Page 107 of Places We've Never Been

“Did he…What did he do to you?” His voice was hard now, exactly what I didn’t want to happen.

“Skyler,” I pleaded. “Nothing. He was nice about it, but Ican’t go out there. Will you just privately tell him to leave? He’ll realize that it was a misunderstanding.” I was having secondhand embarrassment for him and I wasn’t even out there. I couldn’t be the one to tell him. That would embarrass us both even more.

Skyler gave a short nod and exited the RV. I hugged my knees to my chest and stared at the edge of the bed. I rolled my eyes, then stretched forward and fished my arm down the crack for his sketchbook. I had to tell him.

Skyler came back into the RV, a huge smile on his face. “I am so smooth…” His words and smile trailed off as his eyes locked on the book in my hands. “What’s that?”

“It’s not what you think. I mean, it is, but I didn’t look at it. Paisley found it and—”

“Found it?” He was angry.

“Obviously she was being nosy but don’t be mad at her. I don’t think she understands—”

“Privacy? What about you? Do you understand privacy? I’m beginning to think you don’t.” He narrowed his eyes and snatched the book from my hands. “Wait, is this why you sent me out there to send poor Ty away? To hide that?”

“PoorTy?”

“So you’re not denying it?”

“What? No, I was going to tell you. That’s why I was holdingit.”

Paisley poked her head into the RV. “Everyone is waiting for you guys.” Her eyes went wide when she saw what Skyler was holding. “You told him we looked at it?”

His head whipped over to me. “You said you didn’t look atit.”

“It was just one sketch and I didn’t know—”

“Don’t be mad at her. It was my fault,” Paisley said.

“Don’t worry, I’m mad at both of you.” With those words, he left.