“Oh”—Mom throws her hands in the air, exasperated—“the kids are paying for it for shit’ssake!”
Chloe’s about to say something, and I hold up a finger. She frowns my way, but it is nice to know she’s willing to comply—for now. Her eyes widen as she looks over my shoulder, and I turn to find Gage strolling in with Nathan in his arms, or at least from here I think it’s Nathan. The boys might be fraternal, but there is not one noticeable difference at thispoint.
“Hello, Gage.” Chloe’s entire face opens up for him—much like her legs would gladly do, I’msure.
“Down, girl,” I whisper. It’s nice to be holding the whip and the chair for once in this bedraggledrelationship.
Chloe’s chest pumps with a silent laugh, her eyes still very much pegged to my betrothed. “Don’t you ever liken me to a dog again,Skyla.”
“If the bitch shoefits.”
Gage steps in close, examining the two of us as if trying to see which one is easier to read. I’ll give him a hint. It is most definitely not me. I bet it’s killing him to see me with this demon by my side, killing him to know what I might be thinking, staging, preparing, all in the name of our twisted love. Whatever becomes of us, of Chloe and me, Gage and me, I can squarely peg the outcome on Gage Oliver’sshoulders.
You did this, I want to say. You have unraveled us, and now I’ve comeundone.
He leans in and takes in a breath with his eyes closed, his face seemingly relaxed for the first time. “You smellnice.”
“It’s me,” Chloe volunteers. “It’s my new perfume—Chloe. Skyla gave it to me for Christmas.” God, she’s such an attention whore around him I’m almost embarrassed forher.
His eyes widen with fright before looking to me. “Skyla.” My name comes out in a depressed whisper. “I need to talk toyou.”
Nathan fidgets in his arms, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was wiggling in my direction so I scoop him onover.
“Not now.” There. I’ve given him a modicum of hope. He can run with it all the way back to the Olivers’ for all Icare.
Chloe takes a step into him, and I note how creepy it is the way her eyes remain trained on his, wide and full of expectation. All Gage has ever given her is rejection, but Chloe is resilient in her pursuit of him. Apparently to some people, delusions are nothing but a springboard ofhope.
“We’ll be at the party tonight.” Chloe nods slowly as if trying to hypnotize him. “We expect to see youthere.”
“I won’t be there. I’ll be with theboys.”
Mom pokes her head into our tiny circle. “I’ll be with the boys. Actually, Emma just informed me she will, too.” She wrinkles her nose and waves to Chloe with one finger. “It’s so nice to see you around the house again.” She coos for a moment while fondling the blob of paper towels in her hands. “Anyway, I’m having a get-together here tonight and the Olivers are coming.” She nods my way. “So you, young lady, go out and have a little fun.” She hitches her head toward Gage and makes all sorts of crazy eyes before zooming past us once again on route to the slip and slide disaster on the stairs. Little Beau is singlehandedly turning this entire house into a hygienicnightmare.
“Then it’s set.” Chloe slings an arm around me as Nathan arches his back and starts in on a cry that sounds very much like the bleating of a lamb. “We’re partying like it’s our last night on earth.” She never takes her eyes off Gage. “Last chance for love and all that other good stuff.” She struts over to Em and Bree in the kitchen, and for once I’m sorry that Chloe Bishop has left my presence. Who knew Chloe would turn out to be a life preserver in my darkest hour? A lead-lined life preserver, butstill.
“Then it’s set.” Gage washes those cobalt eyes over mine, no smile. “Yes, I have things I need to explain”—he shoots a quick glance to Chloe—“but apparently, so do you.” His arm comes in low around my waist as he attempts to pull me in, but I flinch and he retracts. “Let’s goupstairs.”
“The stairs are indisposed if you haven’t been paying attention. And no, this isn’t the time orplace.”
His eyes narrow in over mine, angry and brooding. “I don’t want to start the new year off this way withyou.”
I lean in, my blood, my temper, and my growing discontent for him coming to a roiling boil. “Then you should have considered that before pledging to darkness,” I hiss so fast it’s Gage who flinches thistime.
Emma blinks into the room with Barron, and Mia swoops in behind her only to take the baby from herarms.
Gage takes a step back. His dimples invert with dissatisfaction. That’s the magic of those beautiful divots. They don’t need a smile to perform at maximum capacity. The boys are the same way. I’ve watched for hours as those deep wells of cuteness go off in theirsleep.
“We’d better take off. We were on our way to the daycare center. I offered to take a look at the plumbing, but I wanted to stop by.” He leans in and offers a kiss to Nathan. His hand grazes over my swollen chest, and our eyes meet. No apology from him, but then, I didn’t expect one. “I’ll see you tonight. Know this, Skyla”—his gaze weighs heavy on me like the sea pressing over the ocean floor, letting me know I will never emerge the victor, he will lay over my heart forever—“I love you. It’s you I’m fighting for. Always you,Skyla.”
He escorts his mother out of the room, and the air around me feels thick with loneliness. Even in our anger Gage seems to make it a little easier to breathe. I’m sure that’s what Demetri wanted when he manipulated this designer union. Gage and I were never pieced together by my mother and her destination station—we were forged by wickedness and now the light has shown through the broken pieces of who we’ve become and is exposing us for the sham we reallyare.
Mia swoops in with a wiggly little Barron, and my heart melts as his hand reaches for his brother. They’re practically conjoined all night in their tiny bassinet. I don’t know how much longer they’ll be able to sleep together, but I don’t have the heart to separate them justyet.
“Too bad you’re saddled with kids at such a young age.” Mia snorts while bouncing Barron in her arms, and my mouth falls open. “Don’t worry, Skyla. I won’t screw up my life like you did.” Her eyes meet mine with a renewed enthusiasm. “I’m going out tonight! Melissa and I are heading to theitparty on Paragon.” She holds a finger to her lips. “Don’t tell Mom and Tad.” She passes Barron to me, and now my arms are full of love, and yet my mind is still mildly pissed at the slight my sister just gave me. “I’m going toparty, Skyla. I’m going to live life for the both of us.” Her face opens with such sincerity I almost want tolaugh.
“Please, Mia, I’m notdead.”
“But you’re basically an old lady. You’re likeMom.” She makes our mother sound like an infectious disease. “Face it, you can’t have fun anymore. And you’re uneducated. This is all you’ll ever be now—a mom.” Her face falls despondent before she livens up once again. Mia has fully grown into a mirrored version of myself, unlike Melissa, our stepsister who looks every bit the dark-haired, dark-eyed Landon with a questionable dark soul to boot. Although, at the moment, I would very much like to give this mirrored version in front of me a swift kick in the ass. She leans in and whispers, “I’ve got a hot date tonight, but don’t think for a minute I won’t make him useprotection.”
