Page 6 of Watercolor Skulls

She notices and laughs, stuffing her phone back in her pocket. “Don’t worry. I don’t have a dick. Just a figure of speech.”

My cheeks heat at my naivety. “I didn’t…ugh, I’m sorry. You could say I’ve lived a sheltered life.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” she says, offering me a kind smile. “I’ll try to watch my language.”

I put my hand out to stop her. “No. No, please don’t. It’s…it’s refreshing.”

“That’s good, cause I don’t really have a filter.” She laughs lightly, looking around the room. She nods her head as if making up her mind about something. “Follow me. We’ll go take a look.”

“Great. Thank you.”

She gets back in her rusty looking rod and I notice the skull painted on the door. This woman is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She is uniquely her. I follow her out of town and down the dusty road, large trees line both sides. Now this is more like it. The tension in my chest uncoils slightly.

When the house comes into view I almost cry out loud. The house has a small porch on the front which gives it a cozy appearance but it’s the windows I notice. There are so many of them. Jesse pulls up in front and parks. I slide in behind her.

“So, what do you think? It’s kind of out in the boonies but maybe that’s what you’re looking for?” She tilts her head, studying me closely.

“It’s beautiful. I love all the windows,” I say in awe, my eyes dancing over the home.

“They are new. It’s the one thing we got done.” She unlocks the door and steps inside. “It still needs painted and the flooring needs a little work.”

I cover my mouth with my hands. It’s perfect. The living room runs along the whole front of the home. Windows line all three walls. To the left it opens to a kitchen with tall old style cabinets. On the right is a set of stairs, the railing made out of a crooked looking branch, perfect in its imperfection. “I’ll take it.”

Jesse laughs, tipping her head back, her hair fans out behind her, revealing a tattoo of a rose behind her ear. “You haven’t even seen upstairs.”

“I don’t need to see more. It’s perfect.”

“It will be a couple of weeks before I can get my guys over here to fix it up for you.”

“That’s okay. I can fix it up myself. I’m really needing something today if possible.”

A flash of concern rushes over her face. “Are you sure?” She looks out the window at my beetle.

“I’m sure. Just let me know what color you want the rooms and I’ll get the paint,” I plead with her.

She scratches her head. “As long as you don’t paint anything baby shit yellow I’m good.” Jesse rests her butt against the counter that separates the living room from the kitchen. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”

My head drops. I’m a terrible liar. That’s why my aunt and I decided to use my real first name and fake last one. We thought it would be easier for me to tell half a lie than a whole one. Maybe that’s what I need to do here, half lie. “I had a bad breakup. I’m looking for a fresh start.”

Her eyes go back to the band-aid on my arm before perusing over the rest of my body. She points to the fake tattoo on my arm. “Ever think about getting a real one?”

It’s already peeling from my shower this morning. I laugh lightly. “Oh, I don’t know.”

“I’ve got a tattoo shop in town. Stop by sometime. Actually, I think my partner has a bad ass design of a dragonfly.”

“Yeah, I’ll think about it.” I scratch at the stupid thing, suddenly feeling very insecure in front of this woman.

She smacks her hands on the counter before pushing herself away. “Rent is due the first of every month. I’ll wave the first few months if you paint the rooms. I’ll have my guys come work on the floors. You can switch the utilities over in the next day or two, I’ll get you the numbers to call them.”

“Oh, my gosh, thank you. Thank you so much.”

She shrugs off my thanks. “Do you have a moving truck coming with the rest of your stuff? Maybe we can get the floors done before they arrive.”

I tuck my blue hair behind my ear. “No, everything I own is in my car.”

Her gaze goes back to the windows. “So, you plan on staying here tonight.”

I nod.

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