Page 38 of Skye's Fall

“Nope, together,” Sal clarifies. “I have some of your rodeo buddies to help out, give pointers.”

“That’s kind of a relief,” Mallory chimes in. I’m still a little miffed about the bar. Does she know Lily? She didn’t look to be trying very hard to make her leave. In fact, it looked like they were good friends.

“You guys can catch a few hours of sleep,” Carlton tells everyone as they cross the finish line. Kelsey is yelling at Stan and Victoria looks pissed.

“You are such a loser,” Kelsey yells and Stan flinches. And then it happens in slow motion— she launches for Skye.

“You’re such a bitch. You know Sal, so you get all the good shit. You get special treatment.” She lunges for Skye, who doesn’t even see it coming.

“You took everything from us.” She punches Skye in the face. I don’t know why I take so long to help as I see security trying to pull Kelsey off Skye.

“I don’t even know you,” Skye yells back.

“You do,” Kelsey hisses.

“I swear, I don’t,” Skye’s holding her cheek.

“Bitch,” she yells as she’s hauled off. One more down.

I move her hand to check her face.

“Just a bruise,” I kiss it.

“I’ll be okay,” she says sadly.

“What did she mean by all that?”

She just shrugs and turns away.

Sal calls everyone over to the tree. “Since Kelsey is gone, we have a hitch in the plans. The guys are going to have a little fun to see who stays.”

“What do you mean by fun?”

“The men are going to have to paddle around the lake, collecting rings in the water,” Carlton tells us and explains the rules. It’s going to be a long morning.

“You have two hours to nap and then meet back up here,” Sal says as we all head down to the cabins.

I hear the girls talking to Snow, asking the question that was on all our minds— who was that guy at the fair? They are trying to avoid talking about what just happened.

“He is an ex who’s been stalking me” is her simple answer. Not sure if it’s that simple.

“How do you know Dayton?” Skye asks.

Snow doesn’t answer, just redirects. I can relate, I’m good at that as well.

“How was the date?” And I know without looking that Skye stiffens and I see her fall back behind the crowd.

“See you guys in a couple hours,” I wave to the rest of the contestants.

I open the door to the cabin and hold the door for her. She just lays down, not even looking at me.

“What did you and Sal talk about?”

She faces the wall, rolling away from me.

“You can’t do this. You can’t shut me out. Talk to me,” I sit down on the bed, grabbing her hand.

“I’m leaving the show,” she says.