When we’d go over for dinner, Jacob was that sweet guy again, doting on me and kissing me lightly. I think that was the hope I was holding on to. Hoping that he’d revert back to how he used to treat me.

“Just out to dinner,” I answered with a clipped tone.

Her shoulders slumped as I applied a small amount of make-up. Her mouth opened to ask something, but soon closed as she stopped herself. Her mouth repeated her previous action, but this time she blurted out, “Why don’t you talk to me anymore?”

I could feel the overwhelming sadness in her question. Yes, I’d shut her out, but it was because I knew her well and she would want me to leave Jacob. It wasn’t that easy for me. She wouldn’t understand, she’d never had a boyfriend. So I decided to play the dumb game.

“What do you mean? We’re talking now,” I responded with a small nervous giggle.

“Yeah, but you don’t talk to me how you once did.” I could see she was fighting back anger, but she was also becoming emotional. “You’d always tell me about you and Jacob and how happy you were. Now you’re just shutting me out.” She took a deep breath and kept going, “I saw the marks and you won’t tell me about what’s happening. I’ve kept my mouth shut, Abby. and I’ve tried to be here for you, but no, you just keep shutting me out and it hurts…it hurts so bad that my twin sister can’t trust me enough to talk to me.” She’d worked herself up into such a frenzy.

“Look, Mel, I’m sorry you feel that way, but honestly there’s nothing wrong. You know how easily I bruise, it only takes a simple knock and I mark. Plus, working in my industry, I catch myself on the clothes racks all the time. I’m a klutz.” Dread filled my heart. I hated lying to her, it broke me up inside. Another piece of my crippling heart chipped off and fell away; joining the discarded parts that Jacob had taken from me.

I sat beside her on my bed.

“I don’t believe you,” she said.

“You believe what you want. But I know what’s happening, not you…” Taking a deep breath, the next words seared my throat as I said them, “Jacob loves me and treats me like a princess. Don’t worry.” I gave her a weak smile.

“Whatever ya reckon, Abs. I’m here when you’re ready to talk.” With those few words, she got up and proceeded to walk away, leaving me to my thoughts. My body slumped over in defeat. Now I’d resulted in pushing away my family. I could only hope that Blake would help me see the positive in things. I glanced at my watch and realised I was late.

Quickly gathering my bag, I headed out the door. Mum and Dad didn’t ask where I was going because my answer to them was always the same—Jacob’s place. I would’ve said that again tonight as well. I didn’t want my family finding out about Blake, they’d probably think the worst of me.

We decided to meet at the park. As I pulled up into a parking spot, I could just make out a person sitting on the bench. My heart rate kicked up a notch. What am I doing? I shouldn’t be here. I had a boyfriend, one who’d probably kill me if he ever found out I was here with another guy.

The day I first met Blake there was something there, a twinkle of sorts in his eyes that instantly drew me to him. He made me nervous and giddy all at the same time. I had no idea what it was about him. Perhaps it was the kindness he’d showed me that day when I really needed it.

Grabbing my bag, I slowly got out of the car and made my way over to where he was seated. As I approached, the figure stood to greet me. His brilliant white smile and shining emerald eyes instantly made my stomach a flurry of butterflies. I hadn’t had this sensation for such a long time. This could be the start of something amazing, I thought to myself.

Chapter Eight

Abby

Three Years Ago

Blake stood before me, clothed in light blue denim jeans that had a small rip on one of the knees and a plain black tee. It was simple, but he made it look like a runway outfit suitable for models. As he walked over to greet me, my chest vibrated with nerves.

“Hey,” he greeted gently. Reached out, he took my hand and placed a feather light kiss on my knuckles. His lips, soft and ever so gentle, sent a shiver from my lower back shooting right up into my chest, setting it alight with firecrackers.

“Hey,” I replied breathlessly.

“I thought you weren’t going to show up.” His eyes glistened from the small amount of light shining over us from the street lamp. He was still caressing my hand with his, and everything within me was wide awake. A part of me wanted to launch myself into his arms, to feel a safety net surrounding me that he could easily provide.

“I nearly didn’t,” I admitted. I’d thought about nothing but this date all week since our first encounter. Even lying beside Jacob at night, my last thoughts were of these shimmering emerald eyes and bright smile before I fell asleep.

“Why?” He turned, still gripping my hand. I fell into step beside him. He guided me back into the park, past the bench and deeper into some trees. The clearing we walked into was lightly lit from street lights and the further you walked in, the stars in the sky appeared brighter. Melodi and I used to come here at night to hang out and talk about boys, or bitchy people who surrounded us. But then Jacob came into my life, and everything became all about him. Everyone around me suffered because of the silly mistake I’d made in choosing Jacob over my family, and now I was too scared to get out of the relationship I’d found myself floundering in.

“Because I feel like I’m cheating on my boyfriend in a way.” Guilt wreaked havoc on me even though I knew I shouldn’t have felt that, especially for Jacob.

“Any man that treats or marks his girl the way you have been, well, they don’t deserve their girlfriends. Those girls deserve better…much better.” He leant forward placing a feather light kiss on my cheek, leaving goose bumps over my body in its wake. There was such force behind his words, it was frightening. But I could also see that he was very passionate about this kind of thing. I guessed being a police officer you’d see many different disturbing things that you’d probably wish you would be able to un-see.

“Are you my much better?” Oh, crap…What did I just say? I quickly went to fix my mistake, but he beats me to it.

“I would like to be,” he whispered so low I hardly heard him. I instantly had lead feet, jerking him to an unexpected stop.

“Please don’t say things like that,” I pleaded, but there was also excitement bubbling within me at the possibility. “It’s not right. I’m with someone. In fact, I shouldn’t even be here with you.” I yanked my hand out of his. My heart screamed at me because of the loss of calmness he surrounded me with. “Why are you doing this for me? I shouldn’t have voiced my thoughts to you, someone who’s a complete stranger to me.” My voice slowly got louder, my nerves showed through my words. My breathing was heaving. Why was I getting so worked up over this?

Blake took a hesitant step toward me, waiting for a reaction, but I didn’t react. He stepped closer again, closing the already small distance between us. As he did so, his protective arms wrapped around my small frame and he pulled me into him, moulding our bodies together. I took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of his aftershave which set my senses on fire. The feeling of being held so tenderly was alien to me. I’d not been held this way for months. I began to relax against him as he tightened his arms around me.

“Please give me a chance to be your much better,” he whispered into my hair, placing a small, powerful kiss on my neck. A prickling sensation spread across my skin and down my back. I pulled back, gazing up into his magical eyes; his features were soft. I wished I could read his mind and know what was going on in there. Why was he so interested in me? For someone who’d only just met me, I wouldn’t fall into that trap again and find out later he was the devil in a gorgeous man’s body. Jacob had burnt my trust and taught me that every man must wear a mask and was fake up until they showed their true colours.