Always (Next Generation The Skulls 1)

“Please, tell me this isn’t me,” he said. “You can feel it too?”

She pressed her head against his chest, breathing him in. His arms were around her, and she felt safe and loved. “It’s not you. I can feel it too.”

For as long as she could remember, when it came to Simon, he’d made her feel this way. Loved, protected, safe, and it was a feeling she was going to take with her. Grandpa Ned had once said to her if you can find someone who makes your heart race and each time they step into the room, you just want to go and be with them, they’re the kind of person you want to keep around for a lifetime.

Simon was that person.

He was hers, just as she was his.

Nothing was ever going to take him away from her. Nothing.Chapter SeventeenSimon never went back home to live, he only ever went to visit. Each time he left on a Friday, he was back by the Monday, and Tabitha would wake up to him in her bed. Time went by as it did. The days turning to weeks, the weeks to months. His graduation was nearing as they all got closer to their end of the term. She didn’t know what he was going to do while she had one year to go at school.

Daisy had already decided on a local college and Tabitha had picked the one closest to Piston County. She’d already told her dad and Lash of her intentions after next summer, to leave Fort Wills and go with Simon. Of course, her parents were upset, but that was to be expected.

Time passed. School came and went. Simon was part of her life, but he did spend a little longer at home. At school, tensions still ran high but for the longest time, she hadn’t started a single fight with any of the Dogs. She’d taken Anthony’s warning seriously. She wasn’t going to let down her guard, not for a single moment.

Before too long, which was a huge surprise to her, her birthday approached. Rather than dread it, she looked forward to it. She would become Simon’s old lady, or more importantly, his wife. This was a moment they’d been planning for years. Even before she caught Natalie’s bouquet all those years ago.

On the day of her eighteenth birthday, Simon was there in the morning. She’d fallen asleep in his arms and woken up right where she belonged.

Tilting her head back, she saw he was already awake, watching her. “You know, that’s a little scary.”

He chuckled. “I love to watch you sleep.”

“How long have you been watching me?” she asked.

“Long enough.” He stroked a finger down her nose. “You’re eighteen.”

“I am.” He hadn’t made any more comments about them getting married. She didn’t think it was possible for her to be married to him, at least not without a church and a few other details.

“I’ve got a dress I’d like you to wear for me.”

“Is it slutty?”

“No, it’s not slutty.” He kissed the top of her head and moved toward the wardrobe. He came out holding a white floral summer dress. “Would you wear this for me?”

“I will wear anything for you,” she said. Climbing out of bed, she went into his arms. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Her door was knocked and her mother appeared. “Breakfast is downstairs, waiting.”

“We’ll be right down,” she said, looking behind her. “Why do I feel you’ve got something planned today?”

“I have. When your parents ask, tell them you’re meeting up with Daisy.”

“Okay,” she said. “I know there’s a big party. Miles told me about it the other day.”

“Of course there would be a big party, but trust me, okay?”

“I’m trusting you. Can’t you see? Full of trust.”

“Good. Wear the dress.” He tilted her head back, kissing her lips. “I love you.”

She smiled, watching him leave her room. It was still crazy to her that he joined them all for breakfast, even after her father persistently gave him death stares. She knew without a doubt Tiny was plotting his death.

After heading into the bathroom, she took a quick shower, brushed her teeth, and then blow-dried her hair before going back to the bedroom and stepping into the dress. There was a little catch at the back and she was able to reach it. Brushing her hands down her body, she stared at her reflection. The dress fell to her ankles, skimmed over her curves, and there were two slits along each side.

“This is going to have to do,” she said.

She headed downstairs to find her parents waiting. Her present was a car, which she loved instantly and decided to call Ned. It was her father’s old car that he rarely used, five seater, but she could tell it had been cleaned up nicely. Tiny demanded she take it out for a spin with him in the car. Simon stayed back, and as they got to the edge of town, they took a turn, and she came right on back. She’d been learning to drive for a few months and had finally passed her test, not long after Daisy had. Lash had told them all that they needed to learn to ride or drive. She liked being a passenger on a motorcycle but not riding one. There were way too many bends and curves.