Tragic Love (30 page)

I hitch my legs around his waist and then Drake rolls me over to lie on top of him and I break our kiss so I can taste his skin. My lips are wild as they travel over his hard shoulders, immaculate chest and down to the defined V of his abs.

I sit up, pulling his black boxers down his thighs and toss them to the floor. As he did to me I plant kisses from his ankle, up over his knees and across his muscular thighs then take his impressive erection in my mouth. While I pump my hand in unison with my mouth, Drake releases deep moans from his throat.

Before I can even enjoy having him in my mouth, he pulls me off him and flips me back over. Quickly, he pulls my panties down my legs and pushes himself inside of me. He doesn’t move, just holds himself still as his body fills mine. The connection, the pressure, is remarkable and I soon begin to lose myself as he slowly glides his body in and out of mine.

Our lips meet again, and between deep breaths and moans, we keep them connected. I grab behind his shoulders, slide my hands down his slick back and squeeze his ass to push him deeper inside of me. It makes me explode with pleasure as he keeps thrusting into my sweet spot. When I start to fall back down to earth, I feel Drake go rigid as he releases himself inside of me. We don’t move, just lie with our bodies connected savoring this perfect moment of our love.

Chapter 20

Presley

Life is a new kind of normal. When my eyes wake in the morning, I now see my day as a blessing and look forward to conquering them. Of course, I still have my challenges where the evil witch, heroin, will unexpectedly grab a hold of me. However, I now know how to kick her ass. As for Robert, yeah, he still makes an appearance—usually in my dreams—but instead of holding in all the fear I have for him, I will wake up Drake and pour out my feelings. He never judges, only holds me against his chest, whispering kind words of reassurance then lulls me back to sleep.

When I look back at this time last year; I was a new mom, suffocating in my depression and desperately clinging onto a life I thought I needed to have. Today, four months into the New Year, I feel life couldn’t possibly get better. Last month we celebrated Mia’s first birthday. She was spoiled, of course, from everyone and received every toy ever created. Her room is becoming overloaded with toys and clothes. That child is so spoiled. Jake and Jeremy went together and bought her the biggest wooden play set I’ve ever seen. They spent a week putting it together. It has a huge clubhouse towering at the top, swings, two slides, a covered sand pit and a teeter totter. It is definitely something she can grow into, like her Mini Cooper, and I can’t wait to watch her play on it. The best part of the day was watching Mia eat her cake. The small ladybug cake was shellacked over her face, stuck in her hair and covered her new dress. It was so funny and absolutely perfect.

Delilah got to spend Mia’s birthday with us, and lucky for her, it happened to be during Spring Break. I’m sure she had to do some smooth talking so she could spend it with us and not with her family in Mexico. I have no idea what she said to get out of her obligations at home, but I really don’t care because I love having her in my life. I am glad she was able to celebrate with us.

Each day I spend with Mia, I fall further in love with her. I’ve watched her take her first step, by the coaxing of her daddy of course, and with each step she takes, Mia gets better and better. I can’t wait to hear her first word, take her to school, help her get ready for a date, be there when she gets married and when she has her first child. My mother was absent for my most recent milestones and I know how much it aches not having her there to experience every moment with me, but I will always be there for Mia. I will never allow myself to get sucked into a world of self loathing and depression. I have too much to lose and Mia is a living, breathing reminder of that.

My sessions with the good doctor have been cut down to once a month and in case of an emergency. Fortunately, I’ve not had a big enough emergency to call her, but I do look forward to that one day a month I get to talk with her.

With the encouragement of Dr. Redman, Drake and Darcie, I enrolled in cosmetology school here in town and classes start next week. I’m a little nervous about going back to school. I was never any good meeting new people, but I get to further expand my purpose in life and start contributing to my family financially. I’m ready to start making my own money and take some of the pressure off Drake’s shoulders. Although, I would never know if he is stressed out about money because he doesn’t complain. He says he would work a million jobs to keep his family as happy as we are right now. This is one of the many things I love about him; he’s selfless, willing to sacrifice whatever he can to make sure those he loves are happy. Our life couldn’t possibly get better.

