Page 57 of Skye's Fall

“Serves her right.”

“Alexa told us the stuff she and Victoria said about Skye,” Ariel says softly.

“What stuff?” I whip my head around to face Ariel.

“Easy, cowboy,” Brick says.

“She didn’t tell you? The same day that Zack guy said he slept with her, Victoria and Kara were outside the chicken coop saying she was a slut and all that.”

“She didn’t tell me,” I mutter sadly. Fuck me.

“I thought you knew.”

“No, I didn’t. I wish she had talked to me. But since the bar, she had been pulling away, so I just figured what Zack said was true.”

“And you fell right into it,” Brick points out to me.

“I did. I’m taking a vacation. I’m leaving for Texas in the morning,” I tell them. They just nod. They’re permanent roommates now. I told them they could stay as long as they wanted after Brick told me he had grown attached to the horses. It happens. I love those horses. And Ariel loves cooking and taking care of Buddy. I told Sal I would consult, but I need to get out of town for a bit.

“We’ll be here when you get back,” Brick taps my shoulder as I rise and head for my truck.

I said so long to Dayton and the others earlier, before talking to Sal.

I have another stop before I head home and pack up. Ariel and Brick won’t be back until the morning, giving me my space right now.

I drive to the bar and park, noticing it’s quite full. Good for Beau.

I slip through the door and head for the office, waving at Mercy the bartender. She’s a local, been around for a long time.

I don’t knock, just barge in.

“Anyone ever heard of knocking,” he grumbles, spinning around and freezing. Not sure how to take the look on his face.

“You got some nerve,” he yells. He won’t ever admit it, but he cares deeply for his sister.

“Hold up a minute. I know she’s your little sister, but I have a side as well. We’ve been friends since middle school, maybe sixth grade, but you were always a little shit.”

He laughs as he flops down in his seat, “I was always a little shit.”

“Still are,” I retort.

“Hey now, but seriously, she hasn’t left her room since that day.”

“Should I care?” I regret those words as they leave my mouth. I do care.

“You don’t get it. She loves you, always has, always will. So she got a little lost. She was finding her way home and it was with you.”

“She tell you about the baby yet?”

He shakes his head, “Every time we bring it up, she starts sobbing.”

Well, shit. I feel like an asshole again. That’s another specialty of mine.

“Look, I don’t know what happened exactly, but she is broken. I hope you put her back together.”

“I can’t do that. Not just yet,” I tell him. “I’m going to be gone for a bit.”

“Gone?” He tips his head, waiting for the answer.