Page 28 of Finding Emotion

Celia stood up. “We should let these two catch up,” she suggested to the other women.

“You don’t—” Skylar started to say, but Jami stepped closer.

“Thanks, I’d like that,” Jami said with a smile for her friends. Her eyes landed on Skylar. “I’ll walk them out and be right back.”

“Sure,” Skylar said, accepting a pat on her shoulder from Erin before they all headed to the front door. She watched as Celia hugged her sister, saying something she couldn’t hear. The quiet woman was the last one to leave.

“I fucked things up for you, didn’t I?” Skylar asked as Jami walked back into the living room.

Jami shook her head. “Not at all. Celia just knows me too well.” She sat on the couch next to Skylar, curling her legs up under her. “I’m glad you came, Skylar.”

“Oh.” Skylar felt kind of warm and itchy. “Okay, then.” She tried to settle back as well, but then didn’t know what to do with her hands. “So, tell me how things are going with this guy of yours.” Her gaze danced around the room, but she couldn’t say whether or not the decor looked like her sister. “You’ve been living together, right?”

“Yeah. Malcolm will be home once the tavern closes.”

Skylar nodded. “Oh, right. He runs a bar.”

“More of a restaurant, actually. It really suits Malcolm.” Jami had a small smile Skylar envied. It looked so peaceful. “I still work at the tavern during the lunch shifts, but I’m taking more classes in the evenings this semester.”

Skylar’s eyes shifted to the laptop she’d noticed on the counter right off of the kitchen. “How’s that going?”

“I love it. Thanks for helping with the expenses. You gave me the push I needed.” Jami’s smile slid into one Skylar remembered from back when they were kids. “I’ve been writing again too. It’s felt amazing.”

Something inside Skylar softened. “You deserve a little amazing.” Her sister had often been a mini mom to her, always taking care of someone else and never herself despite Skylar trying to give her more freedom.

“I never thought I could be this happy,” Jami admitted.

“Sounds like Muscles is treating you right.” When her sister flushed, the jealousy Skylar felt spiked.

“He’s it for me, Skylar. If the car accident hadn’t happened”—some of Jami’s smile fell—“we would have been together for a long time now.”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Skylar shrugged when her sister’s eyes lifted to hers in surprise. “You never know how things will go, Jame. But I’m happy that you’ve kicked Drew to the fucking curb. Is that prick still locked up?”

Jami hesitated, then shook her head. “He never was. The prosecutor didn’t have enough to make the arson charges stick.”

“Fuck the arson,” Skylar snapped. She hated it, but a part of her was grateful the asshole had killed their father. It had set her sister free. “Didn’t that prick attack you on campus?”

Jami blinked. “Oh. I’d almost forgotten about that.”

“Forgotten?” Skylar felt like ants were crawling over her skin when she pictured Andrew Raneer with his hands on her sister.

“Yes.” Jami’s face softened again. “It’s strange. I don’t think about him much anymore. He took a plea deal for the charges from the assault.”

“He got fucking community service?” Skylar guessed. The tension inside her wouldn’t let her sit any longer. She shoved up to pace, her boots loud even crossing the carpet.

“Don’t be upset on my count, Skylar. I really am fine now.”

Skylar wasn’t. Andrew Raneer had cornered her once, back before she’d run away. Of course, that was nothing compared to what he’d put her sister through. “How can you not want him to pay?” Her mind slid to Jack, and Skylar’s hands tightened into fists.

“Skylar?” Jami called softly.

Skylar hated the way her sister was studying her. She forced her hands to unclench, running them through her hair instead.

“Are you all right?”

“Fine. I’m fine.” Skylar cleared her throat. “Look, if you’re cool with it, I’ll try to be. I just don’t get it.”

“Andrew has no hold over me anymore,” Jami said. “That’s enough for me.”

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