“Every man who has touched me was either not welcome to do so or was using me. It was never genuine. With you, I know it’s genuine. At least…I hope.”
Caleb asked, “How is it you’ve never had a decent boyfriend or a boyfriend at all? Even when you were bigger, you definitely weren’t hideous, and you’re the most giving and loving person I know. You can’t tell me you haven’t hadonedecent man come around.”
“My daddy, my brothers, and Pawpaw taught me what love from a man was supposed to be. And even then, every guy I was attracted to didn’t like me in return. I was overweight nearly my whole life. And in the early 2000s the skinny model trend was all the rage. If you weighed more than 150 pounds, you were considered fat. Now that I am older and the body positivity movement has happened and men are moreaccepting of bigger girls, they’re all married. So once again, I’m simplylustedafter. Always lusted after and never loved.”
Admitting the words stung violently like a cobra’s fangs piercing her heart, unleashing the cruel reality of truth’s venom into her blood.
Caleb had heard enough. Her vulnerability was a classic beauty to him. He took her by the hand and said, “Come with me. I want to do something with you.”
Evie looked up to him as he outstretched his hand.
And all she saw was him.
Slowly, she took his hand, and his grip tightened. Like the leader he was in her life, he led her to the living room where he picked up his phone from his overnight bag and brought up a song. When it started to play, he plopped the phone on the couch. Her nerves shook. Her heart pounded as she jerked to hide the tears back. It wasthesong that made her fall in love with country, “Neon Moon” by Brooks and Dunn. Sure, it was a song about a terrible breakup, but the harmonies, swaying melodies, and smokey vibe were all romantic to her.
She looked at his handsome silhouette, his now smooth face basking in the amber lights of her lamp. As the cold rain came with the warming call of an owl outside, he approached her and took her into his embrace. He gently cradled her head to rest it against his chest.
Evie knew what heaven felt like that very moment.
Caleb wrapped his muscular arm around her lower back and held her right hand with his other hand and whispered, “I know how much this song means to you. And I know how much this exact thing means to you.” He smirked. “I’ve seen enough of your posts on Facebook to know.” He slowly led her in a dance.
She giggled with a little blush.
The trembling of her lower lip could not be stopped. God himself could not stop it. Thunder nor rain couldn’t stop it either. Her body separated from her mind, and only her heart took control. Evie brushed her cheek affectionately up and down on his strong chest, squeezing her eyes tighter.
He hushed her cries. “It’s okay, baby. I can take all your tears. I’ve got you.”
She whimpered and felt the tears roll down her face, “Boy, do you ever.”
He smiled. Then Caleb tried to guide her out for a little twirl before bringing her back in. When he did, he tried to dip her in playful romanticism, but Evie freaked and clutched his shoulders, holding herself up. She feared he wouldn’t be strong enough to hold her. He snickered, “You underestimate my strength, Catwoman.”
She giggled as he pulled her upright again and they continued dancing. “I’m sorry I’m too big for that.” Then she smirked up to him. “Batman.”
He grinned back down into her eyes, searching them. “I easily picked you up on the bed and threw you down. So, trust me?”
She looked up to him and stammered, “I trust you.”
Once again, Caleb guided her out for a twirl, and she whirled back into him. She feared the possible outcome and grew nervous. But he caught her and dipped her effortlessly with one arm, yet she was still holding on to his shirt. “Let me go,” he ordered passionately.
Her knuckles were white. Her back was stiff, and her abs were overloaded. But slowly Evie let go.
He did have her.
Her eyes sparkled up to his, and he smiled then, pulling her up. He kissed her and then said, “You owe me French toast in the morning for that.”
“I never promised you French toast for nothing,” she quipped back cutely.
“Yes, actually you did. I just had you in a love spell, and you don’t remember.”
She smiled up to him as they moved around the room. “You probably did, Mr. Wright.”
The night was filled with comfort on all levels. They cuddled on the couch together in their pjs, ate food they both shouldn’t have eaten, and watched a few Batman movies before moving to the bedroom. And there Evie brought Caleb up close to her belly. “Here, lay your head on me for a while. Let me rub your scalp and stuff.”
He was hesitant. But she patted her soft belly again. The pink cotton pants of her nightclothes were topped off by along, white cotton t-shirt that even he had to admit felt soft as hell. He could imagine lying on it and being lulled right off to sleep.
“Come on,” she coaxed. “You completely enamored me out there. Let me make you feel comforted.”
He was still reluctant for reasons he didn’t know. But after a minute, he shrugged with a grin and curled up by her. The moment he felt his head resting on her warm and plush belly, his arm wrapped around her tightly with a mighty squeeze. His hand grabbed her belly a bit and it was comforting to hold. His grip hurt her a little, but she didn’t mind. It was the perfect resting place for his weary mind and heart.
