Page 121 of Ride the Sky

“You don’t know what’s best for me,” Fallon snaps, tattooed hand cradling her whiskey glass.

“Fuck,” I mutter. This is now just thelet’s stress out Wyattshow.

Davis stares Fallon down. “I know you almost died, so give your family some grace.”

I watch the blow land, Fallon’s face darkening like a thunder cloud.

“Whatever.” She flattens her baked potato with her fork. “It’s not like you two ever supported me anyway.”

Davis snaps open his mouth like he’s about to start yelling.

Dakota twists, telling him, “Don’t.”

He grumbles under his breath. Sticks a piece of roll in his mouth like he’s trying to shut himself up. Beside him, Duke gums a mouthful of mashed potatoes. Unaware of what he’s in for with this family.

With a loud sigh, Fallon unscrews the bottle of whiskey and splashes three fingers in her empty water glass.

Thank fuck for Reese, who’s the voice of reason. “Do you want some water, Fallon?”

“No. I don’t want some water, Reese.” Fallon scoffs then gulps the honey-colored liquid. “Spare me your own personal sob story, okay? I can hold my liquor. Unlike someone.”

Reese looks down at her plate.

Face tight, Ford runs his hand over Reese’s shoulder.

My stomach twists. Fallon’s in pain and taking her anger out on us.

“Hey.” I lean in. “You can’t do that. Act like an asshole to your friends.”

She meets my stare with blazing eyes. “Who’s acting?”

A blanket of tension falls. Silverware clink. Duke babbles. Keena snores in a corner.

I look down the table at Charlie and Ruby. “Y’all okay?” They haven’t said a word for the entire dinner. Never mind the fact that Ruby looks like she’s on the verge of tears.

Charlie clears his throat. “We wanted y’all to have a nice night.”

“Too late,” Ford demands, his gaze flicking briefly to Fallon. “Out with it.”

Ruby and Charlie look at each other, then Ruby, tears in her eyes, says, “Our surrogate miscarried.”

Dakota sucks in a small breath.

Reese’s hands go to her mouth. “Oh my god.”

Even Fallon sits frozen.

Heavy, brimming silence.

“Fuck,” I exhale. My chest aches for my brother and his wife. They look fucking devastated. “Charlie, man…” I trail off, not knowing what to say. How to fix this.

Davis’s eyes are wide and stunned. “Christ, I’m sorry.”

Tears spill down Ruby’s cheek. Dakota reaches across the table to squeeze Ruby’s hand.

On a shaky breath, Ruby says, “Our surrogate doesn’t want to do it anymore. She opted out of her contract. Which means we have to start all over.”

“So you start over,” Ford says. “You have more eggs.”

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