She hesitates for a second, but then starts removing her clothing until all that’s left is her stunning, naked body. Everything about her is perfect, all the way down to that trimmed triangle of hair just above the sweetest pussy I’ve ever tasted. Just the sight of her sends my body into full throttle, pleasure kindling in the pit of my stomach.
She covers her chest with her arms, looking anywhere but at my eyes. I get up from the bed, then shed my boxers so we’re on an equal playing field.
I kneel down in front of her, resting my hands on her waist. “Tell me which parts of your body you don’t like,” I command, looking up at her, watching as curiosity eclipses her expression.
“Hayes, I’m not going to—”
“Tell me which parts of your body you don’t like.”
She’s quiet for a beat, but then her lips start to move. “I…I don’t like my stretchmarks,” she says, shuffling her feet a little, still holding her arms against her torso.
I run my hand over her thighs, noting the raised texture of the scars, letting my finger stray over each individual branch of lightning. My lips travel over the marks, and I press a cluster of kisses against her flawless skin. “Your stretchmarks are beautiful. Your body had to adjust for a change in weight and growth, and I think that’s pretty amazing. Scars are reminders of what we’ve endured, but also reminders of what we’ve overcome.”
“They’re still so raw and red. They stand out.”
“They don’t stand out, Aeris. You stand out. Everything about you is captivating. You have this effect on people that I can’t explain. You light up every room you walk into. It’s like every emotion you feel is projected off you. When you’re happy, it’s contagious. And when you’re sad, I feel it in my own heart. So when people look at you, they aren’t judging you, okay? They’re envious.”
I have no idea if any of this is mitigating her worries. I hope it is. I hope I can take some of her pain. She pauses long enough for my doubts to burgeon, but then she blows out a breath and pinches her lips together.
Her next set of words barely come out. “M-my…stomach. I don’t like my stomach.”
When her hand moves over the area, I gently push it aside. I plant an array of kisses all over her belly, feeling her shiver under my mouth. “I love your stomach.”
“It’s not flat,” she cuts in.
“Do you think I care if it’s flat?”
I beat her to the answer by kitten-licking her piercing, and I move my hands down to stop her legs from trembling.
“You have a soft belly. That’s all it is. You need to eat. You should be consuming at least two thousand calories every day. I don’t care where those calories come from. If you want to eat your weight in chicken nuggets, I’ll buy you every single bag.”
Since I’m still on my knees, I can’t get a good look at her face, so I have no idea what she’s thinking right now. But judging by the silence, she’s either plotting my murder or suppressing sobs.
“I never want you to hide from me. I want every part of you, as you come. You’re beautiful, and I’ll remind you every day until you believe me.”
“You might be waiting a while, then,” she warns.
“You think I’m gonna be deterred by some waiting?”
Tears break through her eyes. “I just won’t be able to…”
I stand up and cradle the side of her face. “Hey, I don’t expect you to suddenly love yourself overnight. I just want you to know that I’ll do whatever I can to help you get there.”
She glances at my hand and shrinks away from me. Her fingers wordlessly come up to touch the little bumps on her cheeks, her mouth depositing a weighted sigh. “I don’t want you to touch my acne scars. I’ve tried everything to get rid of them, but nothing’s worked. I hate them, Hayes. I hate that I always feel the need to wear makeup. I can’t even go grocery shopping without putting concealer on.”
My hand inches toward her scars, and I wait for her to give me consent to touch there.
When she gives me a cautious nod, I familiarize myself with the pockmarked skin, seeing nothing wrong with the remarkable girl in front of me. “You don’t need to wear makeup, Aeris. Your rawness is gorgeous. Your scars are natural, and I love them because they’re a part of you.”
“You don’t need to say all of this stuff,” she mumbles.
“I know. I want to. And since you’re my favorite subject, I’m never going to shut up.”
21
AN INSIGHT INTO THE MADNESS
October 5th, Sunday, 2:38 p.m.
HAYES: You feeling better today?
AERIS: I am, thank you. You ever thought about becoming a life coach or a motivational speaker?
HAYES: Can’t say it’s ever really crossed my mind. I didn’t realize you liked listening to me talk so much. smirking face emoji AERIS: Ugh, and that’s what I get for complimenting you.
HAYES: Hey, I love it when you compliment me. And stroke my ego.
AERIS: I’m pretty sure you like it when I stroke a lot of things.
HAYES: Gasp. Aeris, you naughty vixen. Are you sexting with me right now?
AERIS: Nope, just stating a hard fact.
HAYES: Hard. Ha.
AERIS: You’re a child, you know that?
HAYES: Come on. Lighten up. Play with me.
AERIS: Play with yourself.
HAYES: Only if you watch.
AERIS: I hate you.
HAYES: I’d hope so. Don’t need you falling in love with me. kissy face emoji AERIS: Oh, don’t worry. That won’t be a problem.
HAYES: Confident, are we?
AERIS: Very.
HAYES: And why’s that?
AERIS: Because you’ll be the one falling for me.
October 10th, Friday, 5:55 p.m.
AERIS: Does underwear go bad? Like, is it bad if I still wear the underwear I had in high school? I wash them and everything. Underwear’s just so expensive.
HAYES: If you wanted me to buy you panties, you should’ve just asked.
AERIS: THAT WAS FOR LILA. Please erase that message right now.
HAYES: Hmm, I think I’ll keep it. I mean, it’s a solid question. I can ask the guys if they know the answer?
AERIS: YOU WOULDN’T DARE.
HAYES: I won’t if you tell me what color lace you want.
AERIS: I prefer granny panties.
HAYES: You joke, but you wouldn’t look half bad in those.
AERIS: Do you have some granny kink I don’t know about?
HAYES: So what if I did? Don’t kink shame me.
AERIS: You’re not buying me underwear.
HAYES: Oh, good thinking. Don’t want to waste money when they’re just gonna come off anyways.
AERIS: HAYES!
October 15th, Wednesday, 11:05 a.m.
HAYES: I miss you.
AERIS: I miss you too.
HAYES: Do you realize we’re three thousand miles away from each other?
AERIS: It’s an away game. You’ll live.
HAYES: Why must you hurt me, Stacks?
AERIS: Aw, do you need me to kiss it better?
HAYES: Wait, I didn’t know that was on the table. Yes, please.
AERIS:
AERIS:
HAYES: Hello?
AERIS: Sorry, I was trying to get a feather out of Crunch’s mouth.
HAYES: I told you to stop buying her feather toys.
AERIS: But she loves them!