An overpowering grief crashes over me, and I watch them as we drive out to Ellis’. Both Skyla and Logan have my heart. Candace has laid out the future for them like a smooth path. The only briar patch in the middle isme.
I lean back and glare up at thesky.
I’m not complying with your little plan. This is my life. My wife. My family you are threatening to tear to pieces. I won’t letyou.
Because no matter what you’re dreaming up, whatever it is you’re scheming, I’m ready to fight to the death—and perhaps beyond that if I have to, and something tells me I’ll haveto.
I won’t let you make me feel like I’m holding onto the losing end of thestick.
I’mnot.
I haveSkyla.
I’ve alreadywon.
* * *
Ellis’house is shaking, quaking with the dull inharmonious rhythm of the bass as an ornery rap song blares through the neighborhood. I can practically feel my mother’s tension from across the street. She let me know twice this morning that she was pissed over the fact Skyla’s sister would be watching the boys tonight, and here she was a mere ten steps away. I’m betting she’s having second thoughts about that right about now. Although, all I hear lately is how very little they see the boys, how she suspects Skyla is favoring her own family, and the boys will grow up to be strangers to her and my father. I don’t believe that for a minute. But her budding piranha-like ways have to be clipped. That’s why I’m going to propose that Skyla and I move in with them while I attack the old Walsh place with a sledgehammer. Tad is right. I do not want to end up like him, ornearhim. I declare that shit ride has come to an unceremonious end. And, of course, my mother can have her fill of the boys for a couple of weeks straight, proving that Skyla doesn’t have a mean bone in herbody.
We step out of the Mustang and onto the Harrisons’driveway.
“It’s just like old times!” Skyla threads her arm through mine as she bounces in her high heels. She looks gorgeous tonight, per usual. She’s donned a short black dress and swiped on a little red lipstick, taking her to supermodel levels. She looks just as physically fit as she did before she had the boys, but every time I bring it up she reprimands me for lying, so I leave well enoughalone.
Ellis stumbles out, looks dazed and confused, and Logan shakes his head athim.
“Just like old times.” He slaps Ellis over the back. “Dude, youokay?”
“Hell yeah. I am now.” Ellis offers us each a high five. “Get the hell in there. I have the entertainment showing up soon. I promised Bree I’d flag them down so they don’t missus.”
Skyla laughs at the thought. “I don’t think anyone can miss this place, not tonight anyway. I’m afraid to ask, but what’s theentertainment?”
“Chloe on a spit?” Logan offers, and the only one not laughing isSkyla.
“Dude”—Ellis mock socks her arm—“I was just talking to Bishop in there. You need to chill out, and then you need to take a step way the hell back. She told me what the two of you are up to, and I don’t know, man. You’re not playing with matches here. You’re running around a firework factory with a torch inhand.”
“Preach it.” Logan forces a smile Skyla’s way, and shescoffs.
“I’d better go find Bree.” She hikes up and plants a kiss on my cheek before strutting her hot selfinside.
“So, what’s she got going on with Bishop?” I glare at Ellis because I think we both know if he doesn’t speak up I might just crush him for the hell of it. It’s killing me not knowing what Skyla and Chloe have going on. And it seems like every time we get the conversation started something,everythinginterruptsus.
“Dude”—Ellis lets out a groan that sounds like his insides are about to explode—“she’s fucking with the wrong person. I’d say talk some sense into that woman, but it’s too late for thatshit.”
Logan yanks him in by the elbow. “Why is it toolate?”
“Don’t ask me. I’m not up on all that covenant bullshit.” He takes a few steps out before turning to Logan. “And hey, G and I made a few modifications to the plans. Meet up with me sometime if you get a second.” He flags down an SUV full of older women who happen to be sporting some serious war paint and eyelashes so long they come with their own zip code. The garish grannies file out, each wearing a tiny silk robe, and Ellis howls up a storm. “Shit! These chicks arehot!” He’s quick to escort them around the back, leaving both Logan and me shaking ourheads.
“What the hell justhappened?”
Logan groans at the sight. “He’d better get his eyes checked.” He turns his full attention my way, his features hardening to something just this side of pissed. “And Skyla better get her head checked. What the hell is going on? Ellis doesn’t throw the wordcovenantout therelightly.”
“No, he doesn’t. And I don’t think Skyla does either. Has she said anything at all to you?” I scour his features as if his words alone won’t be enough to satisfyme.
“No. She’s been tight-lipped from the beginning. I think it’s time we had a sit-down. In the least I want to know what the hell is about to blow up in ourfaces.”
A dull laugh dies in my throat because I’m too pissed to give it. “Do you have that little faith in Skyla’s ability to lead? She’s bright. She’s capable. And whatever she’s doing with Chloe, I’m sure she’s thought itthrough.”
“Yes, I have faith in Skyla’s ability to lead,” he says it with a viral anger that matches my own. Emotions have been running high this week on both ends, and they’re about to blow. “It’s Chloe I don’t trust, and neither should you. If I were to take a wild guess, it’syourface this will take off first.” Logan’s angry eyes stay trained on mine, and neither of us moves. For a minute, I consider how good it would feel to go at him. Shove my fist down his obnoxious throat, pummel him, blow after blow, but then it doesn’t take long for me to figure out it wouldn’t do any good. We’ve screwed with one another so much in the past, repented, begged forgiveness, and started all over again. It’s like a demonic carousel neither one of us can figure out how to get off of. “And while I’ve got you here.” He glances up at the house with its guests spilling out onto the driveway, each with a requisite red Solo cup in hand. That lion fountain that Emily so readily destroyed last New Year’s Eve already resurrected as if nothing had happened. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve been infiltrating your life as of late. I sense the tension, and I don’t want that, not for you or forme.”
