Page 29 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ash

I watch her sleep as I pack my bag. As much fun as I’ve had here with her, it’s time.

I need to get back to my sister. She needs me.

Her mother-in-law is sick, really sick, and Willow is devastated.

Rachel was the one chance she had for her child to have a grandmother.

And Jackson … he’s not only my brother-in-law, he’s also my friend.

They stood strong when I needed them most, and now it’s my turn to be there for them.

Besides, Lexie’s ready. I’m sure there will be bumps in the road, but we have friends and family to help us along the way.

Her lashes flutter as she tries to open her eyes. “Bright, too bright,” she complains, covering her face as she sits up.

I toss a pillow at her. “Enjoy the sun now because there’s rain moving in again.”

“Ugh,” she says, still hiding from me and the day, but eventually her hand falls away.

Her gaze slides over the room, hesitating on my packed bag on the floor by the stairs. “You’re leaving?” She swallows hard.

“You are too. We’re going home. I was going to pack your bag for you, but I didn’t know what you wanted to wear. I’m glad I brought my truck and not the bike, otherwise we’d be getting soaked today.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll go shower.” She stands and grabs her bag, shoving things in it, and then she’s off, jogging down the steps.

She didn’t seem as enthusiastic about going home as I thought she’d be, but she was also in a rush so she must be somewhat excited.

I whip up a quick brunch for Lexie, and then I load up the truck. When I come back inside, the food I left on the table is still untouched. The shower is off, but Lexie is not out of the bathroom. I glance at my watch.

“You okay in there?” I ask, rapping my knuckles lightly against the door.

No answer.

“Lexie?”

“I’ll be out in a minute.” Her voice cracks.

She’s crying.

“I’m coming in,” I warn as I turn the knob.

She uses her body to push against the door, keeping me on the other side. “I’m fine. Just give me a minute.”

I take a deep breath, pulling the door closed again.

Everyone should be allowed to have boundaries.

My brain runs through a quick checklist of items in the bathroom.

She doesn’t have anything in there she can hurt herself with, so I sit at the table, running through a hundred scenarios in my head.

Not that it will do me any good. The only way I’ll know what’s going on in her mind is if she chooses to tell me.

A few seconds later she comes out with her bag slung over her arm. “I’m ready to go.”

“I made you a breakfast sandwich.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I’m not very hungry but thank you.” She moves toward the door.

I wait a few minutes, hoping she’ll change her mind. When she doesn’t, I wrap the sandwich in a napkin and follow her out the door. She gets in the truck while I lock up. Maybe she’s changed her mind about us. For a brief moment, I consider hauling her back inside and demanding answers.

She’s quiet as I slide into the cab, setting the sandwich between us on the seat. When I start the engine, she turns away from me, pretending to look out her window.

I shut the truck off.

Sadness rolls off her back in waves as she fights to keep me from hearing her soft sniffles.

I wait and wait. I’m not leaving this driveway until she tells me what’s going on. I don’t want to start a heated conversation while I’m driving. Her safety is my priority.

“Are we leaving … because … of last … night?” she asks. Her sentence comes out fragmented as she hiccups through her sobs.

“Lexie, look at me.”

She shakes her head, denying me. “I knew I should have waited. You must think …” She pauses, inhaling deeply. She’s desperately trying to compose herself. Another deep breath and she finally turns toward me.

I keep my face relaxed, but inside I’m doubling over from the pain I see etched in the lines around her eyes.

“Last night was something I’ve never experienced.” This time her deep breath is fueled with a newfound courage. “It was as if you conjured an invisible field around us with this magical energy. The rest of the world disappeared, and then I woke up and …”

I stretch my arm across the back of the seat, opening my hand to her. She lays her cheek against my palm and sighs. “I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose the magic,” she whispers.

My thumb brushes over her temple. “I’m glad I make you feel that way, but it wasn’t just me. It was you and I together who created that bubble of safety. Now that we have it, it will stay with us, even when we’re apart. I promise.”

