She looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes and whispered, “I hear you.”
“Babe, come here.”
She stood up and was in his arms before he finished the sentence. Having his arms around her felt so good. She was filled with such emptiness. She felt like she had no one. No one in the world. No parents, no family, no man, no job and now no Letty or Mama Rose. What did she have left?
And now Crash was leaving, too. She felt her heart wrench.
“I’ll miss you so much,” she choked out. “I know it’s selfish, but I don’t want you to go.” She felt him press his face to the top of her head, and he spoke softly into her hair.
“I know, squirt, but I can’t stay.”
Just hearing those words, had all those old feelings of being abandoned sifting through her.
“Hey?” He pulled back, taking her face in his hands and brushing her hair back from her face. “You know it’s not me you want or need. It’s Shades.”
She shook her head in his hands. “That’s over.”
“I don’t know what happened back then, maybe he came to his senses and realized you were way out of his league or that he was no good for you. But I know one thing. Whatever was between you, it’s not over. Not for him. Not by a long shot. Not judging by the way he looks at you.”
“It doesn’t matter now.” She pushed out of his arms. “I’m tired. I’m going up to bed.”
“Skylar…”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” She dashed up the steps, determined to not let him see the tears that were spilling down her cheeks.
****
Crash watched her disappear inside, and then he pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Cole.
“Hey, Brother. How are you?” Cole’s voice came on the line, and Crash realized he’d obviously read the caller ID.
“Okay, but I think I’m ready to head back out there.”
“That’s good to hear. You’ve been missed around here.”
“I’ll book a flight tomorrow.”
“Okay. Let me know, and we’ll pick you up at the airport. How’s it been at the old chapter?”
“All
right. Strange. Busy.”
“Sounds like some stories for when you get back.”
“Yeah. Hey, Cole?”
“Yeah, Brother?”
“You know anything about Skylar hooking up with Shades before we left for California years ago?” Crash could hear Cole take a deep breath before he answered.
“Yeah. I knew about that. Nipped it in the bud, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw them together. Cornered Shades on it later and beat the shit out of him. Told him he needed to end it or I’d make sure he was never voted in. He could kiss that patch he wanted so badly goodbye.”
“So that’s why he broke it off with her.”