Page 119 of Lilies from Hell

I grab the projector remote and press the triangle button as I settle into his arms, resuming The Blair Witch Project, the movie we were watching the night before. In one of the scenes in the movie, I look down at one of his tattoos to take my mind off my fright. I rub my fingers in that spot.

“How did you get that?” I whisper, pointing to a part of his arm. He frowns, not knowing what I mean for a moment, until his eyes fall on his arm and he smiles faintly.

“Let’s just say I didn’t have a happy childhood,” he replies, intertwining his fingers with mine. “I’m fine, Lena. Don’t worry about it,” he murmurs when he sees the look on my face, before kissing the curve of my neck.

But even that doesn’t make the lump in my throat go away. I hate the idea of someone else hurting him, especially if it’s his own family. They unleash a flurry of dark thoughts that I didn’t know existed until now.

I force myself to focus on the movie and not on the thoughts racing through my head. It’s not pleasant for either of us to bring up those moments in his life, but I can’t stop thinking about it during the rest of the afternoon. When the movie ends, he pushes me aside gently, starting to get dressed as he excuses himself saying he has to go.

“But it’s early,” I murmur with a pout on my lips, staring blankly as he pulls up his pants.

“I have to do something, love. But then we can spend the night together.”

“Will you come to the bonfire tonight?”

“Do you want me to come?” I nod, smiling. He moves closer until our lips are almost touching. “Then I’ll try to be there before midnight.”

“Good.” I lift my neck, wanting to press our lips together in a deep kiss, but he leaves it at a short one before pulling away and continuing to get dressed.

“Who’s going?”

“I don’t know. Maybe some of my brother’s friends. James, Laura…” I mention the few names I recognize within the group. Romina’s name also crosses my mind, but I swallow it as soon as I feel his eyes narrowing on mine, revealing his piercing as he runs his tongue over his lower lip. I focus on his reaction. He always does that when he doesn’t like something.

“James?” I nod.

“Do you know him?” He replies with a no.

“Are you friends or something?”

“Well, I suppose so,” I say, not quite sure what his question means.

“I see,” he says dismissively in a calm voice before kissing me on the lips and jumping out the window.

I know he was furious inside, because the angrier he is, the calmer he appears on the outside, putting on a placid and disinterested attitude. That’s definitely dangerous and confusing for whoever made him mad.

38

“Another day as chauffeur and babysitter,” Lance whispers in the front seat of the car, his eyes fixed on the road. The disappointment on his face makes me giggle.

“Are you staying?” I ask getting out of the car and picking up our things from the trunk.

“A party on the beach full of drunks and a bonfire? No, thanks,” he says as we walk down a small path leading to the beach.

“It’ll be fine, just a friendly hangout. Right, Jase?” I stifle a laugh at my brother’s grimace at his new nickname.

“Define gathering.” He pulls out a bag full of weed. I slap his hand away and tell him to put it away before Lance turns around and sees it.

We keep walking until we find James with the rest of the group. Some are still on their way, but the blond guy I’ve seen so many times before is here. He greets me with a smile from his place, raising a bottle of vodka and catching the attention of Lance, who watches everything behind me.

“Is that alcohol?” He asks with a frown, putting the bags on the ground.

“No, it’s just a little soda,” I say.

“Yeah, that’s it,” my brother agrees.

We end up kicking him out before he sees any illegal substances and confirms whatever is going through his head. I approach each of the boys, greeting them and engaging in small talk until I end up next to my brother. In front of me is the blond boy.

“What do you want to drink?” he offers, nodding toward the bottle of vodka resting on the sand.