Page 5 of Watercolor Skulls

This, this is what Aunt Jenny wanted for me…for us. I wipe a stray tear away and turn the music up louder.

I drive until I need to stop for gas. The town I stop in is settled in the foothills. It’s beautiful here. Inside the gas station I notice a board with all kinds of papers tacked to it. One stands out to me. Houses/Apartments for rent, call RS Rentals. I ask the clerk for a pen and write the number down on the back of my hand.

Maybe I’ll drive around and check out the town. I pull the wrapper off the stale turkey sandwich I purchased and take a bite. It’s a cute little town. Seems to have everything one might need. Several businesses line the main street. I drive slowly, taking everything in.

Children and their parents are out riding bikes and walking their dogs. It looks safe enough. Nothing like the big city. My gaze falls on the number scribbled on my skin. I guess it’s worth a shot. If I don’t like it here I can always move on. I pull my burner phone out and call the number. A woman answers.

“Yes, I’m calling about your rentals. I’m looking for a house to rent.”

“Cool, we got a few open right now. Would you like to set up a time to look at them?” she asks.

“Well, I’m kind of needing something right away if that’s possible.” I glance at the time on the bank. It’s still early afternoon.

“Sure thing. Give me thirty minutes to wrap up what I’m working on. How many bedrooms are you looking for?” she asks, I can hear her pop her gum over the receiver.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe one or two.”

“Okay, I’ll text you an address. See you in thirty.”

“Thank you so much.”

“No problem,” she says before hanging up.

I get a text a few seconds later. It takes me a few minutes but eventually I find the address she sent. I pull up in front of the house. It looks nice but it’s right in the middle of town. I guess I envisioned myself in a more rural setting. I don’t know, maybe it would be best to be in town. I tap my fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the rental lady.

A loud hot rod pulls into the driveway and a woman steps out. Holy cow. I blink a few times, taking her in. Surely this is not the woman I spoke to on the phone. She notices me and smiles wide. She starts towards me as I slowly get out of my beetle.

She thrusts her tattooed arm out to me, her green eyes sparkling in the sun. “You must be the one who called? I’m Jesse.”

“Uh, yeah. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lily…Lily Gladstone.” I push my hand out and she latches on to it, shaking my hand firmly.

I notice her gaze travels down my arm, landing on the bandage from my I.V. When I pull away I cover it with my hand. “I had a bad fall. I’ve been in the hospital,” I say, hugging myself.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to draw attention. I check everyone’s arms for track marks. We have a zero tolerance policy on drug use in our rentals.”

“Well, you’re in luck, I’ve never tried any drug.”

The woman narrows her eyes on me.

I hold up two fingers. “Scouts honor.”

She laughs and waves for me to follow her into the house. Her hair is jet black and hangs to her waist. She is strikingly beautiful. She walks through the house pointing out all the details. The house is cute, but I was really hoping for something a little more remote.

“I have a few apartments open on the east side of town. If that interests you we can go take a look.” Her phone dings and she pulls it out of her back pocket. She rolls her eyes as she types a response. “Sorry, it’s my husband.”

“No problem. Um, do you have anything on the edge of town. I was hoping to find something more rural,” I tell her, glancing around the living room. I’m trying to picture myself here, but it doesn’t feel right.

“Well, I do have a place a few miles away but it’s not really ready to be rented. My dad and I were always going to fix it up, but we just haven’t had time.”

“Is it livable?”

She sighs. “It is but I’m telling you it’s rough.”

“That’s okay.”

Her phone dings again and she shoots off another text. Her fingers fly over the screen. “Let me tell you, protective men are nice but Jesus Christ he needs to get off my dick.”

My eyes go wide at her language and then they drop to her crotch.

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