Page 39 of Trusting Skulls

She takes the blanket from me and sets it on the table. Quietly, she takes my hand and pulls me through their house. We stop in front of a door. When she pushes it open, my heart stops beating.

“She moved out of her house?” I ask, still puzzled as to what I’m seeing.

All her stuff is packed in boxes like it just happened. I step in and spin in a circle, finding the closet full of her clothes.

“Her parents kicked her out.”

“What? What for? Did they find out she was drinking?”

When she doesn’t answer, I spin around, finding her in the arms of JD. She’s crying quietly.

“Her parents are pieces of shit,” JD spits, his nostrils flaring slightly. “I’ll never let them take advantage of her again.”

I plop down on the bed, running my fingers through my hair.

“When we took Lexie up to the cabin, she told us her parents were on their way home. We left them a note to call us. They never did, so Jackson and I went over there to talk to them and let them know she was safe.”

“They didn’t even know she was gone, did they?”

He shakes his head sadly. “I’m not going to lie. I lost my shit on them, Ash.”

“Rightfully so.”

“They looked contrite for a moment, but instead of facing their mistakes, they turned the tables and blamed her for not protecting their property and letting … and I quote …” He raises a finger. “A bunch of dirty bikers into their home.”

My heart breaks for Lexie. “Does she know?”

“She does.”

JD releases his wife and drops to a knee in front of me. He sets a hand on my shoulder. “Elizabeth and I talked about it. We want Lexie to stay with us.”

I open my mouth, because I want her with me. She can stay with me at the warehouse. But as the thought comes to mind, I realize that’s not what I want either. When we move in together, I want privacy. I want what JD has here with Elizabeth. What Jackson and Willow have out at the farm.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t be together. But Ash, we’ve got a rare opportunity to give her a real family. Elizabeth and I don’t have much, but we have a room for her, and I promise you we will love her as our own.”

I groan, because I know he’s right. “She deserves that,” I admit.

He nods, ruffling my hair as he stands. “She does.”

I slap my hands on my knees, coming to acceptance. Now that the shock of learning her parents kicked her out begins to wear off, I realize this is a good thing. Lexie is finally going to get some real love.

Love that isn’t contingent upon what she can give back. Love that’s unconditional.

Love that doesn’t hurt.

Chapter Fifteen

Lexie

Earlier today, I found the rest of Ash’s unopened packages on my bed. I opened every single one of them. My finger and thumb worry over the smooth wooden heart that was included in his final letter. It’s engraved.

With My Whole Heart.

I know this might sound silly, but I sense him nearby. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt his presence.

Ash is a ghost I can’t shake, and now I’m afraid I’ve already become addicted to the haunt.

I reread the letter I’ve just written to him. I’m going to leave it under the welcome mat outside in case he secretly leaves coffee again.

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