Page 17 of Roses and Skulls

I shake my head that I will, hoping that she starts the car already. I need to get out of this little slug bug. It’s cute and everything but I need some breathing room. When she pulls up in front of Lanie’s, I look her in the eye and hit the button on my phone.Thank you for sharing with me that you are sad too.

Her big doe eyes tear up. “I love you, Billie Rose. I’ll always be here for you.”

Nodding, I reach for the door and hurry out and then inside the building. I burst into Lanie’s.I need to use your bathroom,I type the minute I’m inside.

“Rosie, wait,” she hollers, dropping the bowl she was holding into the sink.

But I ignore her and head down the hall to the bathroom. Just a tiny cut and then I’ll be able to get through dinner with her and her boyfriend.

When I swing the door open to the bathroom, my eyes lock on Draven’s. He’s standing in front of the mirror, trimming his beard, in nothing but a towel.

What in the fuck?

A slow smile spreads across his face.

“Jesus, Billie Rose, you could have walked in on him bare ass naked,” Lanie says from behind me.

I spin around, backing up. Wait a fucking minute. The cogs of my brain are moving at a snail’s pace, but they are turning. Oh, no fucking way. No fucking way!

I’m… I’m sorry,my fingers fly across the screen of my phone.

Just as I’m about to make a beeline for the door, Draven reaches out and takes my hand, shaking it in his. “It’s okay, hun. It’s nice to finally meet you. Lanie’s told me so much about you.”

I blink at him in stunned silence.

“I’ll be finished in just a second.” He gives my hand a tight squeeze and then closes the door, leaving Lanie and I out in the hall.

She drags me back to the kitchen. “What’s wrong? Do you not feel well?” Lanie pushes me down in a chair and pours me a glass of iced tea.

Can she see that my heart is about to beat out of my chest? Draven is her boyfriend. Lanie’s boyfriend killed grandpa.

“Maybe I should call Daddy D and have him come pick you up. You look like you just saw a ghost.” She presses the back of her hand over my forehead.

No, I’m fine. Really. I just had to pee really bad but I’m good now.

Her eyebrows crease together in concern. “Okay, I know there is something wrong now because you didn’t yell at me for calling Dirk daddy.”

That’s the least of my problems right now, her boyfriend is the only one I’m concerned about. And I wish I had just seen a ghost and not a live man with a beating heart. Soon, though. My gaze travels from the hallway to Lanie. How can I do that to her?

“That’s it, I’m texting him.”

My hand darts out, stopping her. I shake my head no.I just need to eat. The shop was crazy today and I didn’t get lunch.

She smiles big, clapping her hands. Lanie grabs a tray of dinner rolls and sets it down in front of me. “Here, try one of these. It’s a new recipe.”

I accept one, taking a big bite out of it, making her laugh. I nod in approval. They are good, they melt in your mouth. Lanie is an awesome cook. Living mostly on her own, she had to learn, or she would have starved.

Draven walks out in dark jeans and a black t-shirt, looking so good it makes me want to vomit. How in the hell did he become Lanie’s boyfriend? How? I can’t believe she’s kept him a secret from me this whole time.

I guess I’ve kept him a secret too.

“Smells good, Lanie,” he tells her, going over and snagging a piece of roast beef off the plate she is arranging her masterpiece on.

The smile that erupts on her face makes my heart sink to my feet. She’s beaming at him like he is the best thing since sliced bread. He turns and winks at me. She has no idea how evil this man is. Should I warn her?

I watch as she bustles around the kitchen, clearly wanting to impress him with her skills. And she does have them, but he doesn’t deserve any of it. He doesn’t deserve to have her, period.

My blood is boiling. This motherfucker knew Lanie was my friend all along.

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