Page 57 of Choosing Skyler

I drop my focus from the screen to look at Skyler just in time to see her lips twitch like she wants to smile. I lose the lead to Tracey, but I just wonsomuch more.

“That’s right, Beautiful. Keep him off our asses. He already has the advantage since he got to play the store’s advanced copy of the game. You can jump in here anytime and show him what’s up. You’re the best gamer in the group by far,” I say, losing second place to Devon to look at her again.

I almost drop the controller in my hand when I see her finger twitch next to the one in her lap. Tracey and Devon follow my gaze and their jaws drop. Recovering quickly, Tracey’s car shoots ahead of us on the screen.

“Come on, Sissy. Help me kick this Diva’s ass and shut him up,” Tracey shouts, crossing the finish line as Devon’s car gets stuck behind Skyler’s,again. “Hell yeah!” Tracey cheers.

Instead of flying past her car on the left side, I screech to a stop right next to it. So, Devon has no choice but to go right.

“You’re all cheaters! Every time I play with you two it’s the same shit. Now Tracey’s in on it too. It’s a damn conspiracy. That’s okay. Last lap, Tricky Tracey. Think you can hold me back?” Devon jabs.

“Hell yes, I can. I’ve got my team blocking your inner lane at the line. That title is MINE, Diva Devon,” she snarks back. “Skyler, I can definitely see why you call him that every time you talk about playing video games with him. He’s even worse than playing with Joey.”

“Oh, shit,” I say under my breath, leaning over to whisper in Skyler’s ear. “Here we go. You ready, Beautiful? Diva melt down in three, two…”

“What thefuck, Tracey?!” Devon hollers, looking at Tracey and losing focus on the race just in time for her to speed past us at the finish line for the victory.

“It’s called a diversion, Devon. And it worked. BOOM! New champion in the house!” Tracey says, jumping up and running over to me and Skyler. “Did youseethat, Sissy? I kicked his ass!” she brags.

Skyler’s head jerks—almost like a nod, but somewhat uncoordinated. It stops Devon’s would be rant dead in its tracks. We all stare, waiting for her to lift her gaze. She doesn’t, but we’ll take this as a win anyways. It’s the most progress we’ve seen in days. She’s still here. Maybe she’s fighting to get back to us.What will pull her back?

Devon brakes the silence. “I love you, Sweets. But I’m tired of everyone ganging up on me on game days. Maybe I’ll call Joey next time, so I have a teammate of my own. I bet he’d help me kick all your asses to kingdom come.”

Tracey’s eyes snap to Devon. “You will NOT!” she declares.

He gets right up in her face. “Try. Me. Tracey.”

Both of their chests are rising and falling faster, and I can feel the sparks from here. Skyler can too because her eyes flash and her lips twitch again.

“Tell them to get their own room, Beautiful. This one is ours and they’re dumping their pheromones all over the place.” I chuckle.

This time, her foot jerks and her hand twitches.

It’s impossible to keep the excitement out of my voice when I ask her, “Where we going, Beautiful? You want to take a walk and give these two some privacy?”

Her head jerks again. Devon and Tracey have backed down from their “spat” to watch Skyler respond to me. Devon catches my gaze and nods his approval.

“You got it. Let’s get out of here,” I say, standing and unlocking the breaks on her wheelchair.

I hang her IV bag on the pole attached to the wheelchair and drape one of her afghans across her lap. Tracey runs to open the door for us with tears in her eyes. Devon comes up behind her and rests his chin on top of her head, wrapping his arm around her waist in silent support. Although the support may be for him as much as it is for her since he has tears in his eyes too.

“You kids, behave,” he says jokingly. “We’ll pack up the games while you’re out.”

Skyler’s head jerks to the side slightly.

“Leave it. We may want to play when we get back,” I tell him, and he nods.

I push her to the nurses’ desk and wave at Julie. She comes over with a question in her eyes.

“Skyler wants to go for a stroll. We just wanted to check in with you to make sure it’s okay,” I tell her, smiling bigger than I have in days.

Her eyes widen and I nod before walking around to see Skyler’s face as I talk with Julie.

“Um, yes. That’s a great idea. It’s a gorgeous day. We have a terrarium on this floor with sky lights. You guys should love it. Just go past the elevators and take the next left,” she says, her voice shaking with emotion.

“That sounds perfect. Thank you, Julie,” I tell her.

“Of course. I’ll send someone in to clean and change the bedding while you’re out. Don’t forget you’re due for your bathroom break and medicine at six, Skyler,” she says.

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