go, Tabitha.” My mind is spinning and I feel as if I might be sick. “Thanks for thetalk.”

“No problem, Shelly,” she says. “I just don’t want you to go down the same path your father did. Keep men at arm’s length. Keep your heart guarded. You don’t want to end up living under a bridge like he does. Byenow.”

She ends the call and all my hopes of having a slightly normal life with Blake by my side. I pull the blanket up to cover my now shivering body. Shock and disappointment fillme.

Blake walksout of the bathroom looking like the handsome angel he is and I stop my body from shaking. I manage to put a fake smile on my face and say, “Let me write down what I need so you can run and get that for me,babe.”

With a smile he reaches into a drawer and gets out a pen and some paper. He sits down on the bed next to me and strokes my hair as I write the list that will take him a little while toget.

I need the time to get my things and go. My body aches with every little stroke his fingers make over my head. Mentally, I make note of how this feels, for I will never feel itagain.

Blake

I had to go to three stores to find this coconut flour Rachelle needs. I blink as I pull into the driveway and find Rachelle’s borrowed car gone. My heart stops and I rushinside.

Her fucking clothes are allgone!

Ilook around for anything,a letter or a little note telling me why she left me again. I find nothing and find my knees weak and nearly fall onto thesofa.

With a heavy heart I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Kip. “Hey, mate,” he says as he answers mycall.

“Hey, Kip. Um, Rachelle left me again. I’m not going to try to contact her. I have no idea of why she left. We didn’t fight or anything. I just would really like it if you could let me know when she arrives back home safely. That’sall.”