Page 58 of Sugar and Skulls

Shyly she looks up at me then glances at my dad before turning her eyes back to me.

“It’s okay. You can tell me anything remember?”

“I don’t want to go back.”

Pulling her onto my lap, I hug her tight. “I’m going to do my best to keep you safe, Katie. I’ll figure something out.”

Ally, the little girl that Katie sat with at supper comes running down the hall. Her mom following close on her heals. I notice the mom bumps my dad with her hip as she passes him.

“Do you want to sleep in a tent with me?” Ally says, grabbing Katie’s hands and swinging them in the air.

Katie jumps off my lap and turns to face me. “Can I?” she begs. She looks so adorable batting her eyelashes at me.

Ally’s mom introduces herself to me. “Hey, I’m Candice.” She holds her hand out and I take it.

“I’m Jesse,” I reply.

“Everyone around here knows who you are. Bill has talked nonstop about you,” she offers me a kind smile. She glances at him. “Is it okay if Katie joins us. A few of us are camping here this weekend. We have the tents set up by the lake. I’ll sleep in the tent with Katie and Ally.”

Katie looks at me with pleading eyes.

“Yeah, that’s cool,” I say. Candice pats my leg and walks over to chat with my dad. Katie and Ally squeal and jump up and down, hugging each other.

I’m so happy that Katie found a friend. My eyes roam over to Candice, her and my dad are blatantly flirting with each other. Candice gives him a playful punch in the arm before calling for the girls.

Katie gives me a big hug and then runs over to give my dad one.

After they walk away my dad perches beside me on the couch. “Did you get all caught up on your homework?” he asks.

At first I’m not sure what he’s talking about and then I remember my lie and…I’m about to lie to him again. “Yeah, all finished.” I snap my fingers and rise from the couch. “Shoot, I left my bookbag in the rod. I’m going to go grab it. I’ll be right back.”

“Maybe we can watch a movie together or just talk tonight?” he asks, his eyes full of hope.

My mind is racing, there is so much I need to do. I rub at my face. Did I get all the makeup off? My heart grips in terror as I think about the picture Dirk has in his possession. What if he shows my dad? What if he shows Dan? I spin around looking for them. They were all here a minute ago.

“Jesse? Are you okay?” my dad places the back of his hand against my forehead.

I can’t breathe.

I nod and turn away from him. “I’ll be right back.”

As I’m stumbling for the door, my dad’s eyes glued to my back I hear the guys come into the room. “Where’s Jess going,” Dan asks.

Not waiting for his reply, I rush out into the cool night air. Quickly I make my way to Sylvia so she can take me away. Somewhere I can breathe. Oh god, I’m not going to make it. My hand grips at my chest. I finally make it to my rod. With shaky hands I try to open the door but, I’m too far gone. I slide to the ground, pulling up my knees, gasping for air.

Dirk crouches down in front of me resting his inked hands on my knees. I try to stand but Raffe kneels at my side and pushes my head down gently between my knees. “Breathe, Jesse.”

Slowly the tightness in my chest eases and air fills my lungs.

“That’s it, nice and slow,” Raffe says running his hand slowly up and down my back.

Dirk sits back on his heels, lighting up a cigarette. His eyes swirl with mixed emotions. His attention is pulled towards the warehouse, he stands quickly. My dad and Dan rush towards us. Dirk tries to push them back, but my dad is having none of it.

He lowers himself to the ground in front of me, studying my face, concern all over his. I can’t speak. I can’t move. I can’t anything. He doesn’t ask me to. He pulls me towards him and then lifts me in his arms. Once we are inside he gently lays me on my bed. I roll away from him.

The door clicks shut before I feel the bed shift as he sits down beside me. “Is this about Katie?”

I don’t say anything.

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