Page 45 of Watercolor Skulls

I nod numbly as I ponder his words. Do I know what’s happening? No. No, I don’t. All I know is that it’s easy to talk to Dan. It’s as if I’ve known him my whole life. I also know I hate the thought of being away from him. It’s frightening. It can’t be real. I pinch myself just to make sure this isn’t a dream. Men don’t say things like Dan just said to me.

Dan chuckles as he shuts the light off and locks the door.

When he throws his leg over his bike I finally regain my voice. “So, you feel it too?” I ask. Whatever this is I need to know it’s not just one sided.

“I think you know the answer to that question too. But, if you need to hear it then yes, I feel it.”

“I’m a little scared,” I say, giggling nervously.

He pushes a helmet into my chest. “You should be.” He grins at me wickedly.

I shove the helmet over my head and climb on behind him. My heart beats happily even though I know I don’t deserve any of this.

The bar is hopping tonight, the entire parking lot is full. Dan shuts the engine off and helps me off his bike. We stand silently, staring at each other, our arms wrapped around each other. The beat of the jukebox filters outside every time someone opens the door.

“I feel like a fucking teenager again,” he mumbles. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”

A smile breaks out across my face. “Are we still going on that date you were talking about?”

“Of course. I’ll pick you up at nine. Pack an overnight bag.”

Raising my eyebrows, I tease him, “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not the kind of girl that sleeps with a guy on the second date.”

He throws his head back and laughs heartily. I place it all to memory. Every laugh line, the tooth that is slightly crooked, the way his beard is greying in the middle, the hair that brushes across his brow in such a sexy way, the….

Dan interrupts my thoughts. “Tomorrow, nine, pack that bag and dress comfortably. We’ll be on the bike for a few hours.”

I suck my bottom lip between my teeth and nod shyly. “I can’t wait.”

He shakes me in his arms. “Damn, why is this so hard?” He leans down and kisses me. The old saying,he made my knees weak, yeah I thought that was a myth too. Turns out it is possible. Holy moly.

When he pulls away he opens my door. “Go on. Get out of here before I keep you up all night again.”

I get in the driver’s seat and smile up at him. “I didn’t mind.”

He bites his knuckles before shutting my door. He kisses the tips of his fingers and presses them to my window before waving me away.

What an amazing day. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Jenny had been here.

Chapter Eighteen

Jenny ~ Nine Years Earlier

???

Sometimes in life we live for other people. That’s what I did. I lived solely to keep my friend safe. Day in and day out I lived. But, on the inside I was dead. My body went through motions while my mind lingered in the past. Back to when I was safe and sound. Back to when the world still looked innocent in my eyes.

I walked around freely, nobody realizing who I was. It was almost as if I was invisible. Sometimes I wondered if I were already dead. How could person after person walk by me on the street and not see me. I guess it was for the best because if they had, my friend would be dead.

But, then the Senator moved me into his home, and my faux freedom vanished.

For six days he didn’t leave my side. When he finally did he said he would be back in a few days. My faux freedom was temporarily returned to me, as long as I abide by his rules.

I walked out the front door as soon as his car pulled out of the driveway and I kept walking until I found myself here, looking out across the bay. It’s so beautiful. So different from Los Angeles.

My fingers wrap around my necklace, fond memories rising to the surface of my mind. I quickly climb over the railing as a faint mist rolls in across the water. I can end the pain. Soon it will all be over.

“I like your necklace,” a quiet voice says above me.

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