“So, we’re not going home so you can avoid me?” Her brows pull together, and a light clicks on when she realizes how silly that sounds. “Oh.” Tears begin to pool in her eyes again, and her bottom lip quivers.

“It’s okay, Lex. I know it’s going to take a while for you to realize I’m not like the others.

You’ve been programmed to believe you’re not worthy of more.

I’m not interested in having access to your earthly body if I can’t have your eternal soul.

I want you for every mortal minute, and for whatever stretch of time exists after that. ”

“I’m going to need you to pinch me,” she says, giving me the smile I’ve been dying to see all morning.

“How about you pinch me?”

She reaches out and places her hand against my cheek. “Let’s do it together.”

Gently, I pinch her cheek, and she does the same to me.

“See, we’re not sleeping. We’re both wide awake,” I assure her.

It’s short-lived. Her fear slowly creeps back in. She lowers her eyes, and her hand falls away. “I’m scared to go back,” she admits.

“I understand. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious when I left treatment. The key for me was staying in the moment and leaning on the people around me who extended a helping hand.”

“Do you think JD and Elizabeth are okay with me staying there?”

I laugh as I start the truck. “That’s one thing I’m one hundred percent sure of. I just hope they don’t expect you to stay too long.”

“I’m going to start looking for my own place as soon as we get back. I have a plan.”

I stop her there. “You’re staying with them until I get our house built.”

Her head snaps my direction. “Our house?”

The way her nose wrinkles in confusion makes me add another vision to my list of dreams. A little girl with curly hair who holds a miniature expression of her momma’s. “How many rooms do you think we’ll need?”

“Rooms?”

“For our kids.”

Her eyes widen, and her mouth falls open.

Oh, I hope our daughter gets that one too.

“Ash, I’ve just come to the conclusion that you and I might be a thing, and now you’re talking about a house and kids?”

“I didn’t say it would happen overnight. Don’t worry; we’re going to have plenty of time to ourselves before I fill you with the cutest little babies.” I hand her the breakfast sandwich. “Here, I know you’re hungry.”

She takes it from me and settles back in the seat.

We’re quiet as we both contemplate our conversation.

I hope I didn’t push it too far, but I’ve got to be up front with her from the get-go.

I want a family. I don’t have a preference on how that looks.

Big or small, biological or adopted. All I know is I want to share that with her.

Lexie starts to tremble, and my first thought is that yes, I did go too far. Until I catch the smile she tries to hide with her hand, and I realize she’s laughing.

“What are you giggling about over there?”

“Nothing. I was just reminiscing.” She fans herself. “So, why are we going back? I guess I assumed we’d be at the cabin a few more days.”

I reach over and take her hand in mine. “Willow called me this morning. Jackson’s mom is sick. I should have told you as soon as you woke up, but I didn’t want our trip to end on a sad note. I’m sorry.”

Her hand squeezes mine, but she doesn’t look surprised by the news.

“I’m glad we’re going back. Jackson’s going to need a good friend like you. Now that they’ve told everyone, it will be easier on Rachel.”

I’m perplexed. “Did you know about this?”

She bites her bottom lip. “I did, but I promised Raffe I would keep it to myself.”

My gaze goes from the road, to her, and back again. “I’m glad you and Raffe connected. He must have felt very safe with you to share something so private.”

Her hand rubs over her chest, and she turns away from me. “No one has ever trusted me with something so personal. It … it changed me.”

That is exactly how change happens. One minute you’re looking at the world through filters, and in a split second they’re gone.

“I suddenly realized I could be the person I wanted to be, because that girl was already there. It was like Raffe held up a mirror.”

“I understand what you’re saying. Everything becomes clearer when you tap into it.”

“Sometimes it takes me a moment of self-reflection.” She chuckles sadly and lays her head back. “I wish there was something I could do to help Rachel and her family.”

“I think you’ve already helped them by being there for Raffe, but keep your heart open because I’m sure they’ll be opportunities to show them love.”

This makes her smile.

Her heart is healing, one revelation at a time.