Page 41 of Watercolor Skulls

JD who is usually as quiet as a damn church mouse speaks up. “Do you like old things?”

She sets her sandwich down and faces him. “I like the idea of taking something that people have no use for and resurrecting it. I’ve always had new things.” She scrunches her cute little nose up. “New things are boring.”

Jeremey chuckles and pats JD on the back. “Well, Lily, JD is going to be your new best friend. He owns a junk yard, hence the name JD, Junkyard Dog.” JD shifts anxiously. The reason JD owns a junk yard is because he prefers things over people.

Lily claps her hands together like a kid at Christmas. “Oh, can I look around your yard? Maybe I can find some things for the house.”

He rubs his hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah, sure. I’m not sure my junk is what you’re looking for though.”

She hands him her phone. “Give me your number and I’ll call you sometime this week.”

He looks at the phone in her hand as if it’s going to bite, but he takes it from her and types his number in before handing it back.

I don’t even have her damn number. Fucker. But I can’t be mad. None of the ladies give him the time of day. Owning a junk yard isn’t most girl’s jam. They usually get turned off the minute someone mentions it. But Lily is different. She speaks to him just like she does everyone else and I like that.

“I’m actually looking for a tailgate.”

This perks him up. “Oh, shit, girl, I got a ton of tailgates. Chevy, Ford, you name it I got it.” He smiles at her. Come to think of it, this may be the first time I’ve seen the man smile.

“Cool, I’m excited to see what you have.” JD blushes. Lily turns her attention to Jeremy “What do you do?”

He leans back and stretches. “Well mostly women.” He chuckles and winks at her. “Just kidding. I’m a mechanic. I work in the shop at the warehouse. My passion is custom paint jobs.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting.” She leans forward. “Jesse told me I had to name my car. I’d never heard of that. Is that a club thing?”

We all laugh. Jeremy answers, “Don’t tell Jesse but none of the rest of us have a name for our rides.”

“Oh.” Lily frowns. “I thought it was a great idea.”

He chucks her under the chin, almost earning him my fist in his face but he removes it quickly. “What do you drive, sweetheart?”

“A 1964 Volkswagen Beetle,” she says proudly.

He looks around the driveway for it.

“Oh, it’s not here,” she tells him. “I left it at the bar last night.” Lily glances at me shyly.

Jeremy raises his eyebrows towards us, but he is a good guy, and he sees she is embarrassed, so he doesn’t question it. “If you’re coming to the barbeque next week maybe I can take a peek under the hood, give her a tune-up if need be.”

“She?” Lily teases.

“Cars are basically female,” he deadpans.

“So, it’s okay for cars to be referred to as female but not okay to name them?” She arches an eyebrow in challenge and damn if it doesn’t make my dick hard.

He smacks his hand on the table, laughing and looks over his shoulder at Jesse. “Where did you find this girl.”

“She found me,” Jesse yells back winking at Lily.

“Lily. Lily. Lily.” Jackson tugs on her arm. “Let’s go find bugs.”

She laughs popping the last bite of her sandwich in her mouth.

He drums his little fingers impatiently on the table.

“Did you eat your lunch?” I ask him.

He nods, not taking his eyes off her.

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