His hours picked back up at the steel recycling plant, but we make it work. He stopped working at the bar because he knows how important it is to spend time with Mia and me when he can. Mostly we hang out at home, play in the backyard with Mia and spend time wrapped in each other’s naked bodies.

Dr. Redman practically drug me to a gynecologist to get on birth control. After my last close call, she highly recommends having a baby right now would be too much to handle when I’m doing so well. I agreed with her. I am young. Once Drake and I get settled a little bit more, get married, we can talk about having more kids. I opted for the five year thingy so I don’t have to worry about pills, plugs or patches. Drake and I can just go at it as much as we want. And we do. We’re insatiable, but in a good way, not in the way I was using him before. We are on a whole new level of intimacy and it’s perfect. Everything is absolutely perfect and I’m riding the high as long as it lasts.

Drake

Presley is into her second week of school and comes home chattering up a storm. I have never seen her so excited and happy about anything unless it involves Mia or myself. We sit down for dinner with the rest of the family, when they’re home, and she talks away about what she’s been taught, new friends she is making and the teachers. I am so proud of her. Now that I’ve been out of school for a while, I don’t think I would have the desire to ever go back, but Presley, she simply keeps trudging on and with each day she keeps taking steps forward, moving in the right direction. She is strong, determined and most importantly, happy. I don’t ever want to see her unhappy again. I will give my own life to keep her just as she is today.

The heart necklace I gave to her in rehab never comes off. From the time I pinned it around her neck, it’s always been present and now is a permanent piece of her—similar to the tattoos on Jake and Reggie’s arms or the scars on Darcie’s body. The piece of metal is a part of her, my heart is a part of her and will be forever.

It sounds pretty fucking cheesy, but we are one big, happy family—the seven of us. We all know to contribute to the household expenses, food and upkeep. Darcie keeps track of what needs to be paid and when. We just divide it evenly and give her the money. Reggie and Darcie have the success of
The Slab
, I’m working pretty steady hours at the plant, and Jake and Jeremy still hustle to get their money, but at least they have it. We are not the traditional family; however we are stronger and have survived more shit than any other family around here.

Jake and Jeremy are in the process of getting the Challenger ready for another season of racing. They spend a lot of time in the garage or test driving the car, making sure it’s in prime condition for the first race. Reggie helps when he can, but since I left the bar he and Darcie have been spending most of their time working. Since she became his wife, Reggie has been more accommodating with Darcie actually working behind the bar, especially on the weekends. Everyone around here knows she’s his wife and belongs to him. There is no sick fucker within a fifty mile radius who dares to fuck with her now.

Before their wedding, Reggie would have to knock around a couple of bold patrons, now no bastard has a death wish like that. For the first time since he was a kid, Reggie is finally able to relax and enjoy a life of his own. He no longer has to worry about someone hurting his family, or making enough money to keep his business and house a float; he’s just able to be. No one deserves it more than him. Now, if only we could get Jake and Jeremy to settle themselves down. Miracles happen every day, right?

Presley

It’s seven-thirty in the morning as I rush out the door with Mia in tow. We’re heading down the back steps so I can go to class.

Last week Drake and I bought a little car for me to get around town in because it started to become too hard sharing a car once classes started. We managed to make it work for awhile then soon realized how much easier it would be to have a car of my own. Jake calls it the grocery getter because it has four doors and a hatchback. He keeps giving Drake a hard time for allowing me to drive such a sight and it’s not even American made. Yes, I know it’s not the classic muscle cars all the Evans men drive, but it’s safe and gets me where I need to go, therefore, I really don’t care how much torque it has under the hood or whatever that shit is.

Time’s starting to get away from me as I secure Mia in her car seat, back down the drive and head toward Mrs. Field’s apartment. I am still a little nervous every time I drive into the parking lot because I haven’t seen Carter in months, not since the day I kissed him. I don’t know if I will ever be ready to face him and that part of my life, but if I do, I need to remember everything I’ve learned about myself and the support I have around me.

