Page 130 of Ride the Sky

“I know it did.” I want to clamp down on the vulnerability rising up, but I don’t. I go on, hot tears filling my eyes. “Ruby, I am so, so sorry for what I said at dinner. I am so sorry you lost your baby.” I blow out a ragged breath. “You and that cowboy of yours deserve all the happily-ever-afters, and I know someday soon you’ll get them.”

Ruby’s blue eyes fill with tears. “Thank you.” There’s a long pause, and then she says, “I forgive you, Fallon.”

I sag, gripping the handles of my walker to hold myself up. Her words, her soft smile, feel like the sweetest grace.

Dakota steps to my side. Her smile is bright and smug. “We like you because of your bad attitude.”

Reese nods. “But you can’t be mean to us.”

“Never again. Cowgirl honor.” I survey them then gesture at the door. “Will you let me buy you apology games of pinball?”

Dakota looks at Reese and Ruby. “What do you think?”

Reese smiles. “I think we have time.”

Mischief shines in my sister’s eyes. “Time to kick your ass.”

I bark a laugh. “Highly unlikely.”

It’s only when Ruby links her arm through mine that I realize how badly I needed it.

The arcade clangs, but nothing is as loud and obnoxious as my shit-talking big sister.

“You’re goin’ down,” Dakota says, elbowing me. “Just like your fifteenth birthday.”

“Shut up,” I snarl, launching the plunger and sending the ball careening around the glittery machine. “I have this in the bag.”

Memories of when we were kids. Our father dropping us here before a rodeo, all the tokens we could want, all the sugary slushies, too.

Dakota shrieks as she’s hit with a three-ball attack. “Damn bitch ball,” she growls.

“You’re the oldest.” I punch the buttons, and the flippers go wild. “You’re supposed to be a good example and lose.”

“Ha,” Dakota barks. Mischief shines in her eyes. “A big sister’s job is to gently humble you.”

I snort.

“I’ve never seen them like this,” Reese quips from her spot on the couch. “Insane with sister rage.”

“It’s called competition.” Tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth, Dakota sends the ball sailing up into the mouth of Bruce the Shark then lets out a cry of triumph. She turns and looks at me. “And it’s called I win.”

I roll my eyes. My sister’s competitiveness will never be stifled. “Butthead.”

Laughing, we join Reese and Ruby at a black velvet couch near a fireplace. On the low table in front of us, an assortment of appetizers and drinks. Frantic sounds of the arcade clang around us.

The entire town of Resurrection is out and about tonight. At a corner pool table, Tripp chalks his cue. Beef, hunched over a Pacman machine, keeps one hand on the controller, the other wrapped around an ice-cold beer like the pro he is.

“What’s Beef doing here?” I ask, grabbing up my drink. “Doesn’t he have a bar to run?”

Dakota smothers a smile. “He has a life, too, Fallon.”

“Beef,” I shout, and he turns. “Why aren’t you at the bar?” A chorus of agreement rings out from around us.

The tips of his ears turn pink. He glowers and runs a massive hand over his bald head. “Christ, Fallon, give me a goddamn break.”

I smirk and wiggle my drink. “Refill?”

“Fuck you,” he says, but he’s laughing.

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