Page 32 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Thirty

Lexie

T hat was the best night of sleep I’ve had in a long time, but now I’m wide awake, playing the past week over and over again in my mind. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute I thought my life was over and the next I’m literally in paradise.

The curtains flutter, and I take a deep breath, petting Max. The scent of Elizabeth’s flowers wafts in on the breeze.

My gaze moves around the room. Not having as much stuff has made my heart lighter. I’m glad JD and I got it all loaded up and hauled to the thrift store.

I shiver as the memory shifts to my dad’s boss showing up there. It would be so easy to take his job offer. I’m sure it pays good, but …

I run my hand over my right elbow. There’s still a scar there from the last time I played his stupid game. It got a little out of hand.

It’s just the local office, though. I’m running through the pros and cons when I hear JD and Elizabeth get up. I jump out of bed, opening my door.

“I made breakfast this morning,” I say, pushing in front of them to get to the kitchen first.

“Lexie, you didn’t have to do that,” Elizabeth says sleepily.

“I was up.”

They both sit down at the table as I pull the breakfast casserole from the oven.

“Wow. This looks good,” JD praises as I dish him up a plate.

My cheeks feel tight as a smile lights my face. “Jesse text me the recipe. It was really easy. I just had to dump everything into the dish.”

“I’m telling you that woman has more recipes than anyone I’ve ever met,” Elizabeth says. “She’s been teaching me too.”

Elizabeth excuses herself to go outside for her morning meditation after she finishes eating. JD’s phone rings as I stand to clear the table. “Hello?”

His brows pull together, his gaze stopping on me. “Yeah, he mentioned something about it last night, but I don’t think she’s had much time to think about it.”

He continues to listen. My breakfast churns, and my heart begins to beat loudly in my ears. Is this how I would feel every morning waking up to go into that office? Knowing there might be a possibility of bumping into Graham?

If my stomach knows it’s not right, then maybe I should get my brain on board.

“I’m not sure she’s available to come to the phone right now,” JD tells whoever it is.

I hold my hand out. JD sighs. “Just a minute.” He hands his cell phone to me.

“Um, hello. This is Lexie.”

The woman on the other end greets me, her relief evident in the tone of her voice. “Oh, Lexie, I’m glad to get the chance to talk with you. Mr. Dolan wanted me to reach out to you this morning and give you the specifics of the job we’re hiring you for. We’d love to get you started tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” My heart skips a beat. He just assumed I would take it. Why wouldn’t he? I’ve never turned him down.

JD snaps his fingers and opens his palm for his phone back. I shake my head at him.

“Yes. Mr. Dolan would like to get you started right away.”

This is my new life, and I’m not going to let anyone from my past dictate my future. Not even Graham.

“I’m sorry. I’m not interested in the position. If you could please relay to Mr. Dolan that I very much appreciate his offer, but I have other interests I’m going to pursue.”

The woman on the other end begins to argue with me, and I feel bad for her. I’m sure she doesn’t want to disappoint Graham.

“There isn’t another job in town that pays what Mr. Dolan is offering you.”

I stand up from the table, turning away from JD’s stare. “I understand, and while I appreciate it, I just don’t think it’s best for me right now. But thank you again. Goodbye.”

Without meeting JD’s gaze, I set his phone on the table and quickly move to the sink. “I’m going to run into town and start applying for jobs. I looked online this morning, and the ice cream shop is looking for help. I don’t know if that will be enough …”

JD walks over to stand beside me, and he shuts off the water. I stare at the bubbles in the sink.

“I’m so fucking proud of you, Lex. That was you setting your first boundary.”

“She didn’t want to take no for an answer,” I admit, my heart finally returning to a normal beat with JD by my side.

“I’m glad you didn’t let them bully you.”

“But I think it paid really good.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t let the doubt in. You know that isn’t the next step of your journey. Don’t worry about money. I’m not going to take a dime from you anyway.”

I shake water off my hands at him, and he laughs and jogs out the front door.

As soon as he leaves, my doubt seeps back in. If I took the job, maybe my parents wouldn’t be so upset with me.

When Elizabeth comes back inside, she finds me stuck in her living room, staring at a painting of a dragonfly that hangs on the wall. It used to be on their fridge, but it’s now framed. I wonder if Charlotte painted it for them.

