Page 48 of Broken Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #7)
Chapter Forty-Seven
Elizabeth
K at stares at her husband’s ass as he hangs the special stained-glass window above the door of the greenhouse. It’s the last piece of the puzzle.
“It’s beautiful!” Charlotte exclaims, clapping her hands.
“It sure is,” Kat agrees.
Jesse smacks her in the arm. “Gross. Just stop.”
“Ph-lease. I’ve watched you drool over your man for how many years?”
“Not the same.” Jesse looks over at her husband, and he winks at her.
Kat rolls her eyes. “No, it’s not the same. You two are fucking worse.” She makes a gagging sound.
The sun hits the little blue and green dragonfly as soon as Petey starts down the ladder.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper, admiring the white and yellow daises the insect is flying over. I hope Jacob appreciates that little touch as much as I do.
Everyone looks up and cheers start to ring out. The project is complete.
“I’ll never be able to thank you guys.”
“You can thank us by getting your old man to come out of that room of his,” Jackson says.
The club all nods in agreement. “We have faith in you!” someone yells.
I place my hand over my heart. “This is going to mean the world to him.”
Dirk and Jesse linger as everyone heads out of the driveway.
Brody points to the house. “I’m going to go in and shower,” he tells me.
I nod and then walk over to the couple waiting patiently for me on their bike. Jesse is draped over Dirk’s shoulder.
“Thanks again. For everything,” I say quietly.
Dirk reaches out and drops a necklace over my head. My fingers wrap around the key now resting on my chest.
“Unless you’re scared of him,” he says, tipping his head to the side.
It makes me laugh lightly. “I’ve never been afraid of him.”
“He’s going to fight you on this,” Dirk continues.
“I’m almost looking forward to it,” I giggle.
Dirk rolls his eyes when Jesse laughs too. “Alright, you two. You’ll let us know when you drag him back into the real world?”
“I’ll let you know.” I nod, backing away from them as he starts his bike.
When I get inside, I plate some of the food Jesse brought over again today. Jacob’s quiet as I place his last meal of the day in the box.
“Why are you doing this to me?” he asks, and I hear the defeat in his tone.
I sit down beside the wall. “Doing what?”
“The music. The food. You’re torturing me.”
I’m quiet for a few moments. It wasn’t that long ago I felt the same way. That I was undeserving of those same things. Seeing it from the other side slaps me right in the face.
“I’m not torturing you. I’m loving you. I’m sorry if that hurts right now, but I’m not going to stop.”
He groans.
“Sweet dreams, Jacob. I love you.”
When I get upstairs, Brody is sitting on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn. He looks up from the television. “Shit, what’s wrong, hun?” He pats the spot beside him.
“I just wish he would quit beating himself up. It was an accident.”
He turns down the show he was watching to give me his full attention. “Guilt isn’t a rational thing, you know?”
“You’re right,” I agree quietly. “Thank you again for staying. At least tonight you’ll be able to sleep in a bed.”
He sits back, resting his arm across the back of the couch. “Do you think JD will like that you turned it into a guest room?”
“I think he will eventually.”
Brody grabs the bowl and offers me some of his popcorn.
I cover my mouth after taking a bite. “Oh my god. How much butter did you put on that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. A stick or so.”
We both laugh. “It’s good.” I take another handful. “You know, Jacob was thinking of turning it into a guest room anyway.”
“He was?”
“Yeah. He told Lexie eventually he would get it set up for when she stays with us.”
Brody looks away.
“Is she okay?”
He nods, still avoiding my gaze. “She’s good.”
“I’d hoped she would’ve stopped over by now.”
“Okay, she’s not good. We didn’t want to worry you, but Jackson caught her at another party.” Brody lays his head back and stares up at the ceiling. “It wasn’t good.”
A frown pulls the corners of my mouth down. “Do you think I could help?”
“Honestly, I think the only thing that’s going to help is Ash.”
“How much longer will he be in treatment?”
He sighs. “Five more weeks.”
“Seriously, let me know if I can help. She’s a sweet girl.”
His brows furrow. “You think so?”
“I do.”
He grunts. “You know, I don’t understand women. Never have, probably never will.”
“You don’t have a girlfriend?” I ask, surprised, because Brody seems like a super sweet guy.
I watch as he tosses a couple of pieces of popcorn in the air, catching them with his mouth. “I wish.”
“Sounds like maybe you have someone in mind for the position.”
He flashes me with a brilliant smile, but then it slowly falls from his face. “You’re right, I do. Or I should say, did have someone in mind. It was the right girl, just the wrong time.”
“Aw, I’m sorry.”
Brody shrugs. “Her family probably wouldn’t have accepted me anyway.”
“Well, if you were interested in my daughter, I would consider it a blessing. You’re a good man, Brody.”
I hold up my hand when he starts to argue. “You. This club. Anyone who gets to be a part of that should consider themselves lucky.”
He laughs. “You’re right. I am pretty awesome.”
I believe him, but I can tell he doesn’t have as much confidence in his own words.
“You are,” I assure him, trying to stifle a yawn.
“Go on, get yourself to bed. You’ve been working your ass off,” he tells me.
I lean over and take the remote from him and turn the volume on his show back up. “You’re probably right. I should get to bed. I have a big day tomorrow.”
His eyes roam over the key, hanging from my neck. “You’re letting him out, aren’t you?”
I nod once. “He’s been down there too long. I can’t let it continue,” I tell him.
“I’ll give you your space, but I won’t go far.” He looks over his shoulder as if he’s afraid Jacob might hear us. He feels like he’s going behind his friends back by watching mine.
“You’re not betraying him. The Jacob I’ve come to know would expect nothing less of you.”
I wander around the house, double checking all the locks. I’m not sure why. I know everything is locked up. I guess I’m doing it for him. My hand lingers on the doorknob in the kitchen. My heart hurts, wondering if this has been Jacob’s routine since he was a boy.
Slowly, I walk down the stairs.
“Jacob, are you awake?” I ask quietly.
I’m about to head back upstairs when he finally answers.
“Yeah. I’m up.”
“I just wanted to let you know that everything is locked up for the night. I double checked.”
He’s silent for a moment. When he finally speaks, his voice breaks. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”