When Sky Breaks: Burn & Break Duet Book 2

20. August

One would thinkwith enough pounding, the annoying flare of jealousy in my veins would disappear.

Sweat pours down the side of my face, even with the open window letting in some fresh air. The scent of a bonfire from someone’s backyard invades my nose.

Letting the hammer fall beside me with a thud, I sit on my heels. My head falls back, and I close my eyes. I can’t be taking my irritation out on Catalina’s walls, but damn. Johnny Hawk really gets under my skin.

“Are you okay, mi hijo?” Catalina steps into the room, her footsteps echoing in the hollow space. Along with her soft floral perfume is the smell of baked goods. More paledonias. My favorite.

“Yeah, I’m all right. This drywall is pissi—giving me attitude, though.”

She pats my head and sets the plate on top of a stool near Carlos’s old tool bag.

Standing with her arms crossed, she examines the drywall and then casts her gaze down, amusement playing with the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes. “I didn’t realize the drywall had a name. What was it? Johnny, you say? Interesting.”

Heat floods my cheeks. Even my ears grow warm. Damn, the woman and her sharp senses.

I rise to my feet and reach over to snag a cookie off the plate. I mull over how much I want to tell her while I chew. She’s been like a mom to me for years. She and Benny welcomed me with no question two years ago. Let me stay with them until I built my house. I might be working on things with my own mom, but Catalina will always know me best.

“Sky’s back.”

She lifts a brow. “Hmm. I might’ve heard a thing or two about that. Have you talked to her yet?”

“We met for coffee, and it didn’t go well. It was awkward, of course, and yet I felt like it was only a short period of time since I last saw her, you know?”

She smiles, and it’s warm. “Oh, mijo, I do know. Me and Carlos had a few rough moments in our relationship, but we made it through. Once Sky knows about all the good things you’ve been doing since you came home, she’ll come around.”

“I don’t know about that. I really hurt her. I broke her heart, Lina, and I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me for that. Not sure I do myself,” I mumble the last part.

She bends and scoops up the drywall tape, handing it to me. There’s no set deadline for this project, but the sooner, the better. Someone’s going to need a safe place to go, and I’d rather not make them wait.

“You may have hurt her, but she knows your heart. I know it.” She places a palm over her chest. “I’ve tried to nurture it the best way I know how. If you’re serious about wanting her to forgive you, then you have to be persistent in your decisions. She needs to feel that you’re sincere in everything you do and that it’s not just to impress her. Us mujers don’t like that.”

I run a long strip of tape down the seam of the drywall, smoothing out the lines as I descend.

“Women don’t like their men to show off?” I joke, and she chuckles lightly.

“No, they don’t. Makes you look bad. Very bad. It took Benny getting whacked upside the head by Kayla a few times for him to get it. But you, mijo, it comes naturally to do things for people out of love. Always has.” She pats my chest before turning to leave. “Don’t forget that.”

“All that would be easier if she wasn’t dating someone.”

Catalina shuffles back around as her eyes widen. “That handsome doctor everyone is talking about?”

I scoff and roll my eyes, moving to another wall to tape. “He would be the one.”

“Well, he is very handsome,” she says, patting at her dark strands curled neatly near her soft jawline.

The glare I send over makes her laugh. “We all know looks will only get a man so far. I’m not worried. Sky’s a smart girl. She’ll know you’re better for her.”

When I don’t respond, she lifts the empty plate and holds it against her stomach, watching me closely. She steps forward and brushes that stubborn strand of hair that never cooperates off my forehead before tapping my cheek. I lean into it, still surprised I got lucky to have her treat me like one of her own. I missed it while I was gone.

“Just stay true to yourself. The rest will work out.”

Catalina retreats, and I blow out a breath. It’s obvious my feelings for Sky have never gone away. Subconsciously, she’s always lending a hand in the things I do. Just like this place.

I glance around at the unfinished room. If I look hard enough, I can see the kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, and sitting area. Mostly, I see those who’ll be safe under Catalina’s watchful care. Safe from those who want to hurt them. People like Sky’s dad.

Even if she never gets past what I did, I won’t stop from changing the things I can for the better.

My phone buzzes, and I slide it from my back pocket to see a text.

I freeze when I read it.

He can’t be serious.

Another text comes through, and I let out a breath, feeling mildly better. It’s hard to say no to him, especially when he was there for me during a tough time.

I respond and shove my phone into my pocket, trying not to think about tomorrow.