Page 48 of The Best Kind of Forever
“They don’t stand out, Aeris.Youstand out. Everything about you is captivating. You have this effect on people that I can’t explain. You light up every room you walk into. It’s like every emotion you feel is projected off you. When you’re happy, it’s contagious. And when you’re sad, I feel it in my own heart. So when people look at you, they aren’t judging you, okay? They’re envious.”
I have no idea if any of this is mitigating her worries. I hope it is. I hope I can take some of her pain. She pauses long enough for my doubts to burgeon, but then she blows out a breath and pinches her lips together.
Her next set of words barely come out. “M-my…stomach. I don’t like my stomach.”
When her hand moves over the area, I gently push it aside. I plant an array of kisses all over her belly, feeling her shiver under my mouth. “I love your stomach.”
“It’s not flat,” she cuts in.
“Do you think I care if it’s flat?”
I beat her to the answer by kitten-licking her piercing, and I move my hands down to stop her legs from trembling.
“You have a soft belly. That’s all it is. You need to eat. You should be consuming at least two thousand calories every day. I don’t care where those calories come from. If you want to eat your weight in chicken nuggets, I’ll buy you every single bag.”
Since I’m still on my knees, I can’t get a good look at her face, so I have no idea what she’s thinking right now. But judging by the silence, she’s either plotting my murder or suppressing sobs.
“I never want you to hide from me. I want every part of you, as you come. You’re beautiful, and I’ll remind you every day until you believe me.”
“You might be waiting a while, then,” she warns.
“You think I’m gonna be deterred by some waiting?”
Tears break through her eyes. “I just won’t be able to…”
I stand up and cradle the side of her face. “Hey, I don’t expect you to suddenly love yourself overnight. I just want you to know that I’ll do whatever I can to help you get there.”
She glances at my hand and shrinks away from me. Her fingers wordlessly come up to touch the little bumps on her cheeks, her mouth depositing a weighted sigh. “I don’t want you to touch my acne scars. I’ve tried everything to get rid of them, but nothing’s worked. I hate them, Hayes. I hate that I always feel the need to wear makeup. I can’t even go grocery shopping without putting concealer on.”
My hand inches toward her scars, and I wait for her to give me consent to touch there.
When she gives me a cautious nod, I familiarize myself with the pockmarked skin, seeing nothing wrong with the remarkable girl in front of me. “You don’t need to wear makeup, Aeris. Your rawness is gorgeous. Your scars are natural, and I love them because they’re a part of you.”
“You don’t need to say all of this stuff,” she mumbles.
“I know. I want to. And since you’re my favorite subject, I’m never going to shut up.”
21
AN INSIGHT INTO THE MADNESS
October 5th, Sunday, 2:38 p.m.
HAYES:You feeling better today?
AERIS:I am, thank you. You ever thought about becoming a life coach or a motivational speaker?
HAYES:Can’t say it’s ever really crossed my mind. I didn’t realize you liked listening to me talk so much. *smirking face emoji*
AERIS:Ugh, and that’s what I get for complimenting you.
HAYES:Hey, I love it when you compliment me. And stroke my ego.
AERIS:I’m pretty sure you like it when I stroke a lot of things.
HAYES:Gasp. Aeris, you naughty vixen. Are you sexting with me right now?
AERIS:Nope, just stating a hard fact.
