“I know you would. I’m sorry though. I just… You two are weird together sometimes, and I thought maybe it would stress her out more.”
Fuck. My sister has noticed the way that kiss changed the dynamic between Leighton and me. I’m surprised Callie’s not asking me flat out what gives. “How did Skylar and her husband pass?”
She leans back and sighs. “No one is really certain on all the details. Sky and Patrick were up north at Patrick’s family cabin for a couple’s getaway. They were hiking, and it’s not clear if one of them initially fell and the other tried to go after them, or what, but they were both found on a rock landing from what is suspected to be an accidental fall.”
Shit, you go for quality time and die? I guess I can take hiking off my bring the spark back trip list for whenever I get married.
I let out a slow exhale. “That’s crazy.”
“I know. And then the lawyer comes and says they named Leighton?—”
“She didn’t know beforehand?” She had back-to-back blows. Fuck.
Callie shakes her head. “I’m sure they never thought anything would happen to them.”
“I don’t want to sound like I doubt her, but this is a lot for Leighton to take on.”
And she’ll do it for the sole reason that her cousin wanted her to. She’s not someone who lets anyone down.
“Yeah, I’m going with her to the lawyer in a couple of days.”
We both lean back in our chairs. I miss my sister. I haven’t spent nearly the time I want with her since returning to Chicago. And now that I’m on the straight and narrow, away from clubs or anything that puts me in the gossip blogs, we won’t be on the same Chicago nightlife scene.
“I can help.”
She tips her head, knowing how busy I’m about to be. One hundred sixty-two games plus hopefully the playoffs are my next half of the year. I shouldn’t care how Leighton will do it all. It’s her business, and since she clearly doesn’t want anything to do with me, I need to stay on my own course.
The door opens behind us, and I can’t help but hope it’s Leighton.
“Linc!” Leighton says, but the little boy is already in front of me with his mitt and ball in hand.
“Will you play catch with me?”
“Hayes has to go now.” Leighton comes out and puts her hand on the little guy’s shoulders. He can’t be more than eight or nine.
“No, I don’t.” I stand up from the chair. “Do you have a glove for me?”
“Yeah, you can use my dad’s.” He drops his glove and ball and runs back into the house.
“You don’t have to. I’m sure you have more important things to do.” The dark circles under Leighton’s blue eyes make my heart feel as heavy as lead.
I shrug. “I don’t have anywhere I need to be.”
Before I have time to enjoy the small smile creasing Leighton’s lips, Lincoln comes back out and holds out a broken-in glove for me.
For the next hour, I play catch and hear all about Patrick, a man I didn’t know but who was clearly a great dad.
Chapter
Four
Hayes
* * *
“Hellooo!” Jagger waves his hand in front of my face.
“Sorry.” I straighten in my chair and pick up my fork again.
