Page 20 of Red Zone

“Okay, well”—Skye glanced at me nervously again—“get under the covers so Liam can read you a story.”

“Two.” Her eyes narrowed, tiny shoulders tensing as she prepared to battle with her mom.

“I have time for two, but get under the covers like your mom said, butterfly.”

Skye helped Lily settle under the comforter of her toddler bed then curled up on the her full-sized one. I wanted to tuck Skye in just like she’d done with her daughter, but I wouldn’t push my luck. It was just short of a miracle that she’d let me this close.

I settled on the floor beside Lily’s bed, a little too far from where Skye lay for my liking, and cracked the book. Three pages in, a feather-soft touch traced the scar on my cheek. I held still as Lily explored the mark, waiting to see what she would say.

“You have an owie?” Intense concentration shone in her tired eyes.

“It happened a long time ago. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Kids were brutally honest and unapologetically curious. Plus, I didn’t mind. “Just left a mark.”

“’Kay.” She snuggled back under the covers, the topic forgotten as quickly as it had popped into her head.

I finished the book then moved on to the next one she’d picked as her eyes drifted shut. When she was fast asleep, I kept reading for another few seconds to be sure then let my gaze wander to where Skye lay nearby. Her face was softer as she slept, having passed out midway through the first story. She hadn’t heard her daughter question my scar or seen her touch my face. I wondered what she would have thought if she’d witnessed the exchange.

After returning the books to their shelf, I lifted a blanket at the bottom of Skye’s bed and carefully covered her. Then, I shut off the light, leaving the door cracked open as I moved into the hallway. At the bottom of the stairs, I ran into her aunt.

“The girls are asleep,” I said, feeling like I was intruding.

Eileen studied me, her gaze flicking between my face and the stairs, lingering just long enough to make me uncomfortable. She had dark-blond hair and wise brown eyes that looked at me a little too closely. I felt like I was under a microscope as her gaze traced my features.

“Is everything okay?”

“You just look very familiar,” she said.

My pulse quickened. “You’ve probably seen me at the games.”

I flashed her a grin, and her eyes widened. As I stepped outside, the weight of her scrutiny followed me. I didn’t know what else to say. It was weird talking with Coach’s wife when he wasn’t around. On that note, I shouldn’t be there, but leaving Skye alone after what she’d discovered wasn’t an option either.

Rattled, I said goodbye and headed out.What the hell was that about? Does she know about my relationship with Skye from a few years ago?If so, I was screwed because if Coach found out, I would be in serious trouble.

CHAPTER EIGHT

SKYE

Iwas officially obsessed. With a click, I closed the laptop and the striking picture of Liam in mid-catch. “This is crazy,” I muttered, shaking my head. My hand flattened over my stomach, willing the flutters to stop. They wouldn’t, and I couldn’t deny how he made me feel or the solace I’d felt having him take care of me—and Lily—last night.

“Mama. Mama!” Lily flew into the kitchen, brandishing her Little Mermaid doll in one hand and Belle in the other.

“Whoa, munchkin.” I smoothed down her wild curls. “That’s some crazy hair you’ve got going there. Are you trying to match Ariel today?” I bent and peppered kisses all over her face as she giggled.

The front door opened, and I could hear my aunt talking to my uncle, who must’ve come home for lunch. I loved that he tried to do that as often as possible just to see her. Us, too, but their love was still in the honeymoon stage. It was sickeningly sweet and something I wanted with all of my being, something I’d determined I would never have with Liam way back when. It’d colored my decision, and after last night, doubt crept in that I’d made the right choice.

Shoving those unhelpful thoughts aside, I pasted on a smile and picked up Lily. “What do you want for lunch today, Lils?”

“PB an’ J.” She cuddled close.

“Okay, you sit here.” I placed her in her booster seat at the table. “And I’ll get your lunch.”

She grinned and immediately started playing with her dolls as my aunt came in. Uncle Tommy paused in the doorway, grimacing as his phone rang. He ducked out to the living room to answer. I half listened as Aunt Eileen cooed over Lily then opened the fridge and handed me the strawberry jelly before getting the chopped salad she’d made for us an hour ago.

“How are you doing?” she asked as she dished the salad into three bowls then grabbed an apple and carrots for Lily.

“Okay. I sent Detective Cartwright the pictures and video I took last night.” I spread peanut butter on one slice of bread and jelly on another before cutting off the crust. “What about Uncle Tommy? Did he learn anything new about what’d happened?” I didn’t want Lily to know about it, which was why I’d asked away from the table.

“No, nothing yet. I do have some questions for you, though.” Eileen’s eyes narrowed, and her sharp intellect turned their dark brown to a burnished amber. “That young man looked familiar.”

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