Page 7 of Roses and Skulls

Grandma sold the bar,I type, walking over and smacking her hand away from the jewelry.You’re broke remember?

“But Jackson made these.”

I roll my eyes.Yuck, quit talking about him like that.

“Okay,” she says, taking a few steps away from me. “I’ll just have to talk about Daddy D then.”

That’s it. I chase her around the displays and when I catch her, I knock her to the ground and sit on her, leaning over her face and drawing a loogy up my throat.

“Stop! Fine, I won’t talk about your men anymore. You win.”

I release my hold on her and roll off so that we are both lying on the floor, looking up at the lights above us.

She rolls her head to the side. “I do have something I need to tell you.”

My eyes stay focused on the ceiling. I roll my hands, telling her to continue.

“I’ve met someone.”

I slide my phone out of my back pocket.What? Oh my god. Who? Tell me everything.

She glances back to the ceiling. “I’ve been talking to him for a few years now. He’s from Trap, he moved in with me over the weekend.”

Lanie! A few years? Why haven’t you told me before now?I reach over and grab her hand, squeezing it in mine.

“I… I don’t know. You’ve been busy with… well, you know.”

Turning to my side, I stare at her.I’m never too busy for you, you can tell me anything, Lanie.

When she faces me, a tear rolls down her cheek. “I know.”

So, is him moving in with you a good thing or a bad thing?I ask, unsure of how she feels about all this.

“I guess we’ll see how it goes.”

I love you,I tell her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.I’ll be here for you, no matter what.

Lanie laughs, wiping away her tears. “It’s weird not hearing the Australian. I bet Daddy…” she stops herself when I cock an eyebrow her way. “I bet Dirk is happy you changed it.”

Oh, I didn’t change it for him. It will go back as soon as I’m done here.

This makes her laugh harder. Once she controls herself, she turns to me. “Seriously though, I’m so glad I have you. He wants to meet you,” she says, hopping up and offering her hand to help me from the floor.

Did you tell him about my problem?I point to my throat. She knows I’m nervous about meeting new people since I don’t talk.

“Uh duh, you’re all I talk about. You are my constant, the one who keeps me grounded.”

Which is just about an impossible task,I tease.

“Why don’t you come over for supper tomorrow and you can meet him?”

“Okay, I’ll ask my parents.”

She throws her head back, sighing. “Billie Rose, you’re nineteen. I moved out of my parent’s house right after we graduated. You shouldn’t have to ask to go to your best friend’s house for dinner. In fact, you should be moving in with me.”

I grab her shoulders and push her towards the door. When we get to the threshold, I type out a message.You know how they are and besides, you just got a new roommate.I wiggle my eyebrows up and down.

Her eyes bounce over mine. “Yeah, but he wouldn’t mind if you moved in too. Think about it.”

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