Page 11 of Inked Heart

“My number is 651-783-4356. Please call me.” I do and watch him save my number. I kiss his cheek, because ya know I just ralphed.

“I am going to go now.” I say.

“Call me if you need anything. Ice cream. Pickles. A foot rub. You have a wedgey. I will do anything, be anything you need me to be.”

I can’t help laughing.

“I will, El. I promise.” I say getting out and leaving him behind. It doesn’t feel right, but I need to be by myself right now.

When I lock myself in my tiny barren apartment, I slide to the floor and cry until I have no more tears left. Afterwards I get in the shower and try to wash my hurts away. It doesn’t work. I give up and drag myself to my bed and think every man, especially El whom I love, is just like dad. The pain is deep and hasn’t yet healed and maybe it never will.

I wrap the covers around my wet, naked body and realize what is missing. El is what has been missing from my life and that brings on a fresh wave of tears. I wish I was a normal woman. A woman who can be free in the knowledge that someone loves her. I put my hands on my tiny baby bump and cry myself to sleep.

My first thought the next morning is that I am starving and the second one is of El. I get out of bed and hunt for my phone. Finding it, I realize that I have no missed calls or texts. It bums me out. However, he is giving me the space I foolishly asked for to think. God, what is wrong with me?

I make my decision, but all I know is his phone number. When he doesn’t answer, I call AvaLynn and get all the details I need. He runs a construction company. That makes sense. Showing up at his office with a skirt and no panties sounds like a perfectly good idea to me.

What could go wrong?

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