She grinned before walking out.
I leaned back in the chair, letting my fingers drum the desk slowly. My mind kept drifting back to Skye...to her laugh, to the way she looked when she was with Ol’ School, to that fire in her eyes that had made me forget how long I’d been walking around numb.
I picked up the phone and dialed Trace.
“Yeah?” he answered.
“Need you to see what you can dig up,” I said, voice steady. “About that night…the one I told you about where someone violated Skye.”
“Ah,” Trace said softly. “You want details?”
“Yes. Everything you can get. I don’t care how long it takes.”
There was silence on the line for a moment, then Trace said, “I’ll see what I can find.”
31
SKYE
The streets blurred past as Ocean drove us toward my sister’s house. My fingers drummed lightly against the dashboard, trying to settle the nervous energy buzzing in my stomach.
Ocean glanced at me. “You good?”
I sighed. “I just want to get this over with.”
“I hear you. Just relax though. Don’t get yourself all worked up before we even get there. Everything’s going to be fine. Just remember what I said.”
Taking in a deep breath, I smiled softly. “You got me,” I whispered.
“That’s right.”
I nodded slowly, trying to calm the tight coil of nerves in my chest. He didn’t need to say anything more.
We made small talk on the way...cracked jokes, laughed and listened to music. For a few minutes, I almost forgot what we were headed into. But as soon as the familiar streetlights of my sister’s neighborhood came into view, my stomach tightened again.
Pulling up to Leera’s house, I could feel it before I even opened the car door. Tension, thick enough to taste.
The front door opened before we could knock, and my mother practically glowed, holding my nephew close. “I’m so glad you made it.”
I stepped a little closer. My nephew wriggled in her arms, tiny hands grabbing at my shirt, and I laughed softly, immediately forgetting the heaviness in my chest.
“Look at him! You remember I told you he has your nose?” My mother cooed.
I leaned down, gently brushing his soft hair. “He’s perfect,” I whispered.
My heart swelled.
Then my eyes flicked over her shoulder. Kory was leaning against the wall, smug as ever, arms crossed. I instantly felt my chest tighten again.
My sister moved in beside our mother, a forced grin on her face. “Hey, Skye. Welcome to our home.”
Nothing about her demeanor said that I was welcomed, but I tried not to focus on that.
I cleared my throat. “Hey, Leera. How have you been?”
“Good. You?”
“I’ve been good.”
