Page 103 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“That won’t be for years,” JD protested. “You have to be eighteen.”

She looked down again, and he had a feeling she was going to get a job and leave home as soon as she could.

“Do they leave you alone in the house much?”

“I’m old enough to be home alone, JD. I’m fourteen.”

No, she wasn’t, not by a long shot in his book.

“My dad needs a kidney transplant or he’ll probably die, and my brother wants me to test for compatibility.”

“Are you going to?” Vi asked.

JD rolled his now empty soda can around the other side of his face; Sawyer’s fist was like a sledgehammer.

“I didn’t think I was, but maybe now I’m not so sure.”

“Why are you not so sure?”

“I don’t need two kidneys.”

She snorted. “Plus, maybe because it’s important to your mom and brother?”

“When did you get so smart?”

She smiled, and it was a real one and even more precious because it was so rare.

“I’m going to go away for a while, Vi. Bradford will come and stay and help you with the animals, okay? So if you need anything, you can go to him.”

“Where are you going?”

“I think it’s time for me to visit with my family.”

Chapter28

Zoe sat huddled in the back of the pickup with Ally pressed to her side. Ryder was driving her car home because Sawyer said she’d keep driving out of Lyntacky if she got behind the wheel and they had things to discuss. He was a silent, large, seething mass of rage in the front seat.

Ryder had taken one look at his brother’s face and done what Sawyer had asked him to do without argument.

Zoe wasn’t sure what upset her more—that she’d ruined Sawyer’s relationship with JD or ruined her relationship with both of them. But one thing she knew was that her chest burned with pain unlike anything she’d experienced before.

Sawyer pulled up beside her car, in front of their childhood home and got out. Ryder did the same, then opened the door for Ally.

“You go inside now, baby. Nana is home. We’ll come and see you later, okay?” Sawyer hugged her. “Your aunty and me need to talk. Ryder, you’re coming too.”

Ryder kissed the top of his niece’s head and then climbed in the passenger’s seat of the car without speaking a word.

“All right, but you need to know that JD is a good guy, Uncle Sawyer, and I love Aunt Zoe and you, so you all have to make up,” Ally said.

“We will, baby. You go on now,” her brother said. “Crap, here comes Mom,” he muttered. “Don’t say anything.” He bent to glare in at Zoe.

“What’s happened?”

“Nothing, Mom. We’re all good. We just need to?—”

“Aunt Zoe was kissing JD, and then he and Uncle Sawyer had a fight,” Ally said, moving to her nana’s side. “I told them they have to make up because I love them and JD.”

Their mother looked at her kids, making eye contact with each. “You’re all adults now, and if your sister cares for JD, let her.”

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