HER BODYGUARD

It was nearly nine when she picked up her phone to make her weekly call to James. She had gotten in the habit of calling him at night, so that when they finished she could curl up in bed and pretend that Asher had heard every word. That he cared about her and that it was killing him to be so far away from her.

At what point did she let go? She wondered. Asher had been concerned that her feelings weren’t real, that they were only circumstances. How could she prove otherwise to a man who refused to speak with her or see her? Was he really trying to give her space he thought she needed or did he not care about her? Was her love one sided?

Six months, she told herself. She would give him the six months he had offered her. On that date, she would call for the last time. She would also tell James about the baby. She had hoped to tell Asher herself, but if he refused to talk to her, there was little she could do.

“But that is nearly three months away” she told herself as she called James.

James picked up on the second ring. “You are consistent,” he said by way of greeting. “I will give you that”

“Thank you,” Kimberly replied.

“Feeling okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Eating, sleeping, all the usual bodily functions”

“Good,” he said.

She was also finally showing. Her tummy was round, her body lush…. Or almost lush. How she wanted to share this with Asher. She wanted him to be a part of her life, of their child’s life. But if he didn’t want that….

“Is he being stubborn or does he really not care?” she asked.

“Damn it, Kimberly”

“I want to know. This is hard for me, James. I miss him. My feelings aren’t going away. You and I both know that -why can’t he?”

“You know the rules,” he reminded her.

“Screw the rules. I love him. If he were here right, I would tell him that. I would tell him that I miss him in my life. That he is the best man I have ever known”

“He would tell you you need to get out more,” James said.

“Maybe” she smiled. “How are you?”

“What?” James asked.

“We always talk about me and Asher. What’s going on with you? Are you seeing anyone?” she asked.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“I’m not talking about my personal life with you” James said.

“Why not? I’m a good listener and I can give you the female perspective”

“I don’t need it,” James replied.

“Always the tough guy,” she teased. “Come on. Who is she? A model? I can see you with a model. Or maybe a school teacher. A single mom?”

He growled, which made her laugh.

“Come on, James,” she said. “Humor me. We have another three months to go”.

“You are really going to hang on that long?” he asked.

“Yes. After six months. I will stop calling, but I won’t stop loving him”

“Swear?”

She heard the word, but it hadn’t come from the phone. Instead the sound had come from the doorway of her bedroom.

Kimberly let the phone drop onto the comforter as she turned and saw Asher standing in the darkness. She couldn’t see the details of his features, but she recognized him.

Too stunned to speak, she could only watch as he crossed to the bed and picked up the phone. He turned it off before tossing it back on the mattress, then crouching in front of her.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low and thick.

The light from her nightstand illuminated his features. He was gaunt, with circles under his eyes. He looked as if he had been to hell and lived to tell the tale.

“What happened?” she asked as she touched his cheek. “Were you sick?”

“I missed you. I took every dangerous assignment I could and still I couldn’t forget you. You are a part of me -under my skin, in my bones. I breathe you.”