Gage blinks to life with a smile, and those dimples of his dig in deep. Haven’t seen them in a while, and it feels good to know his joy is still within reach. “Dude, I’m the middleman, and we both know it. I’ve always been caught in the middle between you two. Don’t fight me on it.” He rubs his arm before his affect softens. “Look, I mean it. I need you. She’s off the rails, and I need her to be whole. I broke her. I didn’t mean to, but I did. You need to go in and dig deep. Get to the bottom of this Bishop mystery. Skyla knows better than to mess withChloe.”
“That’s what’s scary. She’s voluntarily messing with Chloe.” A shiver runs through me. “She’s playing with fire—and she will get burned in the end. I can’t fathom what’s going through hermind.”
“Yeah, well, like I said, I’m the reason she’s derailing. She has every right to hate me. But I need in again. I crave those boys as much as I do her. I’d do anything to have my old lifeback.”
Gage will never have his old life back. There isn’t a chance in hell, and we both know it. But instead of stating the obvious, I offer up a falsely encouragingnod.
“What’s with all the enthusiasm?” He nods to Ellis and Liam who have busted out the legal pad and are jotting down every bad idea that comes tomind.
“They’re deconstructing my life. Nothing new, my friend.” I’ve already swum in the deep end of the insanity pool with Ellis and Liam. And I’m not eager to abandon the conversation. “So, what’s next with Skyla? When was the last time you spoke with her? When did you see theboys?”
“I just left the house. As soon as I showed up, Skyla took a shower so I had a chance to spend some time with them.” He winces. “I can’t live apart from my boys, Logan. Skyla has to hear me out. She has to know I would die to protect myfamily.”
Ellis and Liam abandon their brainstorming efforts and head onover.
“New Year’s Eve—my house.” Ellis points to the two of us. “I’d have it here, but dude, this place is deader than the effing morgue. Get it? Deader than the morgue?” He offers himself a robust round of applause. “It’s going to behuge. This is bigger and better than anything I’ve ever done before. I’ve got an all-star lineup. Live bands imported from Host will be rocking us all night long. Get someone to sit on those kids, would you?” he shouts to Gage while walking backward toward the door. “I want Messenger’s fine ass over there,too!”
Gage growls at Ellis for his inability to keep it clean. That’s exactly why I love Gage with Skyla. Contrary to what she believes, he is protective—right down to Ellis’ foulmouth.
“So, you good with the teardown?” Liam gives me a shove as if my opinion didn’t really matter. It probably doesn’t, or shouldn’t at this point, considering I’ve been administering CPR to the place for as long as I can remember and I can’t get it offgo.
“I’m rooting for thebonfire.”
Gage shakes his head ever so slightly. “You’re not tearing down thisplace.”
“Yes, we are.” It’s nice to see Liam doesn’t give much credence to Gage’s opinion either. “We’re rebuilding and putting in a gym next door. Ellis Harrison isbrilliant.”
Gage and I groan at the thought of Ellis’ brilliance. It’s heresy at itsfinest.
“Maybe so.” Gage pumps a small laugh from his chest. “For my sister’s sake, he’d better be. Anyway, I’m up for some construction myself, so maybe I can use whoever you hire to help out with the old Walshplace.”
Skyla and Gage just purchased their very first home a few months back. Skyla’s not crazy about it. And it’s not the fact it’s virtually a haunted fixer-upper that’s making her skittish. It’s the fact it’s planted smack next door to Barron and Emma that has her spooked. Can’t say I blame her. Emma has proven to be every bit the nightmare when it comes to my ex-wife.
Ex-wife.A dull laugh rides through me. That sounds bitter and cold, and that’s not at all how Skyla and I are—with the exception of this very moment. I narrow my gaze at my nephew for getting me into this bitter cold pickle to beginwith.
“Back toSkyla.”
“And I’m out of here.” Liam throws his hands in the air. “I’ll see you clowns tomorrow night at Harrison’s. Leave the drama behind and let’s start the new year fresh. There’s a lot to be said about forgiveness.” His voice trembles through the walls as he ducks out into the dark armpit of thestorm.
“Skyla isn’t going to forgive me anytime soon,” Gage muses. “Maybe not youeither.”
That dry smile materializes on my face once again. Deep down, it’s me Skyla should resent,hate—not Gage. Never Gage. I’m the one who singlehandedly turned her life upside down and tossed her to the celestial wolves. But life doesn’t have a rewind button, and time travel doesn’t work that way either. This is the shit hole we’re in, and both Gage and Skyla Oliver are going to work this damn thing out. I’ll make sure of it if it’s the last thing my dead body accomplishes on thisplanet.
“I know what you’re thinking, dude.” He smacks me over the arm before giving my shoulder one of those bionic squeezes. Same ones he used to dole out in high school before a big game. Gage always gave the best pep talks. In fact, the coach gave him the floor more often than not. “You’ll get your time with her.” He looks past me, his eyes wide and vacant as if drifting into some invisible horizon that erases his existence altogether. “It will happen much sooner than youthink.”
I kick his foot out from under him, and he stumbles a moment before righting himself. “Snap out of it.” I sling an arm around his shoulder. “You are, and always will be, the love of that woman’s life. You have given her a gift—twogifts—for which she is eternally grateful. The two of you have bonded your souls, through love, in ways that most people wish they could experience for just a moment in this life. This heartache, this heartbreak sponsored by the Fems—it too shall pass. Mark my words, Gage. By this time next year, this will all just be a blip on theradar.”
“Blip on the radar, huh? Sounds like something—or someone is about to bite the bigone.”
“Are you saying I’m not a goodcheerleader?”
Gage scuffs my hair up and rubs his knuckles hard over my head. “I’m saying you’re a good prognosticator. Trouble is coming, Logan. I can feel it in my creaky bones. My days are numbered, and I don’t know what the hell to do about it.” He heads for the exit, and I follow him to thedoor.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, sweetheart,” I tease at a weak attempt to add levity to the situation. “My days are over, and I’m still parading around this planet like I meanit.”
“So, you’re saying it’s not over even when it’s over?” A dry laugh pumps through him. “In that case, you might be a better cheerleader than youthink.”
“I’m also a bit delusional.” I turn back and look at the empty bowling alley with its tired paint job and well-worn floors—the shoes lining the counter in bad need of repair themselves. Hell, even the ratted-out loafers look poised to run the hell out of here. “It’s over for this place, isn’tit?”
