Page 49 of Breaking Point

“It’s not like you to keep changing the subject,” he comments, and at the guarded curiosity in his tone, I pop an eye open to look at him.

“Don’t play that game with me, Benenati. If you have a question, ask it.”

He smirks at my reaction, leaning against the ropes. “My wife has a- uh. A theory… as to why you’ve been so distracted lately.”

I smile at that. Charlotte sums a person up in a few seconds better than most people I know. “Maybe you should keep it to yourself.”

He actually laughs. “I dunno. She might be onto something.” He squints at me like he’s aware of something that I’m not. Olivia flashes in my head again, and I immediately want to wipe that look off his face with my fist.

“Piss off,” I turn, glad when my phone vibrates. I dig it out of my pocket, and when I see my mom’s name, I quickly answer. “Everything alright?”

Her cheery laugh fills the line, and I feel my anxiety ease when she says, “Hi to you too, baby. Just thought I’d check on you. See how life is treating you.”

My frown softens. “Hey, Ma. I’m good. Work’s good.”

Skar shakes his head at my easy-out, but he doesn’t call me on it. He claps my back as he passes, leaning in to say, “Hey, Mama Warden.”

“Hey, baby!” she squeals, but then it’s right back down to business. I can practically feel her prying gaze. Right now, she’d be looking at me saying ‘Bullshit.’

“Yeah, you sound swell.”

I sound paranoid. Even I know it. I roll the tension in my shoulders again. “You’re right. I’m tired. You know how the job gets. Not the kind of stuff I want to be sharing.”

“Oh, I know the job alright. And I know you too. You haven’t checked in recently, so I thought I’d do the honors.” I can hear the giant grin on her face as she teases me.

“I am good, Ma. It’s just a new job. New routine.” I narrow a look at Skar as I add, “My new boss is even more of a prick than my old one. Can you believe it?”

“Skar? A prick??” Skar grins again, and I know he can hear her voice over the line. “I don’t believe it. That man is an angel. You remember when he-“

“Mom.” I laugh, cutting her tangent short before this phone call turns into a two hour trip down memory lane.

“Oh, alright. You’ll have to tell me about your prick boss later. Your dad needs help in the guest house… Honey? Where’s the paint?” she calls somewhere distant.

I chuckle as I hear her shuffling around. “What new project have you started now?”

“Full reno of the guest house. I’m surprised I haven’t told you. Your dad can tell you more about it than I can though.Something about tearing down the drywall and 'opening the layout.' He’s right here. You want to say hi?”

It’s been months since we’ve said words to each other and even longer since we’ve been on good terms. Civil, maybe. Stern, always. He never forgave me for leaving at eighteen and joining the military... and I’m not sure I’ve forgiven myself for the way I left things. Even if Mom and I have kept close since then.

“Let him reno in peace. He’s probably in full builder-mode right now.”

I hear a loud crack in the background like a hammer meeting concrete, and she sighs happily. “You’re right. He’s in his own world. You’ve probably gotta get going anyways, don’t you?”

“I do. But I’m glad you called.”

“Awll,” she adds tearfully. “Love you, baby. Better come and visit soon. You hear?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Love you too.” Before I’ve even ended the call, I feel Skar looking at me. “Why do I feel like we’ve suddenly changed roles?” I laugh out. “You’re supposed to be the closed-off one.”

“I’m not the one holding out.”

I twist toward him, eying him with a look that would have anyone else cowering. “You know something I don’t?”

He juts his chin toward my chest. “You lost the ring.”

Winter’s ring.

Something flares in my chest, quick and hot. I blow out a breath. In all the years I’ve known him, we’ve never talked about what happened. It’s remained an unspoken boundary.

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