Page 54 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

“Greece.”

“Done. We’ll go someday.” He says it like it’s that simple, pick a place and go.

“Right. Best childhood memory?”

“Oh, deep question. Easy though. Christmas morning when I was six. Claire was two and really into presents and Santa, she was tearing presents open even if they weren’t hers.” He smiles at the memory. “Mom and dad were still happy together. I got a new bike. Life was simple and good.”

“That sounds nice.”

“It was. Yours?”

“Dad took me to one of those father daughter dances when I was in third grade. It was on a dinner cruise out on the lake. I had this pretty white dress and dad bought me a bow for my hair. Z’s mom curled my hair and let me wear some of her lip gloss. I felt beautiful and special. I always knew I was loved but feeling girly and pretty was different.”

“You are beautiful, I’m sure you were then. You definitely are now. You’ll be one of the hot old ladies in the nursing home, too.”

I huff a laugh. “Okay, time for me to go. Where did you throw my shorts?” I sit up and look around, the sincerity of his compliments sitting warm and heavy in my chest. I can feel my shield starting to crack and the urge to run and protect myself swells.

He reaches down and hands the shorts to me, watching me dress warily. Part of me wants him to fight me while I run away, to challenge me to stay and see what could be. The other part of me, the sane part, dives down deep into self preservation and I slip out of his bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me.

16

Lilith

“Alright. Tell me what’s going on with you,” Ivy says as she sits down beside me for lunch.

“What do you mean?” I make a show of reading through the menu even though I almost always order the same thing.

“Put the menu down. We both know you’re going to order a cobb salad with chicken and a side of waffle fries.” She snatches the menu out of my hand. “Why have you been so out of it today?”

“I seriously don’t know what you mean.” I shoot her a smile that I hope placates her.

“Did something happen with Connor?”

I side eye her. “If it did, I wouldn’t talk about it here.”

“I knew it!” Her eyes light up.

“Knew what?” Levi asks as he and Griffin sit down with us.

“Nothing. Ivy knows nothing. She’s basically John Snow,” I reply.

“We’ll talk tonight. Still on for Riverdale right?”

“Yes, come for dinner. I’ll have Delores make us both something.”

“Us, too,” Levi pipes in. “Griff and I love Riverdale.”

“No way!” Ivy squeaks. “You are not intruding on our girls night again.”

“Sorry. We told Connor we’d keep an eye on Lilith,” Griffin shrugs.

“I’m perfectly fine on my own at home. I don’t need babysitters.”

“You look different, hood rat.” Levi squints his eyes at me. “You’re all glowy. Did you and Connor bang?”

“No! Jesus. Even if we did it would be none of your business.”

“Let Delores know we’re coming so she knows not to use dairy.” Griff changes the subject. When I look over at him gratefully the corner of his lips tilt up and he winks at me.

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