Page 15 of Night Moves

Shaking my head I glance up. “It’s dangerous. They’re dangerous. Don’t do it. Please.”

“I’m not letting him get away with this. He murdered my sister.”

“They’ll kill you too. Life means nothing to them.”

“I have to, Willow.”

Pushing from the counter, I stand. “I need a shower.”

After crying out my fear and frustration under the water spray, I go to my closet and the new clothes Raven brought. Two pair of jeggings, one black one beige. A lavender top with faint flowers along the scoop neck and another in soft yellow, white canvas sneakers and black ballet flats. Brushing my fingers over the last item I can’t help but smile. A Chinese red dress. I finger the soft fabric. I’ve always wanted a red dress. Mother always said I was too big to wear red.

All I’ve had for months is two sets of clothes and one extra shirt. That’s all that fits in my backpack. I’ve been mostly hand washing or putting my clothes in with Eizlee’s if I was babysitting. All the money I earned babysitting went to my burner phone, food, and my bus ticket fund.

I don’t know how he knew my size, but everything fits perfectly as I try them on. I settle on the yellow top and beige leggings. Having something new and pretty feels like such a luxury.

There’s a tap on my door.

“I packed snacks and some toys to take to the roof. I’ve changed and dressed Eizlee Jane in the outfit you laid out. We’re ready when you are.”

When I return to the living room, he’s playing with Eizlee on the floor. He runs a heated gaze over me. “My girls match. I like you both in yellow.”

My girls.I shake my head. I need to leave soon. I can’t endanger them, and I will if Diesel sticks to his plan. Not to mention the danger my heart is in. I already love Eizlee like my own, now her uncle is threatening my heart as well.

The fresh air feels good. Relaxing on a lawn chair with my juice as instructed, I watch as Diesel chases Eizlee around on the astro turf then holds her hands as he teaches her to kick the ball.

After a while she’s content to sit and play with the blocks and he settles into the chair beside me.

“It’s nice up here. Feels relaxing. It’s not a park with real grass and dirt but it is sunshine and fresh air. It will do in a pinch,” he says. “I just moved to Love Beach. It’s a nice town on the southeastern coast. Busier in the summers I’ve been told but not as bad as some places on the coast. I haven’t gotten a place yet and have been crashing with Silk, one of the other single guys, while I was going through orientation.”

Taking a drink, he glances at me. “Are you from here? You ever been to the east coast?”

I shake my head. “No and no. I grew up in the Midwest. A really small town, farming and cattle. I was related somehow to half the people in town. Everyone knew everyone, and their business. And everyone in town had one way of doing things. Their way.”

“And that was a problem?” he asks softly, when I don’t continue.

Releasing a sigh, I lean back in the chase lounge. “My mom and dad met in college. Both came from small towns. They moved back to Dad’s hometown to help Gramps with the farm when Dad’s older brother died. Dad didn’t want to farm but he was kind of stuck because that’s what families did.

“I have two older brothers who took to farming like ducks to water. I liked going to town, seeing more than cows. Dance and art were my passion.

“I guess things were okay for my parents for about fifteen years. There was a new English teacher who moved to town. She also did dance club at school and taught dance out of her home. I begged to take lessons. Mom was too busy with all her church and ladies’ clubs, so Dad always took me to my classes then we’d go to the coffee shop or ice cream parlor, sometimes my teacher would join us. Somewhere along the line the two of them started an affair. Mom and Dad divorced. Dad moved to town but still worked the farm until my brothers were able to take it over completely.

“And the town talked, and talked, and people took sides, and judged. It was hard for my Dad, but he never shirked his responsibilities to the family.

“When I got to high school, I tried out for dance club and made it. I was bigger than all the other girls, but because my stepmom taught me, I could really dance. Not just preen around. A lot of parents were upset that I got on the team instead of one of their little girls.Favoritism by the slut.”

“Why do you say that?” His brow furrows. “You’re beautiful. You look like a woman, a real woman, not some plastic, starving doll. Fuck, I hate how marketing and the media have made women afraid to be themselves. Do you think men really want to cuddle up with a chicken bone?”

He shakes his head and looks toward our little charge. “Given the circumstances, I should keep my mouth shut. I’m here to protect you, not hit on you. But you are so fucking gorgeous.”

I stare at him in disbelief. I have never once been told I’m beautiful or gorgeous. I’ve gotten the ‘nice eyes’ and ‘pretty hair’. But Diesel just said both.

“Tell me you didn’t quit the dance club?” he asks.

“No, I love to dance, and I wouldn’t give it up. I was close to my stepmom. More so than my mother who was more repressed. Mom was obsessed with being perfect, so the town didn’t talk about her. But she loved it when they badmouthed Dad.

“Senior year, I was dating a guy. His dad owned the feed lot. They were a big deal in town.” I feel the heat flood my face, but I’m tired of trying to be what I’m not. “We-ah-were caught having sex in his car.

“And the town talked, and talked, and people took sides.

---