Dex
My shoulder is numb, and the right side of my body feels the same. An ache resonates behind my eyes and I haven’t even opened them yet. I can tell it’s late in the day without having to look at the time.
I slept hard, much harder than I have slept in months. But, none of that bothers me when I realise I’m not alone.
A warmth, only skin on skin contact can offer, is pressing against my back. Finally, opening my eyes, I lift the sheets and Libby’s arm is draped over my ribs, and her leg is entwined with mine.
When the fuck did she climb in my bed? And why is she curled up around me?
I didn’t drink anything last night, it’s not like I can’t remember going to bed with someone. I know for sure I went to bed alone, after she had fallen asleep.
Careful not to wake her, I slowly slip out of her hold and sit on the edge of the bed. My movements, as subtle as they are, don’t wake her, but they do disturb her, and she rolls over. The sheets fall over her hip and down her thighs. I stop myself from looking away, she looks so smooth and inviting. Her skimpy pink panties barely cover her ass cheeks, fuck, I need to look away.
Reaching for my bag by the side of my bed, I unzip it and pull out a clean hoodie and boxers.
The bed creaks as I stand, it doesn’t disturb her, and I lock myself in the bathroom after one last glance at her body.
She needs to stay in her own bed tonight, it’s been a while since I’ve been with a woman and after Melissa, I can’t afford to get close to anyone.
I don’t bother to wait for the water to warm up, I stand under the icy spray and hang my head, letting the water drench me.
A cold shower is perfect.
I think back to last night, what Libby told me about Baze and her dad, it’s fucked up.
Lathering the soap up, I run it across my chest and over my arms. The soap does nothing to take away the visions of the bloody kitchen, like it didn’t help wash away the memories of blood pooling around Melissa’s body.
I focus on her heels and when the blood keeps pushing its way back in, I focus on the tattoo on my hand.
It helps, and why I had it done. When the blood begins to drown me, I focus on the solid memories.
Finishing up in the shower, I turn the water off and dry off. Wiping the mirror free of steam, I stare at the guy looking back at me and wonder what the hell I’m doing here.
I spent so long wanting to be a part of the Lost Souls club and once I was in, I was riding away.
Looking away, I get dressed and open the door. I expected, or hoped, she would still be asleep, but she’s up and in her jeans, clicking away on her phone.
“I didn’t think you had a phone.”
“I got it when I packed my bag yesterday.”
“Who are you messaging?”
“My mom, I’m letting her know I’m okay and to call me. I tried calling her, but it goes to voicemail.”
Nodding, I don’t bother telling her who she can or can’t get in contact with, it’s not like we’re in hiding or she’s done anything wrong. Well, her choice in men is shocking but I can’t comment on that myself. I don’t have the best record with women
I shove my dirty clothes in my bag and remind myself I need to hit a laundromat soon.
My phone rings and I answer on the second ring. It’s Slade.
“Hey brother.”
“You good?” he asks.
“Yeah, what you got?”
“Just giving you a heads up, we’re leaving in a beat, and I haven’t found where Rebecca is. She went off the grid six days ago.”
“Thanks anyway, brother. Safe riding.”
I hang up and dump the phone on the bed. The rumpled sheets remind me she got in with me and I turn to face her.
“Why did I wake up to you in my bed?” I ask her.
“I tried waking you up, but you wouldn’t, and you wouldn’t stop sleep talking and thrashing around. I laid beside you and you calmed down, so I thought I’d stay. Besides it was warmer under your sheets than it was under mine, don’t worry, I didn’t take advantage of you,” she smiles, making me laugh.
Most of the time she doesn’t care what comes out of her mouth, so why does she keep her mouth shut when it comes to who killed her dad.
“I’m hungry, do you want me to bring you back some food?”
“Sure.”
I make it to the door before I turn around and ask her, “Actually, do you want to come with? I know a diner that loves to serve me,” I smirk.
She smiles and has her boots and coat on in no time. Locking up, I scour the area and see no one hanging around.
