That got his attention. Reed stilled the violent rocking and looked at me, his head tilted.You let me move into the apartment?
“I was considering it. But I need to know you’re working on managing your reactions when things don’t go your way, and I need to see that you’re willing to ask for help when you can’t do it.”
He started rocking back and forth again, this time more deliberately as he considered my words.
I came in here by myself.
“I know, and I’m so proud of you for that. But coming into the room isn’t enough.”
After a moment, he stood up and went to his dresser. He turned on the old-school disc player, fished my old Enya CD out of the binder covered in Studio Ghibli stickers, and then inserted it into the slot. Walking up to the carved wood piece that matched my headboard, he closed his eyes and began his somatic breathing process as he traced the intricate pattern.
“I’m going to Stevie’s birthday party. Do you want me to wait a little longer and see if you can come with me? I know she wants to see you, but she’ll also understand.”
He kept his eyes shut as he paused his trace work to sign,No.Tell her about my iPad. She’ll understand.
“You got it, buddy. I’m proud of you.”
He sent me a thumbs up as if to dismiss me, and I slowly backed out of his room, shutting the door behind me.
I walked back into the living room to his two concerned mothers. “Well?” Cynthia asked.
“Meltdown protocol.”
“Did he go willingly?”
“Not initially. But then I explained that his unwillingness to emotionally regulate himself makes us hesitate to give him the apartment.”
“You dangled the apartment?” Brandy asked. “Playing dirty. I like it.”
She held up her hand, and I grinned as I gave her a high five.
Cynthia looked between the two of us, narrowing her eyes. “I don’t know if I approve of this level of cooperation between you two.”
“Can’t help it.” I shrugged as I fit my hat back onto my head. “All the lesbians love me.”
They both barked out a surprised laugh, and I smiled, thinking about how Skylar had been a terrible, terrible influence on me. One crisis settled, I headed back out to my truck and made my way over to Emery and Woody’s place.
Stevie,of course, completely understood why Reed couldn’t make it, and she loved the belt buckle I gave her. She especiallyloved that turning fourteen meant she was now officially an employee of the Baker Ranch, not just a well-tipped junior volunteer.
I wished I could’ve stayed in the moment but was off my game the second I saw Skylar. I hadn’t seen his Porsche out in the parking area outside of Emery and Woody’s big, clapboard house—not that I’d been looking—and hadn’t prepared myself for how beautiful he was.
Skylar’s eyes dazzled against his shimmery blouse and black leather pants. The red-soled heels, which made him my height, were an unexpected touch. I wondered what kind of underthings he was wearing.His underthings are none of your never mind.
Besides, I couldn’t even imagine what a hard on would look like in lace.Liar.
“Hey, Kit. Want a refill?” Dawn asked, ripping me away from the picture in my head. My imagination, as it happened, worked pretty well. I was also pretty sure Rowdy caught me staring a time or two, but it couldn’t be helped.
My eyes went to Skylar before I had a chance to wrangle them back into place. Looking down at my outfit—starched shirt, starched jeans, shiny belt buckle, and my nice boots for the occasion—and suddenly felt shriveled up and ugly as homemade sin.
I refocused on Dawn, who looked at me expectantly, holding a carafe of the adult punch. “Refill?”
“Definitely not,” I said, a little more forceful than I’d meant to.
“Oooh-kay,” she said, hurrying on to the next person.
No wonder Sky had pulled away so quickly. I still couldn’t believe I’d kissed him like that. Or at all. Every time I thought about it, my face went hot and humiliation washed over me.
Why would I do that?
