I did the mental math. “So, twenty-nine.”
“Yeah.” He sighed heavily. “Really not looking forward to my next birthday.”
“Hey, I’m thirty already.” I winked at him. “It’s not so bad, I promise.”
Skylar sunk into the seat. “Well, most of my friends are younger than me and already have mates and babies, so itdoeskinda feel bad.”
“I’m guessing that’s something you want too?” I offered.
“Yes,” he said quietly. Wistfully.
A moment of silence passed through us, with only the rumble of the engine in the background.
“It’s not too late,” I suggested. “Plenty of folks have babies later in life. And love is something that can happen at any age.”
His lips grew thin and a bitter note crept into his voice. “Yeah, but I don’t want it at any age. I want it now. I want it while everyone else around me has it.”
I’d never heard him speak of his friends so sharply. It took me off guard. I realized this must have been a deep-seated issue for him.
Skylar’s voice softened again. “Oh god, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. Especially since this has nothing to do with you.”
“Nah, it’s cool,” I replied. “Sometimes we all need to vent. I’m an objective third party, here to listen. And I won’t even charge you.”
That got a small laugh out of him. “Thanks, Rafael.”
Hearing his laugh and my name on his tongue again made my heart do a backflip.
“So, this mystery address,” I said, turning the wheel. “Is it someplace dangerous? You’re not leading me to a drug house or anything, are you?”
“No,” Skylar said. His tone instantly changed back to somber. I knew there was something at this address he didn’t want to face, whatever it was. “And you don’t even have to come in. Actually, I prefer if you didn’t.”
“You want me to stay in the car?”
“Please.”
Now I was really curious, but I held my tongue. I didn’t wanna be some jackass that needled the truth out of him just because I wanted to know. But at the same time, I thought--perhaps selfishly--that I deserved some small explanation for why I was driving Skylar around so frantically and sitting in the car as his emotional backup.
“You’re not in any physical danger, are you?” I asked as the previous thought hit me. “‘Cause I’m not trained as a bodyguard or anything.”
Skylar hesitated a moment, which instantly made me uneasy. “No.”
“Are you one-hundred percent sure? Because you don’t sound like you are.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” he said evenly.
I still didn’t believe him. He was hiding something, and while I was fine to stay out of the loop until now, it was different if he could be put in harm’s way. About two minutes from our destination, I pulled over the car, punched the hazard lights and parked it.
“What are you doing?” Skylar asked.
“I need the truth, Skylar,” I said firmly. “Are you in danger? Is somebody going to hurt you?”
“No!” he cried.
But there was fear in his eyes.
“Honestly?” I asked.
“Yes, honestly,” Skylar snapped, a bit of fiery anger returning to him.
