Page 62 of Grayson

Cooper tells her she looks wicked every time he stops by to see her.

“Nice.” She lifts the iPad out and lowers it to her lap before pulling out the rest of the contents. A cover for the iPad, a screen protector, charger, and so on. All her favorite candies, a book, one Scarlett insisted a girl her age would love. Rose crocheted her a blanket in a deep blue that was pretty close to the color of her walls.

“Like?” I ask and she only nods her head, still looking down at her lap. “Tori?”

“I’m good,” she says though I immediately sense that she is not. Her voice is nothing more than a whisper and she is refusing to look at me. When I see her shoulders begin to shake I move quick. Careful not to hurt her, I sit on the edge of her bed and reach out to tip her chin upward.

“Talk to me.” I scoot in closer, her tears killing me.

I can’t stand seeing her or Skye upset. I realize more and more each day that I live for their smiles. I love the two of them like they’ve been a part of my life forever. Truthfully I forget what life was like without them. I know that I never want to go back to the time before them. I know now that it was empty, now it’s full of chaotic love and laughter.

She shakes her head and I refuse to let her hold it in. It’s what Tori does, not wanting to appear weak. Her armor, it’s strong, but more than anything I want her to know that letting her guard down with me is okay. I want her to trust that no matter what I think she is a badass.

“I love you, kid.” It’s the first time I’ve said those words to her, though I’ve been feeling it for weeks. Hell maybe even since the first night she actually let me in.

“I love you too.” When she lifts her gaze to meet mine she shrugs. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For loving us.” She bites the inside of her cheek trying to fight her emotions. “Skye and me,” she adds. “For reminding us what it’s like to have a family.”

“I should be thanking you.” Her head tilts to the side, her eyes squinting just enough to indicate she’s curious. “I was a mess when I met you.” Her lips tilt up in a smile. “I’m the one that needed saving sweetheart, you know it’s true.”

“You were, it’s true.” She laughs, just as my dad walks into the room.

“What’s so funny?”

“Grayson was just admitting that before me he was a complete and utter disaster.”

“True.” My father nods his head joining us. I should know better, you get the two of them together and you better watch out. They team up and attack, they’re two peas in a pod.

“How’s my girl feeling today?” He lifts up her large bag of Nerd Clusters and tears them open. She doesn’t even flinch reaching it to grab a handful for herself.

“I’ve been waiting on you to get here, are you ready?”

“Ready for what?” I ask, looking between the two of them.

“Yellowstone.” My dad pulls out his laptop setting it on the table before them. “Season two,” he clarifies. “That Beth is a tough woman, reminds me of this one.” He points over at Tori just as he hits play and the two of them are quickly lost to everything else around them.

It’s not only me that has fallen in love with Skye and Tori, my father has too. He’s been here every day since the accident. He’s checked in with Skye every morning making sure she’s doing okay.

My girls are also his girls.

42

Skye Simmons

“Thank you for doing this.” I place Tori’s bag on the floor beside the end of the couch.

“Oh honey, she’s helping me more than me helping her. It will be nice to have some chatter in this house.”

“I apologize now for anything she may say. She tends to let things slip before thinking them through.” I’ve been nervous for days after Grayson informed me that Rose offered to keep Tori during the day while I work. I’ve literally had nightmares about the things she may say. Poor Rose!

“Have you forgotten that I deal with a house full of firemen on a daily basis?”

“I have not.” I take a deep breath. “But, Rose, she’s worse.” She laughs and I smile but truth be told, I wasn’t joking.

“She outside?”

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