Chapter 6
Skye was hustling to get out the door on time.
Hiring Paul as a daily dog walker had made a world of difference.
In the past two weeks, the fence had almost been completed, and their lives had calmed down considerably.
The dogs still made occasional messes in their houses, and she didn’t yet have all the time she wanted with Ford, but she was optimistic.
On the one hand, she’d never been happier.
Ford had so effortlessly stolen her heart that she didn’t even miss it.
On the other hand, they were trying to keep up two households with two mismatched pets, work their busy jobs, and pursue a hot new romance all at the same time.
There were days when she saw Ford a lot, and days when they seemed to spend all their time corralling animals and cleaning.
As she stepped to the right of her hallway to hurriedly move around Laylee, her sister had the same idea, and they nearly collided.
Skye flattened to the wall to make room, but to her surprise, Laylee just stood there . . . her face crumpling.
Oh, no. “Laylee?”
Sniffling, her sister blinked fast, muttered, “Sorry,” and started to dart away.
“Wait.”
Lifting a hand, Laylee sailed past. “You’re in a hurry. I didn’t mean to get in your way.”
Watching her duck into the spare bedroom—a room she now considered Laylee’s—Skye came to a decision. She had ten minutes before she needed to go to work. She had planned to grab a bite to eat, but that could wait. Laylee needed her.
Moving to the closed bedroom door, she knocked softly, turned the knob, and stepped in. Laylee sat on the side of the bed, her posture dejected.
“Sorry.” Swiping at her face, likely removing tears, Laylee said, “I’m fine, I swear. I know you’re in a rush, and I promise nothing is wrong.” She forced a grin that looked somewhat sickly. “It’s just me being me. You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t.” Never before had Laylee held back. Usually, she bombarded Skye with everything she felt, did, or wanted. Of course, Skye had been so busy in the last couple of weeks, she and Laylee had barely talked lately.
That wasn’t fair to her sister.
Sitting beside Laylee, Skye took her hand. It was still damp with tears, and that made Skye a little teary-eyed, too.
Suddenly, Laylee turned and hugged her. Voice choked, she whispered, “I really, really am sorry. You’ve got enough on your plate without me adding to it.”
“You’re my sister.” For Skye, it was as simple as that. “If you hurt, I hurt.”
Issuing a watery laugh, Laylee released her and reached for a clean tissue on the nightstand. “I don’t want that.” She mopped at her face, then sighed. “I’m such a wuss. About everything.”
“Not true, but if you want to tell me the particular thing that has you upset right now, I might be able to help.”
“I canceled the lease on my apartment.”
Unprepared for that bombshell, Skye asked, “When did that happen?”
“Yesterday, I drove over to my place to get a few more things. My big, bold plan was to ignore Marta if I saw her. I swear, Skye, I felt all righteous and ready to face her down.”
Skye stroked Laylee’s hair. “But?”
“He was there with her.”
Wincing for her sister, Skye asked, “Your ex?”
She nodded. “Just as I was going into my apartment, they were coming out of Marta’s. Laughing, kissing.” Laylee fell back on the bed, her forearm over her eyes. “They were happy.”
Stretching out beside her, Skye stared at the ceiling. “That had to be awful.” She imagined how she’d feel if that happened with Ford, and she knew she’d be in the same shape. “I’m sorry.”
Lowering her arm, Laylee turned to face Skye. “I had hoped I’d be a help to you, but I haven’t been.”
“That’s not true.” Skye also rolled to her side, propping herself up on her elbow and using the other hand to lace her fingers with Laylee’s. “You often have food ready when Ford and I get home. You’ve done the grocery shopping for me.”
“But I’ve been useless where the dogs are concerned.”
Love for her sister made her a smile. “True, you haven’t warmed up to Maybelline. But with Paul now walking the dogs in the middle of the day, there haven’t been nearly as many issues. In a few more days the yards will be fenced, and then all you’ll need to do is let them out.”
Laylee shook her head. “You don’t need me. You’re the most self-sufficient person I know. Until Ford, you didn’t even care about having a date. Now, with him, the last thing you need is a sister hanging around all the time.”
Skye sat up so Laylee would get the full force of her sternest frown. “You are my sister and I love you. I will always need you. Always, Laylee.”
Swallowing heavily, Laylee sat up, too. “I’m in your way.”
“Don’t say things like that because it pisses me off.”
Her mouth screwed to the side. “Ford is influencing your language.”
“Ford is amazing. I’m in love with him.”
“That’s what I’m saying.” Half laughing, half crying, Laylee smiled at her. “He loves you, too.”
