Page 74 of Sugar and Skulls

“You think it’s a good idea to tell him over the phone?” I ask, grabbing my jacket from the couch.

“No.”

How am I going to tell Bill what happened to his baby girl? I really hope that Dan is still around. It might take the both of us to keep him from going on a rampage and knocking off every single one of them all on his own. He’s mean enough to do it but going in without a plan would be sloppy and we cannot risk him getting locked up again. Jesse needs him.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Raffe

???

Igive her a few hours by herself before packing a simple lunch for us to enjoy outdoors. She didn’t eat much this morning. I head out with the basket swinging in my hand. A tiny fox catches my eye. Wait, that isn’t a fox. I crouch down in front of the bottom of the tree where the bark has broken off. It’s painted to look as if it’s hollowed out with a small brown fox peeking out. Did Jesse do this?

Continuing down the path I find more sweet creations. A woodpecker adorns another large tree stripped of bark from a lightning storm. On a large rock in the middle of the path I find rainbow colored ants forming a trail behind each other. A plant with large green leaves is covered in tiny painted butterflies.

A hissing noise catches my attention further up the path. I pick up my pace, coming to an abrupt halt when I see Jesse crouched over two large rocks. On the side of one she has painted a small deer. On the rock that lies flat she is painting a pool of blue water, the deer’s reflection rippling through the paint.

Jesse is a badass no doubt. She has Skull blood pumping through her veins but deep down a curious little girl still exists. She scratches her nose leaving a streak of blue behind. As she leans forward to grab another can of paint when she notices me watching her. “Hey.” She starts to pack up her paints.

“Don’t stop on my account,” I tell her, looking for a place to park my ass.

“You sure? I lost track of time.”

I find a clear spot and pull out the blanket I had tucked in the picnic basket. She watches as I lay it out. “Positive,” I assure her. “When you finish we’ll eat lunch.” I pat the picnic basket beside me. The smile that breaks out across her face makes me happy I thought of it.

“I am getting hungry,” she says, shyly tucking her hair behind her ear before getting back to her painting.

“Your art sure does brighten up the path. It’s whimsical. I like it.”

She talks while continuing to paint. “I see things where nothing exists.” She shrugs like it’s nothing.

“So, is it the same when you tattoo?”

Jesse blushes and nods. How curious? I decide to press the issue.

“Do you see something when you look here?” I pull up my shirt, barring the left side of my torso.

She wipes at her forehead with the back of her hand, staring at my bare skin. Her eyes slowly roam up and latch onto mine. She nods again, her green eyes piercing a hole in my heart. “I’ve had a plan for that spot for quite some time,” she admits. Her tongue skates along her bottom lip. Quickly she diverts her eyes back to her painting.

“Is it something cute and whimsical or is it dark like the skull and rose you are doing on my leg?”

Her face flushes again, her head dipping to face away from me. “It’s…it’s not cute, or whimsical, it’s…” Jesse stops and begins to toss her paints into her bag, evidently finished with her painting.

“It’s what?”

“It’s nothing.” She shoves me in the arm as she sits down beside me on the blanket. Her face heating to an alarming level. “I’m hungry,” she states, flopping her hands in her lap.

“Okay. Don’t tell me. Maybe I’ll have Dan fill that space in,” I tease, opening the basket and pulling out two sandwiches.

She narrows her eyes at me in warning.

“No?” I laugh

“You’re mine now,” she tells me.

I toss her a bottle of water. “I like the sound of that.”

Jesse hides behind her hair. “I heard Dirk leave. Is he going down to tell my dad?”

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