Tightening the hold around my son to curb the breakdown hovering over me, I move to walk away for the second time, knowing this time it would be forever.
“Blue!”
The scream froze me to the spot. For a split-second hope filled my lungs but quickly deflated when I turned around.
His eyes closed, Shay’s body jerked, his hands flailing as if he were in the throes of a dream. “Leave her the fuck alone, you bastards. Hang on, Blue, I’m coming,” he yelled, startling me.
Fear pumped through my blood. “Shay.” His name hurtled out my mouth in a sob and I took a step forward, reaching out.
“No!” Ryleigh yanked on my arm, pulling me away from him. “You need to leave,” she shouted, upsetting my son.
He began to cry, his arms clutching my neck. “Mama.”
“Please, don’t,” I pleaded with Ryleigh at the same time trying to calm him. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”
“Get out, Skye. He’s no longer your concern.” She shoved at my arm, her tone pure ice I didn’t have a chance in hell of melting.
I stumbled backward, dangerously close to tipping over, I gripped my son tight to me but managed to right myself in time. Still, I tried one more time. “Don’t do this Ryleigh. I’m his sister. He needs me.”
Her laugh was caustic, grating on my nerves. “Tough shit.” She narrowed her eyes, her threat imminent. “And I’m his wife. It’s a recurring bad dream just like the bad mistake you were.” Her eyes resembled poisoned darts. “You no longer get the final say, Skye. I do. I take precedence.”
Her words snapped that last band of hope, plunging me under a tidal wave of emotion. Taking me right back to their wedding day and my plea for Shay to let Ryleigh and his child take priority over me. I gave him permission to walk away, to put them before me, to marry her and ultimately to break me first. If I stayed, I’d only be in their way, there’d be no happiness.
My body sagged under that realization. “You’re right,” I yielded my heart for the second time to this woman, turned and walked out.
At the door, I bumped into Dad rushing back with the doctor at his side. “Skye.” Dad grasped my arms. “What happened?”
I stared at the man who’d been nothing but the best damned father any child could hope for and allowed a smile to form. “Help him, Dad because she won’t let me.” He opened his mouth to speak but I shook my head. “Don’t tell him I was here.”
He sighed, his fingers squeezing my arms. “Skye—” Another yell from Shay bounced out from the room, cutting him off.
“Go to him, Dad,” I begged.
With a nod, he kissed my brow then kissed the back of his grandson’s head. “I’ll see you soon.”
I watched him enter the room then set my squirming baby on the floor to play with his car. While part of me knew I should walk away, I couldn’t until I knew he was all right. I stood at the thick paneled glass that separated me from the man my heart cried for. My palm on the glass, I watched Shay wake, confusion guiding his movements. All my life he’d been my hero, and, in my books, heroes didn’t fall or break. Now as I watched him come apart, shattering beneath his tears, I knew there’d be no cure for my fractured heart, hating myself for walking away when he needed me.
His eyes drowning in tears, he looked up then, his gaze locking with my blurred vision. For one tense moment I hoped he could see me. The sudden frown to his brow told me he did. Then he closed his eyes. Swallowing my sob, I picked up my son. Without a goodbye to Shay, I walked away, hoping our love would keep us standing.
If only we didn’t fall...
