Page 8 of Broken Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #7)

Chapter Seven

JD

L ily digs through the pile of gears I’ve set out for her. She stops to wipe her brow. “Everything okay?” she asks.

“Yep.” I take the box she’s filled and set it in the back of the truck.

“You haven’t been in to the shop much,” she continues.

I glance around the yard. “There’s a lot to do around here.”

Her gaze follows mine. “Yeah, I guess. Do you need help? ‘Cause you know I can have Kelsie watch the store so I can spend some time out here. Or maybe Jackson could …”

I cut her off. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

She picks up the last gear, looking it over. She’s making a bunch of our popular gear lamps for the charity run that’s coming up soon. “I guess I’ve just missed you. Now that things have settled down a bit, I thought we’d get to hang out more.”

“We’re hanging out now, aren’t we?”

She gives me a shy smile. “You’re right.”

“I’m going to go in and grab a beer. You want something?”

“Do you have lemonade?”

“Always. Just for you.”

This makes her smile. There. Much better. Lily is one of my favorite people, and I hate it when there’s no smile on her face. She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. I don’t know that I’d still be here if it wasn’t for her. She was the first person since my mother who seemed to understand me.

After grabbing our drinks, I take a quick peek downstairs. Lizzie’s been quiet today, which is good, I guess. Lily will more than likely come in to wash her hands before she leaves.

When I get outside, she’s sitting on the back of the truck, waiting for me. “Thanks.” She takes the glass of lemonade from my hand.

I jump up and sit beside her.

Besides digging through junk and creating, this is how we like to spend our time together. We can sit for hours and not say a word to each other. She’s a safe person to share space with.

“Jesse said you were making jokes the other night.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I shrug, bringing my bottle to my lips.

We sit for several long minutes, and I sense her wheels still turning. “She said it wasn’t like you.”

“To make jokes?”

Her brows pull together, wrinkling her forehead. “You all make jokes. I guess it was just what you were joking about that confused her. Are you lonely? Because there’s this new woman in town …”

I shake my head. “I’m not lonely, Lil. Stop.”

“I just want to see you happy.”

Tapping the cap on the tailgate, I look for something to aim for. When I find an empty whiskey bottle sitting across from me on the hood of an old El Camino, I place the cap between my thumb and middle finger, snapping it. It flies from my hand, hitting my target with a loud shatter.

Lily jumps.

“I am happy.” I stretch my arms wide. “This is the life of my dreams.”

“Well, I already invited her to the fundraiser at the warehouse.”

Her big brown eyes bounce over my face as I stare at her.

“You know you’re one of the handsomest men I’ve ever met,” she says.

“Better not let the big guy hear you say that.”

She huffs. “I said one of. The big guy will always be number one. Sorry, but you’ll never beat him in my eyes. But you can be number two.”

I laugh. “I’m different, Lily. It’s okay. Stop worrying about me.”

“You’re right. You are different. In the best of ways.”

I shake my head. “Okay, little Miss Positive. I’m sure the single guys of the club will appreciate a new female at the warehouse, but I’m not interested.”

She lifts her face to the sun after taking a long drink of her lemonade. She’s ignoring my comment which doesn’t bode well for me. I make a mental note to avoid Lily during the fundraiser. I might not even go this year.

When she finishes her drink, she hops off the tailgate. “I’m going to go wash my hands.”

Slowly I stand, closing the tailgate. I lean against it, finishing my beer. A few minutes later, she’s skipping back down the steps.

“Did Charlotte paint the picture on the fridge?” she asks as she reaches me.

Be still.

Be quiet.

“It’s so cute. She’s such a smart little girl,” she answers her own question. She checks the back of the truck, making sure everything is secure for her drive back to town.

“Charlotte is smart as a whip,” I agree.

“It kinda reminds me of my tattoo.”

“Never seen it.”

She smacks me in the arm as she rounds the truck to get in. “You have too.”

“Anyone who admits that out loud is asking for an ass kicking.”

This makes her laugh. “You’re probably right there, but I do wear shorts from time to time. I’m sure everyone’s seen it.”

“Not me. I keep my eyes right here.” I pretend to poke her eyes.

The woman doesn’t even blink. She just pulls me to her, hugging me. “I love you, friend.”

I untangle myself from her. “Okay. Okay. Get out of here.”

Her smile brings one to my face as she waves, pulling away. Lily is contagious. You can’t help but catch a smile after being around her.

Quietly, I make my way down the stairs. Lizzie has been extremely silent today.

I knock on the wood. “You okay in there?”

“If I say no, will you let me out?”

“Do you want out?”

I glance at the door, waiting for her response. She remains quiet for a long moment.

“I don’t know.”