Chapter 13
McCrae
After I got off shift, I picked up Sky at my parents’ place, then went to my house.
We both showered and got ready to go play cards with my siblings.
When I met her in the kitchen, I wasn’t expecting to see her in jean cutoffs and a tight black shirt that fit in all the right places. I wasn’t expecting her curly red hair and her makeup—the way she made her eyes look sort of smoky. Dang. This woman was gorgeous.
She gave a light laugh and said, “Are you okay?” She’d been sitting on a stool while waiting for me.
I nodded and quickly moved to the sink, filling up a glass with water and downing it. I didn’t know if I was okay. This woman was like nothing I’d ever imagined.
“Do you want some water?”
She nodded and gave me a smile. “That would be great.”
I handed her another glass of water, and she reached up and touched the back of her head where the bandage still was. “Does this just look so stupid? Tell me the truth.”
My eyes followed her hand to the bandage, and I shook my head. “No.” I pulled back and surveyed her more thoroughly. “You look beautiful.”
Her pale cheeks turned pink. “You really think so?”
My mind caught up to my mouth, and I grimaced. “I shouldn’t have said that.” I had to be more professional. “Ready?”
“Yep.” Her grin had faded into something more uncertain. I hoped I hadn’t crossed any boundaries.
When we got to Jim’s, the place was busy.
We had to park a little bit down the road.
Of course, this strip of Refuge Falls was where everything happened.
It was where tourist shops were already locked up for the night.
It was where a band was playing outside of the local bar, and people were standing around tapping their feet.
The truth was, I liked the energy of Refuge Falls.
I liked to cut loose a little bit. It was a safe town most of the time.
As we made the walk from the car to the restaurant, I reached out for her. “I don’t want you to fall, the ground is uneven around here.”
She gripped my hand. “Thanks.”
Once again, there was all of this energy between us. I didn’t know what I was doing, the woman didn’t remember who she was. Ugh.
I opened the door for her. The place was pretty busy, but Jim always reserved that back room for us. A lot of times, Mom and Dad would come, though today they’d said they were way too tired. They would stay at the house with Damon’s kids, plus Noah and Ella’s little baby had a baby room there.
I knew Mom and Dad really liked that their adult children would hang out. They loved to hang out with us too, but when they couldn’t, they always made it possible for my siblings and me to spend time together anyway. I thought that was important in a family.
We got to the back, and the table was already set up. Noah and Ella had their spots, but Ella stood and came over to us as we walked in. She embraced Sky and then pulled back and surveyed her like she was still on duty as a nurse. “How are you feeling?”
Sky smiled. “Pretty good. Even though I still don’t remember anything. But my head doesn’t hurt as bad, and I think I’m healing. I mean, my ribs are bruised. My neck is tight, but I’m doing okay.” Sky laughed.
Ella gave her a sad smile.
It annoyed me that I didn’t know those things about her. Why hadn’t she told me that her neck was bugging her, that her ribs hurt? Immediately, I tried to check myself a little bit. She didn’t have to tell me. I didn’t have to care that much.
Damon was sitting at the table, looking like he’d been camping for a couple weeks instead of overnight. Isla stood up from her seat next to him and came over, so I introduced her.
“Isla, this is Sky.”
Isla gave Sky a little hug. “I’ve been so tired with the baby, but I wanted you to know that I’ve been thinking and praying for you. If you ever need anyone to talk, I’m here.”
Sky nodded. “Thank you.”
Isla patted her shoulder. “I’ll have to tell you my story sometime.” She looked over at me. “Unless this big lug here has already told you.” She leaned in and gave me a light hug, then pulled back, searching my face. “Hope you’re getting some rest, okay?”
I stuck my tongue out at her.
She rolled her eyes. “See, this big lug doesn’t like any of us trying to take care of him.”
I let out a gruff sound. “My mother takes care of me enough. Now I have to have all these sisters-in-law take care of me.”
Sky grinned wider at me.
My brother Canyon came over. He stuck his hand out to Sky. “I guess I’m one of the only ones not to meet you. How are you doing?”
She took his hand, which looked massive compared to hers. “I’m good. Thank you. You have a great family.”
Canyon let go of her hand and then reached out and chucked me in the shoulder. “They’re all right.” He pointed at me. “You have to watch out for this guy, though.”
I gave him a fake one-two punch, and we both laughed.
Of course, Kayla came over and gave Sky a hug, and she gestured back at her seat. “Sit by me.”
But then Dylan walked in, and he surprised everybody by bringing Eliza Burke. I mean, it wasn’t a huge surprise, but they’d been so on-again, off-again throughout high school, and she’d been divorced, so whatever. Who was I to judge anybody? I didn’t care.
Everyone said, “Eliza!” and she looked around the room and laughed. “Good to see you, Armstrong family,” she said. Her eyes lingered on Sky.
I cleared my throat. “This is Sky. Sky, Eliza.”
Eliza shook Sky’s hand, and then she whispered, “I’ve heard a little bit about you. I hope everything’s going okay.”
Sky looked slightly embarrassed. “It’s great.”
Noah slammed his hand on the table. “Okay, sit down. Let’s play some poker, people.” He was shuffling cards as he looked at Sky. “I don’t know if you remember cards, Sky, but I have to tell you that none of us like to lose.”
Surprising us, Sky nodded and picked up the a deck of cards, which she started shuffling like a pro. “I think I know a thing or two about poker.”
I laughed. “This could be fun.”