My face aches today but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I climb on my bike, moving forward for Libby. I ride back into town and straight for the diner. Hopefully, they’re happier to see me today, if not, who gives a fuck. I open the door for Libby and catch myself trying to get a glimpse of her ass. It’s no good, her coat falls down to her knees and I can’t see anything.
A part of me wishes I was awake when she climbed in bed with me last night, fuck knows what would have happened, but it’s making me wonder.
We sit at the table furthest from the counter and Libby smiles weakly at the waitress.
“I rarely come into town,” she murmurs.
“Didn’t you go to school?”
“I was home-schooled by my mom, and I hated it, but the townies wouldn’t have let me go to the public school.”
“Why would they have any power over such a thing?”
She shrugs her shoulders, “I’m not sure, something happened when I was a baby. The brothers are allowed down once a month to stock up on supplies, apart from that, Lost Souls stick to the mountain and townies steer clear.”
“How do they leave town when they go on a run?”
“They have certain routes around town.”
The waitress appears at our side and sneers down at us.
“Gabe should tell Jacob if there are more of you coming to town,” she snipes.
“I don’t know who Jacob is but I’m not here for long, and I’ll tip you fifty dollars if you take our order in silence.”
I knew something strange was going on around here. The sooner Cas gets here, the better.
Libby rattles off what she wants, and I do the same when she’s finished. For her tip, the waitress skitters off without another word from her.
“You’re not going to pay her fifty dollars to keep quiet, are you?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“How I feel when we’re done,” I shrug.
“That’s crazy, you should’ve have just told her to keep out of your business.”
I’m starting to really like her. She can be a right spitfire. She drops the subject and sighs heavily.
“Now you know about Baze, will you tell me what your nightmares are about?”
I’ll give her something, so she’ll shut up about them. It’s bad enough she hears me in the night when I can’t control what I say.
“They’re about blood and death.”
She doesn’t need to know anymore and it’s the truth. They’re my ghosts, and more importantly, Melissa is my ghost.
“Melissa’s death?”
“How do you know that name?” I growl.
“You say it when you’re sleep talking, you call for her, you tell her to stop doing something I can’t work out…”
“Stop.”
She closes her mouth and I fight for breath. She’s heard more than she let on.
“You should deal with her demons before you get a girlfriend, calling out another woman’s name in your dreams might send her crazy.”
I laugh. A deep, full-on, roaring laugh. Something I haven’t done in a long while.
This woman hears me call out another woman’s name in my nightmares and thinks I need a girlfriend.
“I’ll bear that in mind,” I smile.
“So, who is she?” she urges.
“Someone I used to know.”
Our food arrives, and the waitress keeps her mouth shut. I smile when Libby finds it amusing and we eat in a comfortable silence until we’re done.
I throw down enough cash to cover the bill and a five for her service. Libby approves and shoves her arms into her coat.
We get to the door before the waitress calls after us.
“You said a fifty.”
Libby bursts out the door before me and laughs halfway down the street. I chase her down and laugh with her. It feels so fucking good to laugh.
“Let’s stock up on supplies before we head back to the motel,” she says, already heading for the store.
I could do with some more smokes and a six pack of beer. Inside, she walks up and down the aisle picking up bags of chips and candy bars. I head back and grab a basket and carry it round for her as she fills it up.
“Is there anything you want?” she asks, as if she’s going to eat all this herself.
“I think I’m fine,” I say, rolling my eyes, and hauling the basket onto the counter.
“I’ll take a carton of those,” I say to the clerk, pointing out my brand of smokes, “And a quart of the whiskey.”
Before I can pull out my money, she’s pulling out two hundred dollar bills and raises one eyebrow when I silently question her.
“My mom wasn’t the only one who stashed money when the opportunity arose.”
I don’t ask further questions and let her pay. Hey, I’m not against her paying her way.
She’s quiet on the ride back to the motel and takes her haul to her side of the room and switches the tv on.
Without a glass in the room, I swig the whiskey from the bottle and settle back in the chair by the window.
I end up watching Libby as she watches the screen. I can’t work her out but I’m finding I don’t mind trying to figure her out. I just hope it doesn’t fuck me in the ass again.