“Hey, sweetie. What’s wrong?” She looks from me to the painting.

I take a deep breath. “I was just thinking about the day I met you.”

She reaches out and tucks my hair behind my ear, and I wonder if she remembers pulling leaves from it that day.

“I know you weren’t in the best place, but I’m so glad Elijah and Jackson brought you here.” She glances at the painting before pulling me over to sit on the couch with her. “You know, Jacob and I are so happy to have you here with us. We love you like a daughter, Lexie.”

Suddenly, a sob bursts from my chest.

“Hey.” She pulls me close, wrapping her arm around me.

The door opens. “I forgot my gloves,” JD says, peeking around the corner. “Shit, what happened?”

It makes me cry harder because I want to talk to them about Graham, because I know he’s not going to give up easily. I want to trust someone, but I don’t know if I can.

JD lowers himself onto the couch on the other side of me, and together he and his wife hold me.

It’s the safest I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

They patiently wait until my crying subsides before encouraging me to speak. “Talk to us, sweetie,” Elizabeth pushes lightly.

After a few shaky breaths, I decide if I can trust anyone, it’s them. “That morning Elijah dropped me off here, I had been running from someone.”

Elizabeth gasps. “I had a terrible feeling you had been chased.”

JD remains calm, reaching behind me to rub her shoulder. “She’s safe now,” he reminds her.

She wipes her eyes, and nods for me to continue.

“He said it was just a game, but ...” God, I must sound crazy.

“Who is he ?” JD asks, eerily calm.

I hug myself around the waist, whimpering. Maybe this was a bad idea.

“How old were you?” he asks instead. He’s already figured out who I'm talking about.

My head snaps up. “I’m nineteen.”

“When it started?” he asks, holding my gaze hostage.

“Oh.” The air leaves my lungs. This was definitely a bad idea. They’re going to realize how bad of a person I really am.

I try to stand, but JD pulls me back down. He hugs me close and presses his mouth to the top of my head.

“I’m sorry Lexie, but I need to know.”

“It was my fault. I started it. You know how I am.” I push away again, and this time he lets me go. “Um, I need to get to town. I don’t want anyone to beat me to the job at the ice cream shop.” I stand up and head for the door.

“I had a baby with my abuser!” Elizabeth yells, stopping me on the front porch. “I gave her up for adoption because I didn’t want him to know about her.”

I press my hand to my mouth, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.

“I’ve only told two people, and one of them is you,” she continues.

Why do people keep trusting me with such sacred things? It’s an honor I don’t deserve.

“You can trust us, Lexie.”

Reluctantly, I turn around, but I don’t sit down with them. I linger at the front door. “It really was my fault. I tempted him. I was lonely …” My gaze falls to my feet. “I was fourteen. But anyway, I’m just going to head over and apply for that job.”

With that I turn and walk out. I can’t handle the look of disappointment on their faces.

I don’t go to the ice cream shop. Instead I find myself sitting cross-legged on the hood of my car. I stare at my parent’s house from across the street.

My eyes blur as I glare at my bedroom window. The curtains are wide open. That’s how you know the girl who used to live there no longer does. I always had them pulled shut. I liked it in the dark. Maybe I’d even become addicted to it.

My mind wanders to the painting Daisy painted of Ash and me. Our demons lurking in the shadows of the forest, but neither of us seemed to notice, lost in each other’s eyes.

Why am I here? My first full day back, and I’ve gone and messed it up. I don’t have to do this alone. Maybe I can catch Ash on break at the bike shop. I have people. I don’t need to sit here feeling sorry for myself.

I slide off the hood as a black Corvette pulls up beside me. Great. Can this day get any worse?

Graham rushes around his car, leaving it running in the middle of the street.

“I’m not interested, Graham.”

“Wait!” he says, pushing my door shut before I can get in.

“I don’t want the job,” I tell him again, the air leaving my lungs as he shoves me against the car.

He pulls something from his pocket and presses it against my mouth and nose. His arm wraps around me like a vice as panic bubbles up my spine. Oh god, he’s really lost his mind this time.

This can’t be happening right now.

Not when I just discovered love.