Page 131 of Ride the Sky

“Okay, so you know what it’s time for,” Reese announces, twisting the massive rock on her finger. The delighted expression on her face has me cringing.

I groan and needle my temple. “We’re gonna do it, aren’t we?”

“Oh, yes,” Ruby breathes. “It’s time for no bullshit—”

“Tell the truth,” Reese finishes. Brow arched, she sips her vodka soda. “It worked on me.”

“I can’t wait.” Ruby claps her hands together. “Soul baring will commence in approximately one pink drink.”

“Uh huh.” Koty waves a finger when I snap open my mouth to protest. “Out with it.”

“You can tell us anything.” Ruby smooths a small hand over the hem of her pale-blue sundress. “We’re your friends.”

“Stop acting like you’re burdening us,” Reese says, green eyes lighting with understanding. “You’ve always been protective of us. Let us be protective of you.”

“We have you, too,” Ruby adds.

“Goddamn,” I complain. “You are all insufferable when you’re sappy.”

Dakota smiles. “We just love you.”

My friends sit, their faces open—waiting.

Heart pounding, I run my finger around the rim of my glass. I don’t want to talk about Aiden, but it’s time. Wyatt showed me it’s okay to open up. To let someone in.

“Fucking fine,” I growl then down the whiskey in one long gulp. Might as well give myself some liquid courage. As I set theempty glass on the table, Reese reaches up to signal for another round.

I turn to my sister, finally letting myself voice the words. “I’m sorry I left. After Aiden…it was hard to be around you, because I felt like it was my fault. So I acted up. I drank too much. I was awful to everyone to push them away.” I bite my lip, my eyes flicking to Reese, because she understands. “And then—then I ran.”

I see how it hits my sister, hurts her. I hate myself, but she needs to know. I owe this to her.

Dakota’s pretty face crumples. “Oh, Fallon, no.”

“I felt so fucking guilty that I let him get to you and Squish,” I whisper, my heart aching. My guilt crashes over me once again like a tsunami. “I hated myself.”

My sister leans in, sliding her hands over mine. Her brown eyes shine with tears. “You are not responsible for what that monster did.” She shakes her head. “That is not on you, Fallon. I have never blamed you for that. Ever.”

Lower lip trembling, I nod, nod, nod. It’s all I can do.

“You saved us,” Dakota insists fiercely, squeezing my hands. “And I’ll tell you what you told me after Aiden. He did this. Not you.”

She’s right. I’m not responsible for what Aiden did. Dakota survived. I can, too.

Beside me, Ruby sniffles.

I blink to keep the tears at bay, but one slips out. “Ugh, I hate all of you. You made me cry, you sweet monsters.”

Ruby fans my face with a menu while Reese dabs at my cheek with a napkin.

The wave of love, of forgiveness, that crashes over me almost threatens to take me under. I left Resurrection thinking that would fix me, but here I am, back home, fixing myself.

The sharp click-clack of high heels has us looking up. Has Ruby gasping.

My eyes taper into suspicious slits as I watch Sheena Wolfington slink across the floor. There’s been bad blood between us ever since she called me white trash in middle school. When she had the entire town believing Wyatt shaved her head, I broke into her salon and shattered every mirror, sliced up all her chairs. Karma’s a bitch, but I’m bitchier.

“I don’t fucking believe it,” I grumble as Sheena walks straight into Beef’s outstretched arms. “She’s extremely boring, and her ability to never serve is insane. What’s Beef smoking?”

Ruby stares like it’s her personal night at the movies. “Love,” she murmurs, sipping her pink drink.

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