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‘They haven’t told us anything yet. But he’s been back there almost four hours now.’

‘Four hours! Where are my parents? Why haven’t they called me?’

‘They’re here. Ah, I think they’re in shock. Everyone’s been calling and wanting to know how to help, but I think they just don’t know what to do.’ When the panic threatened to take over, Skye closed her eyes and very clearly said, ‘You need to come. It’s bad, and I can’t …’ do this. ‘I don’t know what to do. And your mom and dad aren’t capable of making any decisions for him right now.’

‘I’m packing as we speak. I’m in Tucson, so I can be there in under two hours.’ Julia briefly moved the phone away, but Skye heard her distinctly say, ‘Sly, get up!’

And a man’s grumbled, ‘What’s going on?’

‘TJ’s been in a bull-riding accident. Here, take Luke.’ Over the line, a baby started crying. ‘I’m packing. Get changed. Grab the keys.’

‘He okay?’

‘No.’

Julia didn’t say more. She came back on the line, asked, ‘Which hospital?’

‘Scottsdale Osborn.’

‘See you soon,’ Julia said. ‘Tell my parents I’m on the way.’

Skye hung up.

She leaned heavily against the nearby wall, completely drained. Feeling fear for someone other than herself wasn’t new. She’d always felt it for her mother and had tried to intervene between her parents, to refocus her father’s wrath on her instead. But this was different. There was absolutely nothing she could do to protect TJ’s body. There was nothing she could say to his parents to make them feel any relief. And even though she had no idea how to handle it, TJ being hurt had smothered her denial and made one thing abundantly clear: she was, somehow, already in love with him.

And that was not a comfort.

Skye already would have given him anything, and that worried her. She’d been trapped by a man who’d had that power over her once, a man who’d made her desperate to please him, desperate to be loved by him, and even though she’d sworn she’d never let it happen again, there was a terrible fear growing within her that it was already too late.

TJ did not have to be anything like Holden for that to be true. Overwhelmed by the intensity of her feelings, Skye began to panic.

Still, she forced the queasy feeling down.

She remembered what he’d said: Trust me, Skye. I won’t let you down. And although it took immense courage, she allowed herself to believe it. Slowly, her urge to run was quelled. Her panic calmed.

TJ needed her.

So, she’d stay.

In the waiting room, she passed Ryan’s phone back to him. ‘Julia’s on her way.’

He looked at it blankly for a moment before his eyes cleared. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you do that.’

‘Don’t apologize.’ Skye sat down in the seat next to his. ‘I’m happy to help. Can I get you anything? Coffee? A snack?’ When Ryan shook his head, Skye looked past him to Janey. ‘Janey?’

‘Oh, no. Thanks, baby.’ She tried to smile, but didn’t quite manage it, only sighed and fell back into that catatonic stare, her eyes on the hallway – waiting, Skye knew, for someone to tell her if her son was alive.

Chapter 18

Skye did not have to wonder if the woman approaching was Julia. She had TJ’s dark hair and green eyes but Janey’s angular features and delicate, pointed chin. She barrelled down the hall in her pyjamas, a baby who couldn’t have been more than four months old on her hip, the long ears on her bunny slippers flopping up and down with each frantic step she took. A handsome man who could only be Sly walked at her side, carrying a diaper bag. He was tall, maybe six-three, and despite the time of day, he was dressed impeccably in tan chinos and a black shirt.

Skye gently rubbed Ryan’s shoulder, said, ‘Julia’s here.’

He came to, blinked several times. But the moment he looked up and saw his daughter running towards him, tears started falling down his cheeks. He uncrossed his arms and stood, pulled Julia and Luke into a huge hug before reaching behind them to shake Sly’s hand. Not once did Ryan seem embarrassed by the tears streaming down his face. Even when he swiped them away, Skye knew it was only because of the need to clear his eyes.

Janey followed, hugging her family and murmuring that they had no updates in that hushed hospital voice. Unsure of herself, Skye remained seated.

She had never been hugged by her father. And she’d certainly never seen him cry.