The Rocker That Savors Me(22)

Emmie’s face was full of wonder and I saw tears glaze her eyes. Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh my Gods!” she whispered. “He’s laughing!”

I stood, needing to see what the two were up to. I had to know what they were doing that was making Drake so happy. At the edge of the patio, I peeked my head around to look into the small yard that separated the house from the guest house. There were two dozen little candles spread over the sheet that they had spread on the ground. In the dim lighting, Drake was sketching something in one of his many sketchbooks while Lana sat across from him just smiling at him.

I stepped back before they could see me, my heart in my throat. Oh fuck! I didn’t know what to feel right then, but this overwhelming sense of wonder was coursing through me. Drake never—and I mean NEVER—shared his artistic skills with anyone. He only ever used them to paint and draw out his nightmares. The fact he was drawing Lana, that obscenely beautiful girl with the bell-like giggles, was nothing short of a miracle.

I dropped down onto the chair I had been in earlier and rubbed my hands over my head. What did I do? How could I step in when he seemed so happy and was doing things that were so un-Drake like? How could I break that up when I had never seen my friend so… My head snapped around as a realization hit me…

“He isn’t drinking!” I whispered and glanced over at Emmie and Nik. “He’s back there drawing with her and he doesn’t have a bottle with him.”

They both sat up at that news. The two shared a long look then slowly grinned. As I looked at them a grin spread across my own face. Maybe Lana was just the thing that Drake needed. I wasn’t going to step in. Not right now. Until Drake gave me a reason to doubt him, I wasn’t going anywhere near those two.





Chapter 8


Layla

I spent all day Sunday unpacking and getting the guesthouse cleaned up. There was plenty to do, and I was thankful for the distraction from my crazy thoughts of Jesse. Of course I wasn’t disappointed that he didn’t come over to talk. I was relieved even…

Okay, so I was heart sick that he didn’t seek me out. I craved being near him, even for just a minute. I was so messed up that I didn’t know what to do about it. My desire for him was far and beyond anything that I had ever experienced before in my life.

Sunday night, while Lana finished up the rest of her homework, I took a moment to talk to her about Drake. She just laughed it off and said that they were friends. She promised me she wasn’t going to get involved with a rocker, but there was something like longing in her amber eyes, and I felt my stomach clench with worry.

I didn’t push the subject, though. I would just watch Lana and Drake and make sure that my little sister wasn’t getting in deeper than she could handle. I didn’t want Lana falling for a rocker. I didn’t want to fall for a rocker…

Monday, I had to take an hour off so that I could get Lucy situated at the local school. When I got back I rushed through my routine for the upstairs. I vacuumed the halls and stairs then quickly took care of Drake’s room.

The covers were thrown all over the place, but they didn’t smell like they normally did. There was still the distinct scent of fear on the sheets but not like I had grown use to the week before. When I got to the bathroom, I marveled at how clean it still was. There was the faint odor of vomit, but not the overwhelming stench I had cleaned up morning after morning the week before.

Before I left for the day, I helped Emmie out in the kitchen, teaching her how to make the yeast rolls I had learned to make from my first boyfriend’s mother. When I looked at the clock and saw that it was nearly time for the guys to get home from the studio, I retreated to the guest house. I had gone two days without seeing Jesse now. It had been difficult, but I had somehow managed not to think about him every five minutes. I didn’t want to mess up the progress I was making.

Lucy needed help with her math, so I sat down at the kitchen table after dinner to help her. She was amazing at reading and was already on a fifth grade reading level, but math just blew her mind. Not that I could say anything. Math wasn’t my strongest subject either. I despaired at what was going to happen when she got into high school. I would have to hire a tutor or something for her because I sure as hell wouldn’t be much help to her.

By ten, Lucy was in bed and Lana came inside. I hadn’t said anything when she had gathered up all our candles and an old sheet and disappeared outside. The sound of her giggles and Drake’s deep laughter had actually been heartwarming, but I still worried. When Lana gave me the brightest smile I had ever seen coming from her, I just wished her a good night and settled in for the night on the hide-a-bed in the living room while she went into the bedroom that she shared with Lucy.