“Jesse, have you heard from this man?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t know his name until thirty minutes ago.”
“Toxic masculinity, folks. It’s a hell of a drug. Okay. Well, I think the next person we need to talk to is Dane Locklear.”
Mike had a few more questions and they spent more time checking things out at Jesse’s. Eventually the police packed things up and assured them they’d be in touch, probably with more questions soon.
“I should—I should call my father,” Lily-Grace said once they were gone.
“Let’s wait until the morning, okay?” Miss Leona said. “We have everything under control now, and waking him up will just be added to the list of people with the two a.m. jitters. You and Jesse sleep here.”
“Okay.”
“The sunshine room is all ready. We’ll clean up the glass and board things up and maybe file a restraining order in the morning. Okay?” The smile Miss Leona gave them was the exact comfort Lily-Grace needed for now. She was right. They needed sleep. There would be plenty of time to stress over all this in the morning. They said good night and she followed Jesse down to the west end of the house. He held her hand, but something was off in his touch, like he was just cupping her fingers to make sure she was with him, not because he wanted to touch her the way sheneededto touch him in that moment.
He showed her into a large guest room with white furniture and bright yellow linens and accents. Jesse flopped down in the side armchair across the room, which wasn’t really big enough for his large frame. Lily-Grace headed toward the window seat, when they heard a knock at the door.
“It’s Lilah.”
“Yeah, come in,” Jesse said.
His cousin poked her head in, then stepped all the way inside. “I just wanted to see if you guys are okay? My hands are still shaking.”
“Here, come sit down.” Lily-Grace grabbed the white and yellow throw blanket off the end of the bed and wrapped Lilah in it. She sat down beside her on the bed and gave her shoulders a good rub.
“Thanks. I didn’t want to be alone in my room while I was crashing off adrenaline.”
“You’re good,” Jesse said quietly.
“Yeah. Hang out with us. I’m wired too.” Lily-Grace climbed under the covers and tried to warm up her bare toes.
“How long have you had a gun?” Jesse asked.
“Since I was twelve? Daddy taught us all how to shoot. I think I’ve exhibited I’m a responsible gun owner by now.”
Jesse just grunted in reply, dropping his gaze to the floor.
“Babe, are you okay?” she asked. He nodded but didn’t say anything else. Luckily Lilah filled the awkward silence. She groaned, then flopped on her side and moved up the bed.
“Ugh, I wish Fetu was here. He gives really good hugs.”
“First thing tomorrow, I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to give you a big-ass hug.”
Lilah yawned. “I’m so screwed.”
Lily-Grace almost asked what she meant, but Lilah closed her eyes, and if sleep was finally calling to her, Lily-Grace didn’t want to screw that up, not after the night they’d had. She didn’t think she could sleep. She wanted to talk to Jesse, but she could tell—by the look on his face, the tense way he was still holding his body, the way he was staring at the floor—now was not the time. She looked over at Lilah again, then settled into the covers. She didn’t mean to, but a few minutes later she fell asleep.
* * *
The sun was just coming up when Lily-Grace opened her eyes again. She could see why they called it the sunshine room. Even though the curtains were closed, she could feel a thousand watts of early morning sunlight coming through the large bay window. Jesse was still awake in the chair, looking at the floor. She checked behind her, and the spot where Lilah had been was now empty.
“She went back to her room,” Jesse said.
“Oh. Have you slept at all?”
Jesse shook his head, and swallowed deeply. He was trying not to look at her.
“Come lie down for a bit,” she said, making room for him, but he didn’t move. She didn’t know why she was surprised. Her own words echoed in her head.This is so easy, so easy.Of course it was too good to be true. Attempted assault was reason enough to take a step back from something so fresh. It hurt, the way he was icing her out, but she didn’t blame him. There was baggage and then there was what Dane had tried to do, and might try to do again. “I understand if you’re pissed. I should—”
