AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Skid… I can’t expect—”
“I know I let you down before, but I won’t do it again. Let me prove that to ya. Please?” He cups my chin, forcing me to look at him, and I see the desperation behind his kind brown eyes.
I want to believe him, I also want to give in to that draw that pulls me toward him, but I can’t fall in love with this man again. My heart still hasn’t healed from the last time.
“I’ll let you help,” I agree, ignoring the crack he’s made in my heart.
Right now, trusting him again is my only option. Me and my son are in danger and the whole reason I came here is because I knew Skid could help us. Skid smiles at my answer and I feel that warm little glow in the pit of my stomach start to spread. Only, this time, I don’t welcome it, I fear it. I’m wise to the damage it can cause.
“Come on, let's get ya back to the cabin. I think it’s time I speak to the brothers.” Skid stands up and drags me onto my feet.
“Skid, you can’t tell them, they’ll think I’m crazy.” I instantly begin to panic.
“No one’s gonna judge ya here, darlin’, and we don’t do secrets. Every single person here will work together to ensure you and Charlie stay safe.”
“Why would they do that? We’re nobody to them?”
“Because you're someone to me.” His voice comes out soft and when his eyes focus on my lips like he’s thinking about kissing them, the thought makes my stomach flutter.
“Come on.” He clears his throat before scratching the back of his neck and then marching us back through the trees toward his cabin.
“What’s wrong?” Skid arrives at the house and places the grocery bags he’s carrying on the table.
“Nothing.” I keep my eyes focused on the stitch I’m pulling on the hem of my shirt.
“Well, you don’t exactly look pleased to see me.” He chuckles. “I even bought your favorite.” He lifts out a box of Nutter Butters and shakes it at me.
“I don’t want any.” I avoid looking at them because the truth is, I really do.
“What d’ya mean you don’t want any? Ya can’t get enough of these things.”
“I don’t want any because I’m getting fat.” I raise my eyes to his, standing up and letting him see for himself. None of the jeans I got from the thrift store fit me anymore, and my belly has even started to stick out over sweatpants now.
“You're not gettin’ fat.” Skid laughs at me. “That’s what’s supposed to happen. Just eat the damn Nutter Butters.” He shoves the box into my hand.
“I know it’s supposed to happen, I just wasn’t expecting it to happen so quickly,” I admit.
“Addy, you’re past twenty weeks now, and I hate to break it to ya, but you’ve been showin’ for a while.”
“Well, thank you for noticing,” I snigger back at him sarcastically.
For a while now, I’ve wondered if Skid finds me physically attractive, the way I do him. But I’m pretty sure him watching me balloon before his very eyes is gonna kill any chance of that ever happening.
“Pretty soon, you're gonna start to feel him movin’ in there too.” He starts putting away the groceries before taking a seat beside me, opening the box of Nutter Butters, and shovels his huge hand in to help himself.
“Hey, I thought you said they were for me? And since when did you become a pregnancy expert?” I snatch the box from his hand and dig in myself. Guess there's no preventing the inevitable.
“Since ya fell asleep on the couch the other night while we were supposed to be watchin’ that film. I picked up that book of yours and educated myself.”
“That film was awful, and you know how tired I get these days. I actually have no idea why you would even want to hang out with me. I’m boring, I’m getting really pregnant, and let’s be honest, I’m turning into a crank.” I crunch my teeth through the cookie in my hand. “Haven’t you got biker shit you should be doing?” I question him.
“Sometimes, it’s nice to get away,” he tells me, pulling that same sad face he always does when the conversation steers towards his life.
I don’t know much about Skid other than the warning Mrs. Patterson, from the church I attend, gave me. It’s no secret that he’s part of a biker gang and I know he had a wife who was part of the congregation before she died. Everyone talks highly of her and when I heard whispers that she killed herself, I couldn’t help being shocked.
Skid hasn’t been back to the soup kitchen since the night we first met, and he never shows up to church. Maybe he fears being judged. But if I’ve learned one thing since my time away from Abraham, it’s that I should follow my own mind. Right now, my mind tells me I can trust this kind, thoughtful man who’s become my lifeline. I guess if he wants to tell me about his past, he will when he’s ready.
“Well, I appreciate your company and everything else you do around here,” I tell him, stroking my hand over my neat, round bump.
