Page 56 of Lilies from Hell

“How the hell should I know?”

“You said you had a lot of experience with women, right?”

“Not that kind of experience precisely. All I know is that you’re doing everything wrong. Give the girl some space.”

“More? Do you want me to tell you what’s wrong with your damn space?”

The two days since I last spoke to her, I waited for her to make the first move and talk to me. According to Denis, when women got upset, it was best to give them space and wait for them to calm down, but she’s still the same. Her anger doesn’t seem to be going away. Not even after what happened in her damn father’s office.

How many orgasms does a woman need to get over being angry?

“Honestly? I’d rather not.”

My attention then turns to my dog, who wouldn’t stop barking and growling at something. No matter how much I call her, she won’t listen, so I have no choice but to get up with the leash in my hands.

“Stop making a scene,” I say hooking the leash onto her black leather collar.

That doesn’t stop her from barking at the two strangers. Looking up, I see Jason leaning against a tree, talking with another guy. Well. If Denis’s advice are useless and Anna is dead, then someone else might be able to help me.

“Come on,” I motion toward the bench. “Stay with her, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Denis looks at me with wide eyes, staring at my dog and then back at me.

“Are you kidding me? I’m not staying alone with that beast! Last week she almost ate one of us,” he complains, curling his legs up. “Alek! Fuck.”

I walk over to them, ignoring Denis’s calls while I think about how to approach her brother.

“I need you to do me a favor.” Jason glances sideways at his friend and shrugs, whispering something to him before he leaves.

“I’m all ears.”

“I’m going through a rough patch with Lena.”

“What does that have to do with me?” He asks sarcastically.

“You’re her brother,” I say through gritted teeth in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Whatever happens between my sister and you is none of my business.”

“I think it should be,” I retort through clenched teeth, running my tongue piercing across the roof of my mouth.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Make her talk to me.” His brow furrows as if I had just said the stupidest thing on the planet. “She just won’t do it, you know.”

“And how the hell am I supposed to do that? I’m not Cupid.” I bring two fingers to the bridge of my nose in an attempt to breathe more slowly.

“Just do it. I don’t care how the fuck you manage to get it done.”

“Okay, but on one condition.”

“Isn’t keeping all your teeth enough?”

“Yeah, but I’ve got nothing to lose by trying.” I raise my eyebrows, looking at him incredulously.

“Okay. Try.”

20

I try to fall asleep with her image etched in my mind, but I can’t. The argument we had a few days ago has me trapped in a loop of anxiety that I don’t know how to escape. I grab a packet of cigarettes and a lighter before heading to the lake in the back garden. There, I start taking drags, staring at my reflection in the crystal-clear waters of the lake.