The sun is bright in the sky and the temperature is perfect. The trees are filled with green leaves and the grass is plush as we move closer to summer. The crime is still present everywhere you look, along with the trash filled streets, yet it doesn’t bother me anymore. I look to my family, who’s lived here all their lives and see it is possible to grow up in a place this shitty and still feel love.

Today, I have one morning class, off for awhile then back for my night class. Drake should be home in time to watch Mia tonight so she’ll only need to spend a few hours with Mrs. Fields before I come to pick her up.

As I pull into the parking lot, my breath hitches, thinking I got a glimpse of Carter sitting outside his apartment door, but when I focus harder there is no one there. My mind is playing tricks on me and I need to get my shit together. I give Mia a kiss, thank Mrs. Fields and fly down to my car and across town to make it in time for my eight-fifteen class.

School is pretty uneventful today, actually, it was rather boring and I’m glad when eleven hits so I can pick up Mia and go home. When I arrive back at the apartment complex, Carter actually is sitting outside his apartment, looking at his phone. He doesn’t recognize my new car as I pull up and park, so I take a moment to look at him. It’s been a little over seven months since we’ve laid eyes on each other, but he hasn’t changed much. From this distance I can’t see his face up close; however he’s got his backpack sitting next to him by the chair, black cargo shorts, black cap and t-shirt. Feelings of loss start to invade as I study him. Although our relationship was built on drugs, there was a point in my life where I felt he was the only person I had.

I slowly creep out of my little Honda and walk up to Mrs. Fields’s apartment. When I open the door, Mia is sitting on her lap, having a snack. She instantly jumps down and comes running into my arms. I love this. My daughter runs to me because she loves me and wants to be with me. There’s no better feeling in the world. “Thanks again for watching Mia.”

“You’re so welcome. Anytime you want to bring her by I will be here,” she says and then gives Mia a kiss to the top of her head. I grab her bag and as quickly as possible, shuffle down the stairs.

As I round the corner, Carter is coming out of the pool area and almost smacks into me. My stomach sinks to the concrete and anxiety starts to plague me. I begin to expel the pent up feelings by taking large breaths in and out. Calming myself and holding Mia close to my body.

His face looks pale and sunken in. The dark circles are so deep under his eyes it looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks. He looks completely different from the last time we saw each other. We’ve switched skins because the last time we were together, I was looking like I was two steps from death’s door and now that is what I’m looking at as Carter stands before me.

“Hi,” he says with his deep, scratchy voice.

“Hi,” I whisper back, trying to find my voice. Mia is holding onto my shirt tightly and starts getting restless in my arms. I kiss her cheek and start rocking my body side to side to soothe her.

“When did you get back?” Carter takes off his cap and runs his hands over his face in an attempt to wipe away the months of visible drug use.

“A while ago. How have you been?”

“A while ago? How long is a while ago?” His tone is clipped and starts to frighten me. The conversation I had with Jeremy starts to come back to me. Carter is possessive and dangerous and I need to stay away from him.

“S-s-seven months.” I hesitate.

He visibly gets upset as soon as the words come out of my mouth. Carter’s nostrils flare, his face reddens and his body goes very tense. I begin fearing for mine and Mia’s safety. Then, out of nowhere, he grabs my arm, squeezing it so hard it instantly starts to form bruises. Tears prick my eyes. Mia senses my fear and starts to cry.

“Shut her up! I can’t stand to look at her; she looks just like that pussy father of hers.”

I yank my arm from his grasp and start rubbing small circles on Mia’s back, trying to calm her down. Carter steps back just slightly and I turn, running to my car. I almost make it when he comes up behind me, pinning my body to the car. Mia begins to cry again and I’m getting really scared. It’s obvious he’s on drugs. What? I don’t know, but it’s definitely harder than marijuana.

“Please, Carter, let me put her in the car and then you can talk to me,” I beg, wanting Mia to get out of harm’s way. Carter is unpredictable now and this is a version I’ve never seen from him. I know he carries a gun in the back of his pants. I don’t want him to pull it out. I need to defuse his anger before he thinks about using it.