Page 95 of Under Her Skin

“You’re full ofcrap!”

“Maybe, alittle.”

One love story I watched,and I had to watch anything else. The truth is I’ve been working out like a maniac. Burning up energy has been my topmostpriority.

“Why do men even try to pull that line? Women are not fools! So what have you really beendoing?”

“Working out. Okay, there it is! Happy! I’m addicted to working out.” I end with a maniacallaugh.

She’s quiet then she takes in a breath. “So, you’re even more built than when I sawyou?”

Half my mouth moves into a quirky smile. “I don’t know. You want me to come to L.A. and you can tellme?”

The way she hesitates lets me know she does. But I’m ready to hear her say the words I’ve heard every single time I’ve talked to her in the least twoweeks.

‘I’m just not sureyet.’

“Well,I do miss you like crazy,” shesays.

Those aren’t thewords!

My heart stopsand I wait, holding the phone to my ear as I cross my fingers. “Rachelle, it would be fun. I promise not to make a big deal about your accomplishments, Iswear.”

“Let me think about it and get with you after my exams tomorrow. The last one is at two in the afternoon. I’ll call you after that and let youknow.”

It’s the first time she hasn’t given me a straight out, ‘no’ so I take it. “Okay! I’ll await your call then,baby.”

“Good night,Blake.”

“Good night,Rachelle.”

Rachelle

Beads of rain drip down the window as I finish up my last test. The day’s been long, but it’s almost over and I can go home and make myself a cup of coffee and read abook.

It crosses my mind that Peyton wanted to take me to a special dinner to celebrate the end of this semester, but I just feel like unwinding at home, alone. Kip and Peyton have been the best friends I’ve everhad.

Friends are a thing I’ve kept at bay as well as boyfriends. People confuse me. When there’s only me, there’s no threat of upheaval. I’m not going to screw myself over, so it’s safe thatway.

I turn in my test after answering the last question about food safety and leave the classroom. It’s four in the afternoon, but you wouldn’t know that as the sky is grey with rainclouds.

Even if I wanted Blake to come, he’d not be able to make it in thisweather.

Ishould’ve toldhim he could come yesterday. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I want him to come like I want air to breathe, but I can’t say thewords.

My umbrella opens, but half of it pulls up and breaks as the wind pulls it. I ditch it in the nearest trash can and make a run for my car. The little white 2012 Honda Accord’s lights flash as I hit the button to unlockit.

I slip into the driver’s seat and put on my seatbelt. One look into the mirror on my visor shows me a soaking wet girl, with wide eyes. She looks back at me with water streaming down herface.

The fact some of that water is tears is something I’d rather not think about. Some of the other people who I have classes with talked about the parties people were throwing them. Others talked about where they were going tocelebrate.

Though no one’s fault but my own, I’m feeling sorry for myself that I shut out all who wanted to make this a special time for me. I grab a few napkins from the glove box and wipe away thetears.

My face is left pale and my eyes look huge and tired. I am tired. So damn tired of living life like this. I shake my head and water is thrown all around my little car as the rain leaves my longhair.

With slight determination to make some much needed changes in my life, I press the gas and leave the parking lot. No school for a month and all the time in the world as I have the month off from the restaurant I internat.

The boss said I could go in if I want, but I don’t think I’ll want to do that. I’ll go home, take a nice, hot bath and put on my PJ’s andrelax.