Page 59 of Resisting His Charm
Well,easyisn’t really the word. I know I had to leave. I couldn’t be with him, considering who his family is. I do regret being a coward and running in the middle of the night, though. I should have told him.
What was he going to do? Lock me up and not let me leave? I don’t think Sammie would have done anything to hurt me, but there was that fear of the unknown. What would he think of me if I told him who my mother was? What his uncle did to her?
The front door to my cabin opens and closes, not so quietly. A minute later, a figure is standing in my doorway. “Okay, you’ve moped around enough. It’s time to get up and move on with your life,” Alice scolds me as she walks farther into my bedroom. “And maybe shower.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon? What are you doing here?” I didn’t tell her what happened because I didn’t want to rain on her newly-wedded bliss.
“The real question here is why the hell didn’t you call me? Why did I have to find out from Joel? And also, when was the last time you showered?”
“Joel called you?” I sit up, lean my back against the headboard, and bring my knees to my chest.
“Yeah, they’re all worried about you and he was the only one brave enough to call me.” Alice plops down on the edge of the bed. “You should have called me.”
“I didn’t want to ruin your happiness,” I tell her. “Besides, I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. And you don’t smell fine. Get up and shower. Also, wash your hair. You have Cheetos stuck in it.” Alice stands. “I’m going to cook breakfast, so don’t take too long.”
My fingers brush over my hair. And sure enough, I come away with a Cheeto. I consider eating it before Alice snatches it from my hand.
“Not even you can be that depressed. You’ve been through worse than this, Poppy. Get yourself up now.”
“I really liked him,” I whisper. I can feel the tears already forming in the corners of my eyes. I don’t want to cry again.
“I know you did,” she says. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay, go and make me some bacon. I’m jumping in the shower. You’re right. I need to shake this off. I knew the guy for a couple of weeks. It’s not that big a deal.”
I’m lying. It feels like a big deal. The gaping hole in my chest feels huge. I’m also choosing not to look too far into that. It’s probably the orgasms. They were that good. That’s all it is. I just need to forget about them.
I wonder if I can be hypnotized to forget Sammie even existed. If I can’t remember him or those orgasms he was so good at giving, I can move on and go back to how I was. Before I let him break through my walls.
By the time I get out of the shower, I’ve decided that if I want something to change, I need to do it myself. Which is why I’ve made a decision. I can’t stay here and keep doing the same thing day in and day out. It’s time I took control of my life and stopped living in the past.
“You look a million times better. I swear a shower does wonders for the body and soul,” Alice says.
“I really appreciate you coming.” I walk over to my best friend and hug her. “I’m sorry I rained on your parade.”
“You didn’t. Besides, I don’t care what I’m doing. If you need me, I’m going to be here, Poppy. I’ve been so busy with all the wedding prep that I’ve been MIA, but it’s done. I’m married now, and I’m going to be here for you.”
“You haven’t been MIA. I’ve beenso busyhaving my mind blown by out-of-this-world orgasms that I’ve barely come up for air.” I smile.
Damn it! I’m not supposed to be thinking about Sammie.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone else even better,” Alice says, always the glass is half-full kind of girl. She holds out a cup of coffee to me.
I take it and sit down at the small dining table. “I made a decision.”
“It’s not one I’m going to love, is it?”
“I’m moving.”
“What do you meanyou’re moving?”
“I’m moving to the city.”
“What city?”
“I don’t know. I’m going to pick one and just do it. I can’t stay here, stuck in the past. I need to get away,” I tell her.
