Page 71 of Watercolor Skulls

“Ah, Lily. Why didn’t you wake me?” He runs his hand over the back of my neck, kneading away the tension.

I moan and relax my shoulders. “I need to learn to face my fears and I did.”

“I’m happy you could do that but don’t ever be afraid to ask for my help.”

Smiling, I lean forward, tugging at his beard to pull him nose to nose with me. “You are my sun, and I am yours. When it gets cloudy I will turn to you, I promise.”

He visibly relaxes, giving my neck a gently squeeze. Dan then drags me up to his room, showing me just how sunny living in his presence can be. He makes love to me slow and with so much intensity that he heals a little more of the damage done to my fragile heart.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lily

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JD and I work the morning away. “Okay, she’s ready,” he says, standing back to appraise the job we did.

“It’s so cool.” I run my hand over the seat, the wood smooth beneath my palm.

“Give it a try.”

Gingerly, I sit down on my new porch swing. I bounce a tiny bit, making JD chuckle. “It’s not going to fall.”

I lean back, pressing my back into the Ford tailgate we resurrected. He sits down next to me.

“Fuck, this is awesome.” He gives us a gentle push.

A grin spreads across my face. “We should make more and sell them.”

He grins at me. “You know, we should. I bet we could get at least a solid Benjamin out of one of these.”

I nod, turning my face to the sun, closing my eyes. “Coming here was the best thing to ever happen to me.”

He pats my leg. “I’m going to grab another glass of that lemonade you made.”

“Help yourself.” I keep my eyes closed, reveling in the comforting motion of the swing and the warmth on my face.

The screen door swings closed behind him. It’s then I hear a car approaching. I peek my eyes open, shielding them from the sun to see who it is. A black car comes into focus.

A dark cloud slowly shifts over the sun, stealing the warmth and blocking out all the goodness I felt only moments ago.

Calmly I stand and head into the house. JD is leaning against the counter. “Want a glass?” he asks.

“No. Um, JD, I need you to listen to me closely.”

He straightens, hearing the car himself. His eyes dart from me to the window.

“I don’t have much time. That car is here for me. It’s my dad’s men.” He quickly shoots for his jacket, where I assume he has a weapon. “Stop, you can’t fight them alone. They will have their own weapons.”

I glance out the window, seeing they are almost here. “Listen, tell Dan I will get back. Somehow I will get back. Just please stay inside. Please don’t let them see you.”

“Lily.” He hugs me to his chest. “You’re scaring the fuck out of me right now.”

My fingers lock around his back. I don’t want to let go but I have to. “I’ll be fine. Just please tell him I’ll find my way back.” Before I have time to change my mind I rush out.

“Lily,” I hear him yell before I shut the door firmly behind me.

I jog down the driveway to meet the car. It stops beside me, idling quietly.

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