Page 28 of His Flawed Ride

“Willow’s Peak.”

“What’s it like there?”

I don’t particularly want to talk but I tell her, “It’s home, same as any other place.”

“Have you got anyone waiting for you?”

A question I hear more often than not. Lily comes to mind but that is nothing serious. “Nah. I take it you’re free and single.”

“You wouldn’t be in my bed if I weren’t.”

“Fair enough.”

Sliding my hand into her hair, I pull her closer to my lips. Kissing her will stop the talking. I’m not interested in learning about each other. I need her so I can forget the whole damn world for a night.

Chapter Nine

Lily

Harper reached out this morning and asked if I wanted to have dinner with her and Gunner after I finished my shift at the shop. JJ is out of town, and I’ve spent the day looking forward to a snide remark free few hours with my daughter and grandson. As soon as Kristen closed up the shop, I was out of there, not wanting to waste a second with my daughter and grandson.

“Grandma Lily, look…”

Grinning, I follow his finger and see the drawing he’s made for me. He wanted me to sit next to him at the dinner table and I took great delight in not having JJ around to stir shit up.

“That’s amazing, Gunner. You’re a little artist!” I exclaim.

“Look, look…” He shows me another drawing tacked on the back door.

“We’re going to have to buy more supplies.”

Harper laughs. “Jay always says he pays more out in stuff for him than actual bills.”

“I can imagine.”

I wring my fingers together and take in once again the cosiness of her home. Pride swells in my chest. She has everything I wanted for her. I couldn’t have messed her up that bad if she still knew how to achieve it.

“What are your plans this evening?” she asks, as I pass Gunner the red crayon.

“A hot bath and an early night. Kris is waiting for me to mess up so I make sure I get there earlier than needed.”

“Has she said as much?”

“No, but I know what everyone’s thinking.”

“And what would that be?”

“That this is a phase I’m going through, that it’s only a matter of time before I’m late and calling in sick before quitting.”

“There’s a level of satisfaction when proving people wrong, you might like it.”

Someone knocks at the front door, and it opens without Harper answering.

“Only me,” Alannah chirps like a sickly-sweet bird. Her smile falters when she sees me but like the great masker she is, her façade is back in place.

“I didn’t realise you had company, I’ll come back.”

Deciding to be the bigger person, I say, “Don’t be silly. You’re here now.”