Page 90 of Sinful Skulls
We both wave to Lily as she helps a customer at the counter. “We’re taking off!” Elizabeth yells from the door before we step out into the warm sun.
“It’s not far from here,” she says, guiding me down the street.
“This is the cutest town. It’s big but not too big. It still has that small town feel.” I stop beside her when she pauses to check one of the pots of flowers in the downtown area.
“I need to get down here and water these tonight,” she determines after sticking her finger in the dirt.
“How do you even do that? There are so many.” I look down the street, admiring all the colorful pots.
“Jacob helps me. He has a water truck. It doesn’t take us very long, and he always takes me out for ice cream when we’re finished.”
“Aw, that is really sweet. What’s in the water around here? If I had known men like these existed, I would have been here sooner.”
The smile that lights her face at my words makes my heart warm. “Me too,” she agrees. A laugh bursts from her lips, and she quickly covers her mouth. “But we’re here now.”
We window shop along the way, making plans to meet up tomorrow to do a little thrifting. “We should invite Lily. She’s a thrifting queen.”
“She seems really nice. Everyone does.”
“Everyone?”
“Well, okay, yeah. You saw that the other night, huh?”
Elizabeth nods.
“I feel bad about it. I’m really not a bitch, I promise.”
She chuckles. “I never once thought you were. The club is the one place you can be yourself. We all have limits with our men, and you stood your ground.”
“I nicked her, but I really didn’t want to hurt her.” I take a deep breath. “It’s messing with my head to be honest.”
She holds the door open to the coffee shop, letting me pass in front of her.
“Oh, gosh, this is cute. I love it.” I glance around, checking out the rustic décor as she leads us to our seats.
As soon as we’re settled, she resumes our conversation. “Biker life is different. Tensions rise, and here, you duke it out. If you wouldn’t have made your place known, that kind of behavior would have continued. It still might. Never be afraid to protect what is yours.”
“I get that things are different here, but I guess I worry I might cross a line.” I stop talking. She’s going to think I’m nuts.
Elizabeth laughs lightly and reaches over to pat my cheek. “The fact you’re worrying about it means you have morals. You have a line, and I think you know that.”
“I guess. You don’t think I went too dark?”
“No, I don’t. If you pay attention to humanity, you will see everyone has a dark side. Some lean into the light, others the dark.” Her head dips to catch my eye. “Just be open and honest. This is a safe place to find the line. The club will help balance the scales.”
“Dirk told me something similar the other day. I opened up to him, and now I’m kind of regretting it. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to face him again.”
She patiently waits for me to elaborate.
“I showed him a private portrait of myself. I don’t know why I let him see it. It was stupid.”
Her brows pull together in concern. “Why were you embarrassed by it?”
“It was dark and sinful,” I admit softly.
She pales.
My head falls. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be telling you all of my troubles.” When she doesn’t say anything, I look up to see her eyes wide and panicked.
