Page 31 of Roses and Skulls

I nod, ignoring everything she just said. I’m rushing around, trying to find something to wear for the day. William sits on the bed, his eyes roaming over my room.

“It looks just like it did when you were a little girl,” he twirls his finger around.

I roll my eyes, grabbing my phone off the dresser.You think they would let me update my room? They still treat me like I’m five.

He nods, he knows how they are. I don’t have to explain anything to William. He’s the best. I motion that I’m going to change in the bathroom quick. When I come back out, he’s right where I left him.

I plop down beside him.I’m so glad you’re here. How long are you staying?

His brown eyes roam over my face. “I don’t know. Maybe a week.”

My bottom lip pushes out.Only a week?

William chuckles. “Penny stayed back in San Diego. I can’t leave her there to run the business alone for long. She’ll kick my butt.”

I doubt that. She doesn’t even kill spiders that are in her house. I don’t think she’s capable of kicking your butt.I smile at him, leaning over to rest my head on his shoulder.

He pats my cheek, kissing the top of my head. “How’ve you been, kid?”

I run the pad of my finger over the cool glass on my phone before answering.I’m here.

He shifts on the bed, forcing me to look at him. “That’s good. Sometimes, all we can do is just be. Is that where you’re at?”

Nodding, I stand up and walk over to the window.

“Have you been talking to someone?” he continues, and I realize my mom has brought him here for me. She knows how much I love William. He is kindness incarnate. But I can’t even share my problems with him. He wouldn’t understand. No one will.

We should probably get downstairs. Mom will have my hide if I’m not on time.

He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. “They’re worried about you.”

We stare at each other in the reflection of the window. He continues, “Maybe you should talk to someone outside of the family.”

I look down at my phone.Like a shrink?I wrinkle up my nose at the idea. Anger is slowly seeping into my muscles. She brought him here because she knows how much I respect him. How dare her?

“Billie Rose, take a deep breath, I’m not here to pressure you. It was just a thought.”

Pulling myself out of his arms, I sit down angrily on my bed and grab my boots. I’m so sick of everyone trying to “help” me. Can’t they stop already.

He crouches down in front of me. “So tough,” he says quietly.

I hold up a finger, stopping him.Don’t even compare me to her. I’m so sick of everyone doing that. I’m nothing like her.I stand up and storm out of the room. When I get downstairs, I plop down in a seat next to Jackson and busy myself in my phone, ignoring the lot of them.

Jackson bumps my shoulder with his. “I thought you would be happy today.”

My eye roll and eyebrow cocking must be on point today because he throws his hands up in surrender and leaves his seat for one on the far side of the room. My gaze roams over the space, taking in all the bikers in their cuts. It must be a formal club party or some shit. My eyes stop on my dad’s, and we begin a stare off.

I win. He looks away as my mom rushes to his side in excitement, clapping her hands. “He’s here! We can start the party now.” She barrels past me when the door opens behind me. My dad looks irritated as fuck. Strange, because he’s rarely annoyed by her.

Carson and Cole take the seats on either side of me. “This should put a smile on your face,” Cole says, flicking me in the chest. I grab his hand and squeeze it, making him wince.

“Jesus, Rosie. I thought you would be happy that your crush is here.”

What the fuck? Carson laughs when he realizes I have no idea what they’re talking about. “Oh fuck, this is going to be good. And we’ve got the best seats in the house.”

“Billie Rose, come here,” my mom says behind me.

I give the twins a dirty look as I stand up and spin around to face my mom… and the stranger who made me come on his sucker last night. He smiles at me like the cat that ate the whole fucking canary.

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