Craving Lily (The Aces' Sons 4)

“Seems like you’d know better,” Farrah said derisively in my direction before Rose cut her off.

“He tried to stop her, Aunt Farrah,” Rose said quietly. “Actually, you might want to let Uncle Casper know so he doesn’t kill Leo tomorrow when he sees the bruise on Ceecee’s wrist.”

“I didn’t know what she was doing,” I said, directing my words to Lily, who was standing there awkwardly silent. “When I realized she was going to throw it, I just tried to grab her arm before she let it go.”

“I’m sure Cecilia’s fine,” Farrah said with a wave of her hand. “Rose, it’s time to take you home, kiddo. Go get your stuff.”

“Can I stay the night at her house?” Lily asked quickly, giving her mom a cheesy grin.

“Nope,” Farrah replied. “You guys have been together for two weeks straight. You can handle being apart for one night.”

“Aw, man,” Rose complained, sulking as she left the room.

“You riding with us, Lilypad?” Farrah asked as she picked up her purse and slid her feet into shoes.

“No.”

“Stop pouting. Your face is going to stay like that.”

“Fine with me, it’s not like I can see it.”

“Well, at least have a little compassion for your mother and don’t make her look at it,” Farrah said dryly. “Let’s go, Rose!”

I watched it all play out, but I didn’t move from the couch as Farrah ushered Rose outside and closed the door behind them. I wanted to leave, but I knew if I did, Cecilia would blow up my phone once she came downstairs and realized I was gone. I wasn’t even sure why I put up with her shit anymore. I guessed it was just easier to let her play her games than to deal with the bullshit I’d land in if I dropped her ass.

“You can go upstairs, you know,” Lily muttered as she reached down and picked up her book. “No one’s here to stop you.”

“I’m good,” I replied.

She took two steps to the side and reached out toward the recliner in the corner of the room, running her hand down the arm until she was sure of her positioning. Then she dropped into it with a sigh.

“She loves me, you know,” Lily said after a few minutes of quiet. “She was just showing off.”

“It was an asshole move.”

“It wasn’t a big deal,” she argued, shaking her head. “Shit like that happens all the time at school.”

“People been giving you trouble?” I asked darkly, leaning forward in my seat. The idea of anyone messing with the little girl in front of me made me want to go kick middle school asses.

“Oh, knock it off,” she chirped, throwing her hands in the air. “I can take care of myself, and anyone I can’t handle, Rose takes care of.”

“That’s fucked. Nobody should be messing with you at all.”

“It’s fine. If I was a boy, you’d tell me to handle it myself. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

“No, I wouldn’t. If one of the boys had a problem, I’d take care of it.”

“You mean, if one of the boys was blind and had a problem,” she replied knowingly, shaking her head. “School is fine. I just meant that you shouldn’t think Cecilia is some horrible person. She’s not. She was just trying to show off.”

“Known Ceecee since we were babies, Dandelion. I think I’ve got her measure by now.” It was the truth. Also the truth? Most of the time, Cecilia acted like a spoiled brat. I wasn’t about to say that to her baby sister, though. “Now, tell me what the kids at school’ve been doin’.”

“God! Nothing,” she replied. “Did kids at school fuck with you when you got your face messed up?”

“Damn, Dandelion.” I grimaced. Most people didn’t mention my face. They tiptoed around it or acted like they didn’t notice, which was stupid as hell. Of course they could see the scar running along my cheek from my jaw to the corner of my eye. Not like I was trying to hide it. “Nah, no one messed with me. They know better.”

“Is it bad?” she asked, turning her face in my direction. “Your scar?”

“Not great,” I mumbled reaching up to run my finger along the skin I couldn’t feel anymore.

“Can I feel it?”

“What?”

“Can I feel your scar? Nobody wants to describe it, even when I ask.”

I stared at her wide eyes for almost a full minute. Lily was a sweet kid. Pretty in a way that you knew she’d be a knockout when she was grown, but still so innocent looking that it made your teeth ache. She had her mom’s bone structure and her dad’s dark hair and tan skin. The best of both parents, though I’d never tell Cecilia that, with her blonde hair and fair skin. Lily didn’t have a mean bone in her body, and no way would she say something about my scar unless she’d been thinking on it for a while.