Page 79 of Trusting Skulls

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 ishe?” 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.

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