Page 29 of Jack

“You go ahead. I’ll be fine.” She shouldn’t have to put aside her family duties to babysit me. “Thank you for everything.”

Nanny places her palm against my left cheek. “You’re going to be fine, Lily. I promise.”

I wish I felt as sure as she sounds. Nanny surprises me once again and wraps her arms around me. At first, my body and mind want to fight off the intrusion. Her presence surrounds me with warmth, banishing my fears if only for this moment.

Chapter 13

__________

Lily

Tonight’s dinner wasn’t what I expected. After five days of fast food restaurants and gas stations, I’m not complaining about heating up a frozen pizza. Nanny just has me spoiled already with her home-cooked meals.

“Sorry. That’s it on my culinary skills tonight.” Harley gets up to put her plate into the dishwasher.

I do the same. “It’s okay. I’m not a great cook, either.”

Maci laughs. “Oh, she can cook. She’s just lazy and in a hurry tonight.”

“Shut up.” Harley wads up the paper towel she used as a napkin and throws it at Maci.

“I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry to get to the clubhouse. You know the party won’t come alive until after nine.” Maci grabs another slice of pizza from the platter in the center of the table.

“The guys from Texas got here a couple of hours ago.” Harley shrugs. “I just wanna talk to them.”

“Sure you do,” Maci mumbles.

Harley ignores her sister. “If you need me, you know where to find me.”

She waves without looking back and walks out the front door. Harley doesn’t have a bubbly personality like I first thought. I’m not sure how to describe her yet. She’s a mix of emotions and personalities. What I mistook for serious is better described as cautious, reserved, and untrustworthy. I don’t think she likes me.

“Don’t mind her.” Maci finishes her slice of pizza and puts her plate in the dishwasher.

“Does she have a thing for one of the guys from Texas?” It’s not my business. I shouldn’t ask.

“Yeah, but I don’t think he notices her. So, she flirts with the others to try and make him jealous.” Maci sighs. Worry covers her face. “Her plan is stupid. She won’t admit what she’s doing, not even to herself.”

Maci’s concern for her sister changes the atmosphere in the house. I can feel her pain. It highlights my own. Harley’s playing a dangerous game. It could get her hurt. The men she’s flirting with may not physically hurt her, and that’s more than likely because they know her family. Still, in the end, they could break her heart and make her feel bad about herself. Mental and emotional trauma is just as painful as the physical part. In some cases, it could be worse. Mental and emotional abuse can take months or even years to heal. Neither form of abuse is better than the other.

“If you want to go to the party, I’m fine with staying by myself.” I feel bad she’s stuck here with me.

Maci looks at her phone. The screen’s black. She sighs and shakes her head.

“I don’t really want to go. I went last week. I’ll just text Jack and Jay. They’ll watch her.” She sends two quick texts before following me to the living room.

“Do you have parties every weekend?” I grab the remote and find one of the shows where they flip houses. For some reason, these things fascinate me.

Unlike the rest of her family, Maci joins me on the couch. After all the battered women they’ve helped, they know to be cautious around one. They’re just giving me space they feel I need. I appreciate it, but it makes me feel like something’s wrong with me. Well, something is wrong with me. I’m broken and battered. I feel so alone. What about me makes me unlovable?

Maci waves a bottle of water in front of my face, bringing me back to reality. She smiles sweetly. I have to look like an idiot to her.

She points to my sunglasses. “You don’t have to wear those around me. I won’t ask about it or make you feel bad.”

“Thank you.”

Her personality is more like her mom’s and Everly’s. She’s sweet, kind, and wants to genuinely help others. I’m comfortable around her. Slowly, I slide the sunglasses off and lay them on the end table. True to her word, Maci doesn’t say a word. Somehow, she doesn’t even react to seeing my bruise.

“To answer your question. People party and hang out every week. They go back and forth between the clubhouse and JB’s.” She pulls her feet up on the couch and crosses her legs. “But we only have parties at the clubhouse to celebrate something.”

---