should have. After all, he was the one who bought the wine and the glasses and he was top notch. “I was joking,” Trent said sensing my mood change and kissed my forehead.
“You are top notch,” I said, leaning into him.
“Get a room.” Camilla shook her head at us.
In response, Trent threw his head back and let out his best Chewbacca roar that sent us to the floor in a fit of laughter.
“Top notch boyfriend,” Camilla agreed. “I’m almost jealous. Except I’m about to be your favorite person in this room.”
She reached into her purse and handed me a couple pieces of paper which I willingly took. It seemed today was a day of presents for me. I stared at the six tickets to the Imagine Dragons concert and shouted excitedly.
“It’s next month,” she told us. “Chewey, you’re coming with us.”
“Whatever makes Erin happy,” he told Camilla, squeezing me to his side. And once again I was struck by just how lucky I was to have him in my life. He always thought of me, I thought, as he walked to my door to let the rest of our friends who were knocking, in. He was patient and kind, and never pushed me to talk about anything I didn’t want to. He was funny, comfortable in his own skin, thus making me comfortable whenever I was around him.
The night was perfect with what seemed like an endless supply of wine and an even greater desire for laughter insatiable. Camilla’s and my roast was more than just pretty damn amazing. Not to toot my own horn too loudly, but the aroma the roast exuded was nothing compared to the taste. It was full of flavor and tender to the point that it would melt in your mouth; overall, it was something to be proud of.
I went to bed that night in Trent’s arms happier than I’d ever felt. I was a full-fledged adult and was surrounded by people I cared about, who surprisingly also cared about me. I’d made it.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but more than anything I wanted to give Trent a piece of me, a piece of who I was. “I don’t have the words for it,” I explained to him, “so just listen.” I searched through my phone for one of the few songs that had made me cry. At ease, I played Fuckin’ Perfect for Trent and listened to Pink explain how I once felt every day of my life. Trent, the man I was falling in love with, held me in silence, knowing I wouldn’t want to talk about it. But his gentle strokes told me that if I ever did want to talk about it, I could.
Chapter 10
Shayna
It was dark, too dark. With tears spilling out of her eyes and her heart racing, she hid under her sheets and bit her pillow, hoping she hadn’t woken up Momma when she screamed. She heard the door open so she drew her knees closer to her chest, making herself so small she hoped Momma wouldn’t see her.
But Momma wasn’t there, she remembered, when the nice lady who was taking care of her came in. She couldn’t remember the lady’s name, only that she was nice. She had a nice voice and was gentle when she touched her. She liked her, especially when she held her, like she did now as she curled up in her lap.
She was safe. The lady would take away her bad dreams and make the dark safe again.
Chapter 11
Erin
The nightlife, with all its boisterous and mysterious ways, was meant specifically for the young. The best way to get to know your city, to feel her rhythms and hear her secrets, was when the professional world rested on their couches while the youth made their way to conquer the night. And it felt good to be a part of that cult, I thought as I got dressed with Camilla’s watchful eyes on me.
It took Camilla a while to convince me to take money out of my sacred savings account to buy a new dress, but Camilla had pointed out how poorly stocked my closet was with only jeans and a handful of beach dresses, and the occasion called for something a bit more elegant. It took even longer to convince Camilla that I wanted a simple dress with very little frills. After several discussions and
“You are top notch,” I said, leaning into him.
“Get a room.” Camilla shook her head at us.
In response, Trent threw his head back and let out his best Chewbacca roar that sent us to the floor in a fit of laughter.
“Top notch boyfriend,” Camilla agreed. “I’m almost jealous. Except I’m about to be your favorite person in this room.”
She reached into her purse and handed me a couple pieces of paper which I willingly took. It seemed today was a day of presents for me. I stared at the six tickets to the Imagine Dragons concert and shouted excitedly.
“It’s next month,” she told us. “Chewey, you’re coming with us.”
“Whatever makes Erin happy,” he told Camilla, squeezing me to his side. And once again I was struck by just how lucky I was to have him in my life. He always thought of me, I thought, as he walked to my door to let the rest of our friends who were knocking, in. He was patient and kind, and never pushed me to talk about anything I didn’t want to. He was funny, comfortable in his own skin, thus making me comfortable whenever I was around him.
The night was perfect with what seemed like an endless supply of wine and an even greater desire for laughter insatiable. Camilla’s and my roast was more than just pretty damn amazing. Not to toot my own horn too loudly, but the aroma the roast exuded was nothing compared to the taste. It was full of flavor and tender to the point that it would melt in your mouth; overall, it was something to be proud of.
I went to bed that night in Trent’s arms happier than I’d ever felt. I was a full-fledged adult and was surrounded by people I cared about, who surprisingly also cared about me. I’d made it.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but more than anything I wanted to give Trent a piece of me, a piece of who I was. “I don’t have the words for it,” I explained to him, “so just listen.” I searched through my phone for one of the few songs that had made me cry. At ease, I played Fuckin’ Perfect for Trent and listened to Pink explain how I once felt every day of my life. Trent, the man I was falling in love with, held me in silence, knowing I wouldn’t want to talk about it. But his gentle strokes told me that if I ever did want to talk about it, I could.
Chapter 10
Shayna
It was dark, too dark. With tears spilling out of her eyes and her heart racing, she hid under her sheets and bit her pillow, hoping she hadn’t woken up Momma when she screamed. She heard the door open so she drew her knees closer to her chest, making herself so small she hoped Momma wouldn’t see her.
But Momma wasn’t there, she remembered, when the nice lady who was taking care of her came in. She couldn’t remember the lady’s name, only that she was nice. She had a nice voice and was gentle when she touched her. She liked her, especially when she held her, like she did now as she curled up in her lap.
She was safe. The lady would take away her bad dreams and make the dark safe again.
Chapter 11
Erin
The nightlife, with all its boisterous and mysterious ways, was meant specifically for the young. The best way to get to know your city, to feel her rhythms and hear her secrets, was when the professional world rested on their couches while the youth made their way to conquer the night. And it felt good to be a part of that cult, I thought as I got dressed with Camilla’s watchful eyes on me.
It took Camilla a while to convince me to take money out of my sacred savings account to buy a new dress, but Camilla had pointed out how poorly stocked my closet was with only jeans and a handful of beach dresses, and the occasion called for something a bit more elegant. It took even longer to convince Camilla that I wanted a simple dress with very little frills. After several discussions and
Similar Books
