Page 129 of Roses and Skulls

I can’t remember what Draven did to me, but I know. My therapist said that with the drugs they gave me, I will more than likely never remember. A blessing or a curse, I haven’t decided. But I do know that my body is craving Elijah’s.

My cheek rests over his back, right over the Skulls patch on his vest. I squeeze him tight, inhaling his scent, and enjoying his warmth. Elijah pats my hand.

“Almost home, baby.”

That’s what I’m really nervous about. Telling my parents and my family that I’m expecting. I have no idea how they will feel about it. Elijah’s parents are driving down too, said they wouldn’t miss my welcome home party for anything. They left earlier than us. I’m glad because I had a touch of morning sickness when I woke up.

Elijah was so sweet, holding my hair away from my face as I leaned over the toilet. It was embarrassing but he told me to get used to it because he was going to be seeing me in more compromising situations very soon.

We also talked more about him not wanting a DNA test. My only concern is the health of the baby. Someday, he or she might need to know… especially if it’s Draven’s. Anyhow, we compromised, and we will be getting a test. We’re going to leave the results in the hands of someone we trust.

I told him it was okay if he decides later that he wants to know. It’s his right to know. He said he wouldn’t but we both agreed that if either of us need to, the option will be there.

Tonight, we are having dinner with both sets of parents. The welcome home party isn’t until this weekend. Wouldn’t you know, a party. When my mom wrote to me about it, I told her to make sure she included Kelsie in the celebration. A welcome home party for both of us.

Elijah abruptly pulls off the road.

“What are we doing? We’re so close,” I whine. Even though I’m nervous about going home, I’m excited.

He pulls a piece of black cloth out of his pocket.

“First, I have something to prove to you,” he says, his hot breath on the back of my neck as he ties it around my face.

My heart flutters wildly against his back when we take off again. What could he possibly want to show me? I come up with nothing. I just can’t imagine how he’s going to prove to me that he’s not staying with me out of obligation. He wanted to marry me, yeah, but he wasn’t banking on me being pregnant. And I’m sure he never planned on the possibility of raising another man’s child.

Gravel crunches beneath the tires as we roll to a stop. Elijah helps me off the bike. “I got you,” he coaxes me off. “You’re not going to fall.”

“I’m a little nervous,” I admit, laughing lightly as he walks us a few steps, his chest to my back.

He laughs too. “Nothing to be worried about. Trust me.”

“I do,” I say quietly, turning my head.

His whiskered cheek brushes against mine. It feels nice, having his strong arms wrapped around me. He pulls one hand behind my head to untie the cloth. When it falls to the ground, he whispers in my ear, “You can open your eyes now.”

I blink against the brightness until everything comes in to focus. My hand flies to my mouth. The words I try to find escape me.

“Do you like it?” he asks anxiously.

My feet move me forward and I spin around, taking everything in, the high sun reflecting a million diamonds over the lake.

“This was one of the stipulations,” Elijah says, rocking back on his heals, he reaches in a pocket and pulls out a sucker, popping it in his mouth.

My head snaps back to the cabin. “How?” I shake my head in disbelief.

Elijah shrugs. “Everyone helped. Your dad said I could marry you as long as I didn’t take you away. That was never my intention anyway. But this always has been.”

“The first night. You said it would be a perfect place to build a home.” I’m dumbfounded. Never in a million years did I expect Elijah to build us a cabin before I returned from California.

“And I was right, yeah?”

He grabs my hand and pulls me up the steps to the porch. Two hand crafted wooden rocking chairs are waiting for someone to fill them, both facing the lake. His arms come around my waist and he rubs my stomach. “Someday, we will sit here and watch our kids play in the yard.”

I’ve been sitting in treatment, imagining the thousand ways this would go down. Me telling Elijah about the baby. Wondering where I would live with my child if he didn’t want me and where we would live if he did, and nothing could have been more perfect than this. I wasted so much time worrying about things that will never come to pass.

“Say something, baby.”

I turn in his arms and cup his scruffy cheeks in my hand. “It’s perfect.” Then I pull the sucker from his mouth and press my lips to his and kiss him, his mouth tasting like cherries.

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