Forgetting her rush, Skye grabbed those words and held them tight. “Do you really think so?”
“Good grief.” Laylee gave her an affectionate push. “You can’t tell? Because anyone can see it.”
“You’re sure?”
“Skye.” This time Laylee smoothed Skye’s hair. “For real, you’re the best sister in the entire world. The most amazing, most generous, sweetest person I know. But you’ve never been that great at understanding guys.”
“They’re complicated.”
“Nah. We’re complicated.” Laylee grinned. “Thankfully, guys are awesomely basic. Most of the time anyway.” She gave that quick thought and added, “Good guys, I mean. Creeps are everywhere, but Ford is definitely not a creep, and he most definitely is in love with you.”
Skye agreed that he wasn’t a creep. He was the most protective, bighearted, insightful, and caring man she’d ever known. “So what do I do?”
“Tell Ford you love him. Flat out. Just say it. Here, like this.” Laylee sat a little straighter, and she put on her serious face, which Skye guessed was supposed to look more like her. In a quiet but firm voice, she said, “By the way, Ford. I’m madly in love with you.”
Skye snickered. “I couldn’t.”
Still in that mimicking way, Laylee added, “I think we should boot my sister out of our way and spend all our free time having wild, uninhibited sex.”
“Ha!” Skye pushed her back on the bed, but she was laughing.
“I’m not booting you out. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want.
Move in. Permanently claim this room. In fact, I’m dubbing it Laylee’s Lair.
There. It’s official.” Before her sister could stop sputtering, Skye added, “I told Ford I was half in love with him, and he didn’t mind. ”
“Didn’t mind.” Laylee scoffed, sitting up one more time. “I bet it rocked his world. And don’t fib to the man. Tell him you love him madly, permanently. Forever more, amen.”
“I’ll consider it.” Skye again took her hand. “If you promise me you’ll stop talking about leaving.”
There was no mistaking Laylee’s cautious relief. “I’d actually love to stay.” Her admiring gaze traveled around the room. “Your house is so you, and yet it suits me, too. The soothing colors and patterns, the . . . calm. I love it here, and I especially love being close to you.”
“Good, then that’s settled.”
“I need to pay my own way—and I don’t mean by doing a little grocery shopping or keeping an eye on the dogs, though I’m happy to do that, too.” She bit her lip, then blurted, “I was thinking, if you and Ford work things out, and you decide to live with him, I’d buy this place from you.”
Those words stole Skye’s breath. She loved her house, but . . . The truth hit her: being at Ford’s now felt like home, as well.
Laylee rushed into explanations. “If Ford doesn’t work out, then it’s his loss.
Please, please don’t think I’d want you to accept him just to make things easier for me.
I’d gladly live in a tent with you, as long as you’re happy.
I swear. It’s just that I can see how much you care for him, and it’s so obvious that you’re the one for him, so if you two make it permanent, and if you decide to live at his place, I’d be thrilled to buy your house.
” Laylee pressed her lips together and waited.
Daring to even imagine it, Skye whispered, “It would be awesome to live right next door to each other, wouldn’t it?” Her relationship with her sister had gotten even closer with Ford around.
“Heck yeah, it would!” Laylee grabbed Skye, tugging her up from the bed and dancing her around the room, only drawing to a halt when Skye tripped.
“Just so you know, Paul is working with me to help me get over my fear of Maybelline. He’s an excellent teacher.
I often join him on the dog walks. We’re fast friends now, and he’s been super patient. ”
They both heard the double knock on her back door, then the stampeding of dogs and the combined woofing of high and low voices. Ford called out, “Skye, everything okay?”
She smiled at Laylee, squeezed her in another hug, and dodging dogs, went out to the hall. “We’re here, having a heart-to-heart.”
* * *
Cautious, Ford approached Skye in the hall. A heart-to-heart? About what? he wondered.
“I saw your car still in the driveway and wondered if anything was wrong.”
Skye grabbed him, planted a hot one on his lips, and then stated, “Our dogs need something different from us.”
His heart lodged in his throat. He’d thought things were getting better. No, he and Skye didn’t get enough alone time, but the situation was improving and with the fence done soon . . . Holding her closer, he asked, “What does that mean?”
She braced herself with a big breath. “They’re going back and forth too much. It’s confusing for them.”
“Agreed.” He had a solution for that, but before he could speak, she did.
“We could live together.” Midnight eyes stared up at him earnestly. “Think about it. It’d be easier for us to coordinate who’s walking them in the morning. It’ll be easier for whichever of us gets home from work first.”