When Sky Breaks: Burn & Break Duet Book 2

25. August

The rideto the hospital is mercifully short. I’m sandwiched next to my drunk and grieving mother and the woman I’m still desperately in love with but can’t have. It’ll be a miracle if I make it out of this Uber intact and not need resuscitation myself.

We pull under the awning of the ER and give the driver an additional tip. Sky swings the door open and lets me out so I can help my mom.

She’s not as drunk as she was and swats my hand away as I try to hold it. “I can get in there myself, Auggy. Stop hovering.”

Irritation swells in my chest, but I breathe it out and monitor her as she shuffles through the automatic doors toward the lobby and registration desk.

Sky is beside me, and I take more comfort than I should that she’s still here, willing to help us. This has to be hard on her, and I wouldn’t blame her if she wants to leave. Helping the man who destroyed her life and his mom shouldn’t exactly rank high on the list.

After the check-in process is complete, we settle down in the lobby chairs, enveloped by the muted TV program and the hushed murmurs of the staff. Finally, her name is called, and after refusing to let me go with her, I fall into the chair next to Sky on a miffed exhale, my legs sprawled in front of me.

“She’ll be okay,” Sky says.

Pinching my eyebrows, I nod. “I know, and I know it could’ve been a lot worse. Let’s talk about something else. How’s Foster doing?”

“He’s better than I expected. The last scans showed some shrinkage of the cancer in his lymph nodes. He’s a tough guy and I think he’s holding it together since me and Trek are there to help. And you. I never really thanked you for being around like you have.” There’s a hint of trepidation in her voice.

I twist in my seat. There’s so much written on her face. Confusion, relief, maybe more, but I’m having trouble reading her. The years have created a divide, and even though there’s a tiny glimpse of our past in our exchanges, she’s still guarding her heart, still wrestling with everything that’s happened.

As much as it fucking irritates me to think about, I hope Johnny takes care of her the way she deserves. If it can’t be me, then at least there’s someone.

Fuck. I hate even thinking about it. I want it to be me.

“You don’t have to thank me for anything, Sh—Sky.” I swallow her nickname. It’s too intimate, given our current situation, no matter how easily it could fall from my tongue. “I owe you far more than just fixing or updating things around the house. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make everything right again, but I’ll do anything to prove how sorry I am for what I did.”

Her eyes are pinned to her lap, her hands and fingers twisting.

I wish I could comfort her.

Her voice is a whisper, and I lean in to hear her. “I waited for you. Here, I mean, after the fire. They brought me in to check me out for smoke inhalation, and I knew it was dumb because we were kids, but I waited for you. Watched the door like a hawk hoping to see your head peek around the corner. I just knew if I saw you, everything would be better. You always made every bad thing that happened with my dad better when we were together.”

Her hauntingly beautiful eyes send slivers of painful guilt through my stomach. How can I ever erase her anguish?

“But you’re here now. For Foster, and that’s something I can be grateful for.” Her smile is watery.

“I want to be here for you, too,” I whisper, my hand reaching for hers.

Heart in my throat, I lay my trembling hand over hers and watch on a held inhale as she gingerly flips her hand and curls her fingers in between mine. The warmth is instant, and I cling to it for as long as possible. She lets me brush my thumb over her knuckles and I swear her chest heaves with unsteady breaths. She leaves me unhinged, and after one small touch, I’m still totally gone for her. It’s pure torture, knowing it will never be like it was between us. We once consumed each other like two halves of a hungry soul. Now I’m empty and aching for what we had.

“I’m sorry if my mom upset you. What she said about you being Dannie’s daughter.” I’m tentative as I speak, not wanting to hurt her further but wanting to express my genuine apology.

She breathes out her nose and leans her head back on the seat, her eyes closed, her hand still tight in mine. “It wasn’t your fault. And she’s right; I am Dannie’s daughter, or I was. Not sure where she is and there’s definitely no claim on me from her. It’s not your mom’s fault either. She didn’t know what my mom was going to do, and she’s not in charge of Dannie’s actions.” She turns her head and opens those pretty blue eyes.

My heart ricochets like a pinball machine in my chest.

“But thank you. Your apologies mean something to me. Now, at least.”

I quirk a smile, but it’s quickly snuffed out.

A gruff voice interrupts this quiet interlude, and Sky rips her hand from mine, a chill instantly blanketing the room.

“Babe, what’s going on here?”