Page 41 of Strip for Me

“How did you know how to do that?” I ask, and she smiles.

“The sign, how else?” she chuckles, and I look at the sign by the table. It says what to do on it.

“I have something else to show you,” I say, moving my hand, and the butterfly leaves. She looks at me and chuckles as her own butterfly leaves.

“What is it?” I say when she’s still laughing.

“Hold on,” she says, holding up a finger and searching her jean pockets. She pulls out her phone, and I wait as she takesa photo, the flash blinding my eyes a little. She shows me her phone and the picture of me. There are three butterflies on my head. I shake my head, and she laughs.

“They’re staying by the looks of it,” she says. She looks so happy and stress free, I like this look on her.

“Ah well, they must like my shampoo,” I say, and she nods, the lights bouncing off her beautiful eyes. Ellie is so beautiful, and she doesn’t even realise it.

I take her hand and walk her around the farm, dozens of butterflies fly around us as we walk. Ellie stops a few times to read the lit-up signs that explain about where certain butterflies came from. I feel the butterflies moving a little in my hair but shaking my head doesn’t seem to be working. I pull open the clear flaps to the side room at the end of the path, letting Ellie in first and then following.

“What’s this place?” she asks as I flip the light on. I take her hand and lead her over to the box. Inside are dozens of little cocoons, some are moving. I’ve been planning this date for a while with Marcus, he said he would call when he knew some of the rare butterflies would be hatching. I wanted her to see this, and, to be honest, it’s interesting to see.

“Marcus said these are all going to hatch soon, he said we could be lucky and see a few tonight,” I say, and she leans up, kissing my cheek.

“Thank you. Who knew you were this sweet?” she asks.

“Don’t tell the others,” I say, sliding my hand into her soft hair and kissing her. “I love you, little missy.” I pull away from the kiss, and she strokes a hand down my face.

“I love you too, Kaiden,” she says, and I kiss her again.

Thirty-Four

ELLIE

“Your turn,”I chuckle at Andre, who leans over the monopoly board as he rubs his face in annoyance. I look at my houses and hotels, and I know that any move is going to mean he loses at this point. I have all the cards and the money.

“Can I ask you something?” I ask as he rolls his dice and lands on a seven. I’ve wanted to ask him about his parents for a while.

“Sure,” he replies.

“You told me that you grew up in foster homes, and I was just confused why your parents left you this house,” I say.

He moves his hat token across the board, landing on my card, with the hotel on it. “I actually don’t know why they left this house to me. It was a shock, when I hadn’t spoken to or seen them since I was a child. I don’t know why social services took me away and likely don’t want to. Mel doesn’t speak about my parents, and I don’t think they are worth the hassle.” I agree with him.

“Damn it, how are you this good?” Andre asks as he looks at the board and realises where he’s landed, making me laugh.

“Don’t be a sore loser,” I say, and he narrows his eyes at me.

“You’re so cheeky, Ellie,” he says, pushing the board out of the way and crawling over to me. I giggle as he pulls me onto his lap and starts tickling my sides.

“Ellie, you have a lot of explaining to do,” my mother’s voice drifts over from the door and we both freeze.Holy ducks, I hope I’m imagining this.

“Mum?” I ask, turning my head and seeing her and my father glaring at me from the door. Kaiden is standing next to them, holding the door open and has a panicked look on his face. I clear my throat as Andre lifts me off his lap, taking my hand as he helps me stand up.

“Youarepregnant. Drew wasn’t lying,” my dad says. My parents look just like the last time I saw them. My mum’s grey hair is up in a tight bun, and she is dressed like she’s going for a business meeting in her black trousers and white shirt. My father is more casually dressed, wearing jeans and a blue jumper. They look slightly older and tanned, suggesting they’ve been abroad in one of their holiday homes for a while.

“What did you say? Drew?” I ask, repeating his answer in my mind.

“Yes, your ex-husband called to explain that our daughter is living with four strippers and is pregnant,” Dad says, and I feel myself going pale. Andre keeps his hand in mine.

“I can explain–” I say, and my mum cuts me off.

“You’re having our first grandchild, and you don’t think that you should have told us, Ellie?” she says, her voice crackling a little when she says my name. I’m a little confused by her reaction, I mean, they haven’t spoken to me in a long time.

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