Page 78 of Ethan's Sky

My temper hits boiling point.

“Youknow me?” I laugh. “What a fucking joke. You don’t know shit about me Ethan. I’m not the same girl you knew six years ago, afraid of her own fucking shadow. Cowering whenever someone raises their voice in my direction. That Skyler is long gone. So please, don’t tell me you know me. You have no fucking clue about who I am or what I’ve been through.”

“Tell me then.” He leans back, the challenge clear in his tone.

“I can’t.”

“Can’t what, Sky? Talk to me. You know if moving back here is too much, you say the word, I’ll pack your shit for you, and we can have Eli and the guys drive you right back to Mountain Heights?” The change in his tone says he’s serious. Almost hopeful.

“I am home,” I say sternly throwing my hands in the air. “Why doesn’t anyone seem to understand this? I AM.home.Oak Ridge is my home. That cold, empty house I’m sleeping in…is my home. Every happy memory of my childhood life is here in this town. Even the shitty memories I have in this place. They’re all my home.

“It hasn’t been your home for the last six years. It’s obvious being here is fucking with your head.” He gestures at my face.

“You want to know why I’m so fucked up these last few weeks? Fine.” I start ticking things off in rapid fire. “How about, the last time I spoke to Daddy he was telling me goodbye for the last time. The bastards that murdered him are still out there somewhere, and no one will tell me a goddamn thing because it’s...”

“Club business.”

“You keep it to yourselves and your club business bullshit.” We speak in unison.

Tossing my arms in the air. “He was myfather!And you won’t even tell mewhyhe died! But he knew someone coming for him. Heknew.You know how I know? Because he left their wedding rings at the summer house. Not our house. Not my childhood home. The house I’m currently inhabiting where he knew I would be, where I would find it. He left the picture of me from his truck in the bathroom. He didn’t want someone to know about me, Ethan! He did all this to protect me. From what? Who was he trying to save me from? Because if it was the people, I think it was…” I pause not dating to speak what I believe to be true.

It's my fault.

“I need to go.” I bolt for the door in search of Mason. I know Ethan’s behind me, but I don’t have it in me to care. I need to get out of here.

16

ETHAN

I watch as Sky heads for the back door, passing our table she shouts over the noise, “I’m leaving Mason. If you’re my guard dog for the night I suggest you get your shit because I’m not waiting for your ass.”

“Sky? You good?” Cash pulls away from the chick he’s been making out with against the wall for the last half hour. Sky gives him a slight shake of her head. He grabs her shoulder and walks her out to her truck. I follow them, keeping my distance.

Catching up to Mason, I tell him, “Wait inside. I’ll get you when she’s ready.” He gives me a finger salute in acknowledgement.

Once they get to the truck, Cash starts in on her. “Start talking.”

I stick to the shadows, listening in.

“Why wasn’t I safe in Mountain Heights? Wet tears slide down her cheeks. “Daddy said everything he has done has been to protect me, but what he didn’t realize is protecting me…has been killing me, Cash.”

“What the hell do you mean? You have a good life,” Cash pushes back. “You were working a good job. Training. Dancing. Happy. You didn’t get this way until you came to back to this town and saw Ethan!”

“It’s not his fault. He didn’t cause any of this. I did.”

“But he’s done something.” He pushes. “Look at you, Sky! You’re falling apart. You’re usually so strong. You don’t let anyone break you down, and here you are, all twisted up over some asshole who’s done just about everything in his power, aside from hitting you, to hurt you. You both clearly hate each other. So, I don’t understand why you let him get to you. What power does he have over you?”

I would never hit her, asshole.

Do I want her gone? Hell yes. But I’m not a monster. I would never lay a hand on any woman out of anger, no matter how bad I want to throttle her.

“It’s not Ethan’s fault. We have a past. And I guess I thought we had something the other night, but then, it wasn’tme, it was Scarlet…”

Wait. What? How does she know about Scarlet?

“...and then he freaked out when he saw me dancing at the clubhouse. And when he kissed me, I don’t know…I hoped maybe things were finally changing. That he had somehow forgiven me. But when he realized it wasme,he pushed me away and started screaming at me how he doesn’t want me here. How…he doesn’t wantme.”

She looks up at the sky, fanning her eyes. “Damnit!”

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