Page 23

SKYE

T he air smelled like ash and ruin. The trailer park—what was left of it—was nothing but scorched earth, twisted metal, and blackened remnants of people’s lives. My mother’s life. My old life. All of it—gone.

I stood at the edge of the yellow caution tape, numb. Tyler hovered behind me, quiet, his presence a silent shield. I didn’t say anything. What was there to say? There were no tears left.

Eventually, we turned around. There was nothing to retrieve, nothing to mourn that hadn’t already been burned.

We didn’t speak much until we hit the outskirts of town—only to get stuck in a snarl of traffic. Protesters with signs chanted and blocked lanes. A cop redirected us toward the business district.

Tyler sighed. “Wanna grab a coffee? Might be a while.”

I nodded. “Yeah… sure.”

The place he found was cozy and hipster—a little too polished, with Edison bulbs and chalkboard menus. The barista wore a flannel shirt and nose ring and wrote our names with a flourish on the cups .

I tried to ignore the clench in my stomach, the sweat on my palms.

We picked a table in the corner, beside the window. I wrapped my hands around the cup, let the warmth seep into my skin.

Then I heard his voice.

A voice I hadn’t heard in six years—but could never forget.

Deep. Confident. A little tired around the edges.

“Evie… we need to talk.”

I froze.

My eyes darted toward the door just as JD walked in. And he wasn’t alone.

She was gorgeous—tan skin, long dark hair, full lips painted deep red. She looked like temptation personified in a fitted black top and tight jeans.

JD brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Evie,” he said again, low and serious.

My lungs forgot how to work.

Tyler noticed instantly. “Skye?” he whispered. “You okay?”

My hand trembled as I brought the coffee to my lips. “That’s him.”

Tyler tensed. “JD?”

I nodded. “With her.”

JD’s gaze swept the room.

And then our eyes locked.

It hit like a lightning strike.

His entire body stiffened. The relaxed smile he wore for Evie vanished, replaced by something hard—cold granite and storm clouds.

My pulse roared in my ears. I couldn’t move .

Tyler reached across the table and grabbed my hand. A silent tether. A shield.

JD didn’t look away.

Neither did I.

The woman at his side said something, but he didn’t respond.

Our past stood in the middle of that café like a bomb, ticking between us. Both of us were with someone else. Both of us pretending to move on.

But in that moment… neither of us was fooling anyone.

Not really.

The second our eyes locked, the café became too small to hold the storm brewing inside me.

I couldn’t breathe. I mumbled something—anything—and rushed outside, barely hearing the squeak of the door behind me or Tyler’s concerned voice calling my name.

I hit the alley behind the café and bent over, my hands on my knees, gulping air. My vision blurred. My chest heaved. JD. Here. With another woman.

Tyler caught up, placing a steadying hand on my back. “Skye. Look at me.”

I shook my head, my voice raw. “I thought I was prepared. I thought I could handle it if I ever saw him again.”

“You did handle it,” he said gently. “You didn’t run to him.”

“I ran,” I said bitterly. “Just not to him.”

Tyler reached up, cupped my cheek. “You’re allowed to feel things. You loved him.”

Tears welled, but I blinked them away.

Inside, the door slammed open.