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

My hand trembles as I reach for my orange juice. I’m suddenly having a hard time swallowing.

“Oh, shoot! I should have asked Jackson to stop and grab my makeup.”

“Are you trying to avoid my question?”

Yes and no. “I’m not avoiding anything,” I tell him.

When he doesn’t respond, I continue.

“Listen, I’m used to the way my parents are. I don’t do all of the stupid shit I do because of them. I’m … I’m just not very smart. Okay? And none of that has anything to do with my need for makeup. Maybe they can turn around and get it for me.”

“You’d really have them turn around for it?”

“Yes.”

His eyebrow rises. “You really don’t like the idea of people seeing you without it. You’re hiding behind it.”

“I like to look my best.”

“Different not best,” he says dryly, rolling his eyes.

I sigh. He’s a guy, so of course he doesn’t understand.

“New rule. No makeup.”

My head pulls back in horror. “That can’t be a rule.”

“Sure can.” He stands, the conversation over. “I’ll holler when the guys get here. You can bring your breakfast tray down then.”

My mouth falls open. I don’t have time to think about my parents right now. I just want my makeup. I wish I would have been awake when they packed my shit. That would have been the first thing I would have brought, along with my curling iron.

Oh my god! My curling iron.

I push the tray aside and grab my suitcase. Fuck! It’s not here either. I’m not going to survive. If I ask for one, Dirk will ban that too. What else can go wrong?

My anger builds as the clock ticks by. I sit at the vanity, trying my best to scrunch some life into my hair. It’s hopeless. Between limp hair, the dark circles under my eyes, and the hollowness of my cheeks, I look like I have one foot in the grave.

I still don’t know why Jackson and JD are driving all the way up here if they’re not taking me home.

When I hear a knock at the door, I cringe.

I hate this!

“Lex!” Dirk yells up the stairs.

Ugh. I push my hair over my shoulders and then slowly make my way downstairs.

JD meets me at the bottom of the steps and immediately wraps me in his arms. “Everything is going to be okay,” he tells me.

“I know,” I whisper.

He releases me but keeps one arm around my shoulders. He guides us over to the couch.

I start to get nervous when he keeps his arm there. “What happened?”

“Lexie, I know for a fact that this is the first time your parents have been home in almost twelve months. How often do they leave you alone?”

“I’m an adult.”

His gaze narrows on me. “They didn’t even come home for your graduation. In the past four years, how many days have they been away?”

I shake his arm off me and sit back against the cushions. It would be easier to count the days they were home. I pull my feet up on the couch and hug my knees. “They had to work.”

“And they also had a responsibility to their child.”

“I’ve always been very responsible.”

“Yeah, I see that.”

I drop my legs angrily. “I haven’t always made bad choices,” I say, scooting myself off of the couch. I’m done talking to him.

He places a hand in the center of my chest, stopping me. He bends forward and looks me in the eye. “They kicked you out of the house.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry, Lexie. I tried to reason with them. They said they didn’t have time to argue with someone like me, and they could no longer trust you with their home. They said they were having the locks changed and cameras put in.”

I double over as his words knock the wind out of me. “Maybe they’re mad because I didn’t lock the door when we left.” That’s the only logical thing I can think of. But still, they kicked me out over a simple mistake? “They really kicked me out?”

“I don’t want you to worry about your living situation. You’re going to come live with Elizabeth and me at the junkyard.”

Jackson sits on the coffee table across from me.

“We locked up before we brought you here. Everything was right and tight. Your key has been here, along with your phone. The club didn’t have access to your parents’ property.

Listen to me, you didn’t do anything wrong.

Don’t blame yourself for this bullshit decision.

They should be in jail for child neglect. ”

My brows furrow, because deep down, I know he’s right. I’ve always worried they’d get in trouble for leaving me alone, but I wasn’t sure. There is no legal age limit for leaving your child alone overnight. But I’m not sure the state would approve of them leaving me months at a time.

I used to have a nanny, but when the last one moved away, they never hired someone new. I mean, I really didn’t need one. I had my driver’s permit and a car. My parents always made sure I’ve had everything I needed.

“Okay, well, I’ll … I don’t know. I guess I should look for a job so I can get my own place. I’ll get out of your hair as soon as I can.”

JD sighs. “You’re not understanding. You don’t need to worry about any of that right now. I just want you to focus on you.”

“I’ll have to go home and pack.” At least I can go get my shit. I’d be able to deal with this better if I felt more myself. I know I must have some hideous blotches on my face right now.

“They’re having a professional company pack your stuff and move it to my house.”

I blink at him. “They’re not even going to let me in to get my stuff?”

He shakes his head sadly, pulling me into his arms. “I promise things are going to get better. Everything happens for a reason, hun.”

I let him hold me, because I don’t know what else to do. My world is crumbling down around me. I wanted something to change in my life, but this … this isn’t what I imagined.

If I thought I felt alone before, it’s nothing compared to how I’m feeling right now. The betrayal. They shoved me from the shore with no shelter to protect me from the elements, and with no paddle to steer away from the approaching storm.

He continues to hold me as the day wears on. As dusk approaches, I realize that it’s me holding onto him. I slowly remove my arms from around his waist.

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“They’re sitting outside. Do you want to join them? I think Dirk was grilling some steaks.”

“No. You can go out. I’m not hungry.”

“You need to eat.”

I laugh lightly. “What I really need is to go home.” As soon as I say it, I realize I don’t have a home anymore.

His face softens. “You’ll be home before you know it. But I want you to make the most of your time here. Dirk and Jesse have been through some shit themselves. Talk to them.”

I don’t comment on that. “When will you be back?” Maybe I can convince him to bring my stuff next time he comes.

He runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know. Elizabeth has been going through a tough time.”

“Oh, that’s okay. You should get back to her. I’ll see you when I see you,” I say, getting up and waving to him. “Have a safe trip.”

“Lex.”

His voice fades as I run up the stairs.