Page 101 of Broken Skulls

I finish up and head inside.

She’s already started supper and is dancing to my mom’s favorite album. I lean against the doorframe and watch her for a few minutes before making myself known.

Quietly, I make my way toward her and slide my arms around her waist. She doesn’t even flinch. Her only reaction is to sigh softly and relax against me.

“Mmm. Something smells good.”

I spin her away from me and then back, dipping her in front of the stove.

“I’ve always dreamed of having someone to dance with in the kitchen,” I tell her.

A smile brightens her face before she speaks. “I’m not very good at it.” She laughs lightly.

My lips meet hers before I pull her back up. “Me either, but that just means we’ll have to practice.” I wink at her. “I’m going to go shower quick.”

I’m washing my hair when I hear the click of the bathroom door.

A few seconds later, her arms wrap around me. “Do you need help?” she asks innocently.

I chuckle low. “Who’s watching supper?”

“It’s in the oven.” She begins to pepper kisses down my spine. “We have thirty minutes.”

She bats my hands away when I try to touch her. “Let me do this for you.”

My hands fall to my sides, and she begins to clean me. From my head to toe. It feels amazing. She pauses to massage a knot that she’s found on my back.

“That feels so good, baby.”

It’s been amazing to watch light come back to her once dull lifeless eyes. Her skin has even gotten some color over the last few weeks from being outside with me.

“I was thinking,” she says. Her fingertips dance over my chest as she stares up at me. “Maybe we could plant some flowers outside. It would be good for the bees.”

“I love it when you use that word.” I push her wet hair from her face.

“What word?”

“We.”

She drops her forehead to my chest, and I run my fingers through her hair.

“I love it too,” she whispers quietly.

Chapter Forty

Elizabeth

My hands thread into Jacob’s t-shirt, and I lean with him as we round the corner. I think this has become my favorite thing. Every night after supper we go for a ride. There’s the cutest little ice cream shop on the edge of town that we frequent, but tonight we’re going over to Dan and Lily’s.

I’m a bit nervous. We’ve kept to ourselves for the past few weeks. Logically I know everyone is giving us space, but my non-logical brain tells me it’s because they don’t like me.

Jacob doesn’t seem to mind the quiet way in which we’ve been living. It’s like he hasn’t even noticed that his friends have stopped coming by.

There are a few trucks and bikes in the driveway when we pull in. It’s the cutest house with a big front porch. I glance around the yard as Jacob unbuckles my helmet for me. He never lets me touch it. When I asked why, he told me that if I’m going to be on the back of his bike, it’s his responsibility to ensure my safety.

I smile when I see a huge patch of sunflowers growing along the tree line. “Does Lily like flowers?” I ask him.

“Lily likes everything. You could show her a plain old rock and she would love it.” He laughs, taking my hand.

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