Page 48 of Skye's Fall

“What’s on your mind?”

“I love him,” I blurt out. No idea why I did that. I just felt the need to say it.

“Already knew that,” Beau chuckles.

“What?”

“I’ve known since before your marriage to Memphis that you two loved each other,” he says.

“I shouldn’t have married Memphis,” I admit.

“Shit happens. You’ve made mistakes.”

“I’ve heard that a lot lately,” I mutter.

“Don’t let those mistakes hold you back. You want him, go for him.”

“He hates me again,” I say sadly.

“Why do you think that?”

“He told me so. He wants to act like a teenager and listen to rumors instead of manning up and asking me if the rumor was true,” I say.

“Is it true?”

“No. I don’t want anyone else, just him.”

“He might be hurt, but he doesn’t hate you.”

“Again, he said he hates me just last night.” Before the hate-filled sex we had. Not that I would tell Beau that part.

“Prove him wrong.”

“How do I do that?”

“Only you can figure that out.”

“Thanks for the riddles,” I chuckle.

“Anytime,” he gives me a hug. I think I needed that big brother talk.

“Just between you and me, you’re the best one on the show,” Beau says as I giggle.

“You’re biased,” I point out.

“Maybe just a little,” he says as more people show up. I hear squeals and laughter.

“Little girl, you need to be proud of yourself,” my mother says, joining us on the dock.

“Thank you, Momma.”

“I’m excited for today. Never been on a TV show,” my mom winks.

She’s trying to make me laugh and she does. She’s awesome. Dendra Drake, or DD to others, is a force to be reckoned with. She’s raised me and Beau with a stern hand. Our father died when we were little and my mom did what she could. She now runs the diner in town, and we have the creamery. Beau owns the bar and all of us do alright. Family sticks together, even though I made a fool of myself and had to make it up to them. I embarrassed them and myself with the way I acted after I left town.

“Guys, can I have all the contestants over here,” Carlton calls out to everyone.

“That’s my cue,” I say as I rise and head over. Beau and my mom are ushered to seats that have been set up. It looks like a makeshift theater.