Page 81 of Watercolor Skulls

The Senator swallows and slides away from the window, grabbing his wife and pulling her in front of him. I roll my eyes at the chicken shit bastard.

Raffe motions for them to take a seat on Lily’s bed.

I step to the window, popping my head out into the warm evening breeze. Lily is sitting just out of reach. God she’s a beautiful bride. Her eyes are closed, her knuckles white as she holds onto the ledge, her feet swinging lightly.

Kicking a leg out the window so I am straddling the sill I light up another cigarette to get her attention without spooking her with the boom of my voice. Her eyes pop open and her head slowly rolls to the side. Her eyes lock on mine.

“Hey, baby,” I say softly, taking a drag off my smoke.

A faint smile forms on her angelic face. “This is such a good dream,” she whispers, swaying slightly on the ledge.

Somethings off. I poke my head back inside. “What is she on?” I ask the asshole sitting nervously on Lily’s bed.

“I…I gave her a valium. She had wedding jitters.”

The mother’s mouth drops open, but she clamps it shut.

These motherfuckers. I crack my knuckles, letting him know just how displeased I am about what he just said.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lily

???

When the roar of bikes quieted in my ears, I filled the minutes watching birds dart from one feeder to the next in my dad’s flower garden.

He was just here, trying to coax me from the window. I didn’t even turn to look at him. I’m not coming down from this ledge for anyone. I’m not marrying Benjamin. Not today. Not ever.

The click of a lighter catches my attention. I turn to see a mirage of Dan, smoking a cigarette. “Hey, baby,” he says to me.

I smile, happy that my mind conjured him. Even if it didn’t get it quite right. Dan doesn’t smoke. “This is such a good dream,” I tell the mirage.

He ducks back inside before returning to me.

Dan leans forward, holding the cigarette out to me. I’ve never smoked but why not. I snag it from him. My lips wrap around it and I take a small puff. I cough a little. This seems….

Real.

The cigarette falls from my hand. I watch it fall to the grass below.

I turn back to the apparition. He smiles. He’s real.

Oh god.

“You didn’t think I’d really let someone steal my girl did you?” He tips his head, running his fingers through his beard.

Immediately my hand reaches out to him. He grabs me and holds on tight. I quickly slide my butt down the ledge towards him. He helps me inside, wrapping me up in his arms. The smell of man and pine trees envelopes me. Home. I’m home.

He pushes me back slightly, keeping my hand locked in his. He spins me around, whistling low. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he says in awe. “But you’re missing something.”

I glance down at my dress. Fuck. What must he think? I hope he doesn’t think I want to marry someone else. Then big hands shove something black in my arms. My heart melts.

Never should I doubt anything with him. He knows me. He knows me. Tears stream down my cheeks.

Bringing the jacket up to my face, I place my lips over the patch that saysProperty of Big Dan. My eyes slowly roll up to meet his. He grabs me forcefully, crashing his lips to mine. “I love you,” he mumbles against my mouth. “I love you,” he says over and over again as our teeth click together, his passion unleashed.

He’s a man obsessed. A man searing his love to me, an everlasting imprint that leaves no room for doubt. I’ll die with his love stamped across my lips.

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