Perfection #3 Read Free Page B

gazed at him. “It’s alright. I was the jerk. I should have
stayed here and left you alone.” I hoped he could hear me; I could barely
manage a whisper right now. I don’t know what happened to my voice. Did I lose
it screaming earlier?
    “No, it was all me—all my fault. I am sorry.”
    “Okay.”
    “Lilly, are you sure that you feel okay? You don’t
seem like you do.”
    “Have you ever faced death? I mean, has anyone you
ever loved died?”
    Bullet winced at my question. “Um…yes I have
actually. Why do you ask?”
    “Were you there when it happened? Could you have
stopped it?”
    Bullet made a sort of laughing sound but it was
anything but funny. “Why would you ask me that? Is that any of your business?”
    I pulled the plug on the tub. It was one of those
old fashioned kind with the bright silver chain. I liked it. So much nicer than
the tub I had in my tiny apartment. You know, maybe I should buy a house so I
could have one of these nice tubs. “I want to go home. Take me home,” I said
watching the water swirl down the tub drain.
    “What about our deal? Are you reneging?” He faked
self-assurance; I could see through him now. This wasn’t about the boob job
anymore. It was about us. He liked me—he just didn’t know how to be a friend,
much less a boyfriend. I mean, mostly he didn’t know how to be a friend. The
warm bath had been a nice gesture. Still, I didn’t want to try anymore. I guess
almost getting eaten by a bear changes your perspective.
    “Sure, whatever you want to call it. I’m done. I
don’t want any surgery. I just want to go home.” I felt
tired, so tired that I could go to sleep in the bathtub — maybe it was the warm
bath and the brandy . I drank the whole glass.
    “Okay, whatever you want to do, Lilly but why don’t
you take a nap first. I’ll help you get dressed—no, I won’t try anything and
you can lie down. When you wake up, we will go wherever you want.”
    “Promise?” I didn’t trust him but I was very tired. The rawness of my emotions had calmed
down and I was exhausted.
    “I do promise. Come on, let’s get you dried off.” As
he promised, he didn’t try anything, just dried off my body carefully and
searched my suitcase for some clothing. Finding the long, satin nightgown, he
slid it over my body. It felt good next to my skin. Bullet pulled back the
comforter and the sheet and stood aside so I could climb in the bed.
    “I’ll either be downstairs or in my room when you
wake up. Come find me, alright?” He stroked my hair. I had taken it down and
now it was a mess. He pushed it behind my shoulder, closed the blinds and left
the room. After he closed the door, it only took a few seconds to fall asleep.

 
    Chapter
Four
    Bullet
    True to their word, the local animal control came
quickly and found the animal dead. The representative warned me about killing
bears but said since the carcass was found on my land, I wouldn’t face any
charges. I sneered at the guy and promised him next time I faced a bear, I
would let my friend die. I wasn’t in the mood to be censured, especially by
some pimple-faced teenager who thought more about animals than he did people. His boss overhead the conversation and said, “We understand that
this was a dangerous animal. No one is blaming you for defending
yourself or your friend. I took the liberty of doing some tracking.”
    “Yes?” I asked the older woman, ignoring her
assistant.
    “I didn’t see any other tracks and male bears, this
one was a male, don’t usually travel with other bears so you should be alright.
If you see anything else, please call us. We will be happy to help you.”
    “Thanks.” I watched them load the massive animal on
the back of a truck with a wench. He was big, bigger than any I had seen around
here. The animal was a frightening sight, even dead. Rafe and Eve were packing;
I asked them to leave, making an excuse about the bear. Rafe seemed unafraid
but Eve didn’t waste any time. I