“But you said gorgeous.” I giggle to myself with a new boost of confidence.
“Did I say that?” He glances at me with a smile. “You must have misheard me, I said gorgon.” He laughs. “She probably remembers you with your frizzy hair. Or how you’d wear it over half your face like Cousin Itt or something.”
With my free hand, I swat his arm. “Do you know why I had my hair like that?”
“You liked the Addams Family?” He chuckles again.
I swat his arm harder this time and let go of his hand to fold my arms over my chest. I stare at the passing trees through the window. “If I covered my face with my long hair, people wouldn’t make fun of my spots. And if I never smiled, nobody could make fun of my braces. It was hard enough being the fat kid in school. I didn’t need something else to be mocked for.”
I keep my head turned to gaze out the window as we pull into the Black Crow car park. Shane stays silent, but it’s not awkward. We’ve known each other long enough that we can be in a space together and not speak. He can usually tell how I’m feeling and knows when to tease me and when to stay quiet.
After parking in a bay, he unclips his seatbelt, but doesn’t get out of the car. He takes in a deep breath and exhales.
I turn to face him and unclip my belt. Our eyes lock, and he takes in another deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” he says on an exhale, his chest caving inwards.
I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t your fault.”
He catches a lock of hair between his fingers and sweeps it to the side of my cheek. “You’ve always been beautiful to me. Even though I teased you growing up, I always thought you were beautiful.”
This is probably the nicest thing he’s ever said to me, and the most sincere I’ve seen him. “You said gorgeous.”
He grins. “All right, trouble. Yes, you’re gorgeous. Can we go in now and get a drink?”
I open the door and slide out of the car, my heels clicking on the ground once again, aware of the toy with each sudden movement, and my walls clench.
Bikers in the car park glance my way until Shane rounds the car and places his hand on the dent in my lower back. The Black Crow is the local bikers hangout thanks to Draven, the owner of the bar.
Walking towards the wooden door, I tug the hem of my dress down over my thighs. The material clings to every curve. Not that I’m bothered about that anymore. Six months as an adult content creator will help with any body insecurities, but the toy has me more aware of everything, taking my senses to new heights as I await whatever plans sarge_in_charge has for me.
Shane opens the big wooden door to our local country pub. The local band plays as we weave through the crowd.
My friend’s little sister, Yaz, bumps into me. “Oh hi, Lils,” she shouts over the music as she bobs her head to the beat.
Shane leans into me, his lips brushing against my ear. “I’ll get us a drink. What do you want?”
My skin tingles where his lips touched, and his warm breath seeped into my veins. “I’ll have a mixer. Rum and Coke, please.” I turn back to Yaz. “How’s your sister?”
Yaz shrugs. “Dahlia’s the same as she was the last time you asked. I’ll tell her you said hi.”
Violet appears with shots for her and Yaz. There’s an awkward silence between the three of us, despite the band playing. She eyes me with a weary look, reminding me we got off on the wrong foot.
“Hey Violet, is Kane here?” Shane shouts over the music as he hands me my drink.
“No, he’s at home.”
I raise my brow. “You mean he’s let you come out on your own?”
“Lilly,” Shane says my name like a warning. His authoritative tone makes my spine tingle and bristle all at the same time.
Violet rolls her eyes as if she’s already done with our conversation, turning her head to face the band, but I’m not done.
“Does he know you’re getting wasted? He won’t like it.” I point to the shot in her hand.
She knocks it back, then slams the empty glass onto the table. “I’m almost nineteen. I’m old enough to drink in the UK. He might act like my dad, but he doesn’t get to tell me what to do.”
A smile unfurls from my lips. “All right then. You do you.” I raise my glass in cheers before I take a sip.
