Page 11 of Under My Skin

“And here I was, thinking you’d help?—”

“But…” She lifts one finger to stop me. “I don’t think this is going to be a one-sided crush for long. You’re too irresistible, Elizabeth Montgomery, clumsiness and all. About time someone sees it.”

I roll my eyes and dive into my coffee and muffin, trying hard not to get wrapped up in thewhat ifs.

And failing.

6

LIZZIE

The second summerpottery class turns out great. The kids have a lot of fun making bowls, and it thrills me to see their creative side coming out. It’s amazing how art can bring kids out of their shells and make them comfortable to just be themselves.

Plus, everyone is on their best behavior, and there’s no arguing or fighting—a win-win in my book.

I swear, some weeks it’s like herding cats with them, and I question why I even do it. I mean not really, but almost.

As soon as I get home, I know I have to hustle to shower and get ready since Lia will be picking me up in twenty minutes. I decide to wear a dress because jeans or anything tight against my bruise is just not happening. Sitting and walking is painful enough at this point.

I settle on a black dress with thin straps and a tight bodice with a flared skirt that hits halfway down my thighs. It’s a little short, so I decide to dress it down with a pair of black combat boots. My hair is down and curled into messy beach waves, and with some light makeup, I’m ready to go.

I’m checking my hair in the mirror one last time when I hear a knock at my door. I swing the door open and find my mom on the other side.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hey, sweetheart. Look at how beautiful you look,” she says while wrapping me in a hug.

“Thanks.”

“I just wanted to check on you and see how your class went. How did the bowls turn out?”

“It went great. Beautiful bowls all around,” I say, smiling. She smiles back, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes like it normally does. The last few weeks have been hard for my parents, and I make a mental note to check in with them more often.

When Robert Dylan—our neighbor for my entire life and Cameron’s father—died unexpectedly of a heart attack at seventy, my parents took it hard. He was hardworking and kind and the sweetest person you’d ever cross paths with. He was always just so positive and happy. Even after his wife Linda died, when their kids were so young, he made sure he gave their three children the best life he could. He raised two daughters and a son that all of Brantley Falls fawned over—well-rounded, thoughtful, and generous—and he had a lot to do with that.

Our houses were built around the same time and on the same stretch of land outside of town. The farmland even flanks the houses and barns on either side. Over the years, they shared countless meals, summer barbecues, and simple everyday hellos and waves. Those will be the hardest to come to terms with for my parents.

I’m hoping Cameron can fill a little bit of this void for my parents. My mom can’t stop talking about his two little girls, so maybe doting on them will be something that will bring her joy.

“Where are you heading out to?” she asks.

“Rangers. Lia and I are taking Ellie with us. We’re gonna show her a good time and hopefully convince her to do it more often. She deserves some fun with all the work she does.”

“Well, if anyone can do it, it’s you and Lia. Between her brashness and your sweetness, she doesn’t stand a chance.” My mom laughs, but it’s strained.

“You doing okay, Mom?”

“Of course, sweetheart. Just a lot of changes around here. It’s going to take some adjusting, that’s all.”

“Well, I’m here if you need anything. I’ve never lost a close friend, but I can see how bad you’re hurting. Mr. Dylan was such a great man. Almost like a second father sometimes.” I move closer to her and give her a big hug. She wraps her arms around me and squeezes tight. I’m meant to be comforting and supporting her right now, but her hugs are just so good that I find myself taking an easy breath and just enjoying the moment.

It’s not lost on me that Cameron no longer has a mom or dad to give him a big, loving hug, and my heart hurts for him even more. He has his sisters, but I imagine it’s not the same.

My mom kisses me on the cheek before pulling away. “Have fun tonight, Lizzie, but not too much fun. If you have too much to drink, call me or your father for a ride home. I don’t care what time it is.”

We hear Lia pull up outside, so she starts to head toward the door to leave.

“Lia is driving tonight and is only having one drink max. She has a phone meeting early tomorrow morning with her graduate advisor to go over her courses for the fall and doesn’t want to be hungover, so we’ll be fine.” I grab my bag and toss in my phone, lip gloss, and wallet. We walk outside, and I lock up before giving my mom another hug goodbye. “Love you, Mom. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

---