Page 24 of Just My Fake Husband

She groans when she looks at the screen, then puts it up to her ear. “Skye? Is everything okay?”

I hear indiscriminate wailing on the other end, and then, “You’re home from Caring Souls already?” River looks at her watch. “Oh, right. I lost track of time. I’m so sorry. Skye, Skye, take a breath, okay?” Her voice cracks. “I’m coming.”

I’ve got River by the arm, gently leading her to my Bronco while she’s still talking on the phone.

"Uh huh. Don’t worry,” she says into the phone. “We’ll find her. Just stay in the house. Skye, listen to me. Stay in the house!” she shouts. “I’m coming. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Set the timer. Yes, move the hand to the ten. And stay home. Do not leave. I’m coming.”

I open the passenger door and help her in. When I lean over to clip her seatbelt in, I breathe in her sweet vanilla scent. The look River gives me is a mix of confusion, gratitude, and sheer panic. Her hand holding the phone drops into her lap. “I told her ten minutes.”

I drop a swift kiss on the top of her head. “I’ll get you there in eight.”

Chapter 8

River

“I can’t believe I wasn’t home,” I say, panic threatening to completely derail me. “I’m always home when the van drops her off from Caring Souls. Always. And how did Lunchie get out?” I toss a look at Gabriel, his hands gripping the steering wheel as he drives. “Skye usually does fine while I’m at work. She has her routines and the neighbor is there most of the time. But with the dog out and missing? And I’m not there?” I shake my head, and then press my thumbnails into my palms. Maybe that will stop their shaking.

“Hey.” His voice is calm. “It’s not your fault you couldn’t get home. It’s the Civic’s.”

“I used to go out. Before they died, my parents always wanted me to include her in my plans, and man, was I resentful overthat.” I don’t know why I’m saying this aloud. Gabriel doesn’t respond. He just drives, glancing over at me every once in a while as if to assure me he’s listening. Or maybe he’s just catching glimpses of the unhinged woman in his Bronco.

“Sometimes, I didn’t mind bringing her along.” I groan, rip the elastic out of my wild bun, and start tugging my fingers through my hair. Might as well look the part of the deranged, right? “But most of the time, I did resent it. And let me tell you, having your parents die and getting to relive all those times you weren’t very nice about needing to share your life with your sister? Yeah. Fun times.”

I try not to spiral. She has left the house before without me knowing. She’s always come back quickly. But if she decides to go looking for the dog, who knows where she could be?

“This is my bad luck screaming at me.” I dig a fist near my eye and massage my temple with the other hand. “The one time my car breaks down, Lunchie gets out! My luck never ceases to amaze me.” My laugh is humorless. Gabriel gives me an empathetic look, but he seems to understand I don’t want to elaborate.

My parents would have never gotten caught up in talking to some rando and forgotten about Skye. Never. And they never would have shipped her off to a group home, either.

When we reach the house, I’m full-on nauseated. I run inside, telling myself over and over to regain a sense of calm. Despite my best efforts, my heart drops to my toes. “Skye!” I scream. Her timer is sitting on the mantle, still going, and it says two minutes left.

Thank you, Gabriel, for getting me here when you promised.

“She might be out looking for Lunch Lady Liz,” I toss behind me, as Gabriel stands in the entryway. I dash to the doorway of every room, calling Skye’s name.

When I come back to the living room, Gabriel’s gone. I’m out the front door when I get a call from him. “I thought I’d start looking outside,” he says. My gaze finds him in front of a house down the street. I run to catch up.

“Should we split up?” I yell out. I’m having trouble thinking rationally, but I do know a few things with crystal-clear clarity, and they tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Skye is vulnerable. She’s trusting and loving. It’s dangerous.” My voice cracks at that last word, and tears burn my eyes. I turn from Gabriel and point back up the street. “I’ll go back the other direction.” My lips feel stretched thin, like they’re beginning to freeze over. It’s not even cold out.

Gabriel gives a swift nod and starts jogging down the street in the opposite direction. “Skye! Lunch Lady Liz!”

Something about him yelling that ridiculous name in his manly voice brings a sob up from my chest. I turn the other direction and start to cross the road. When I’m halfway across the street, I rotate and begin walking down the middle. That’s got to be more effective, right? I can more easily see both sides of the street and there aren’t many cars out this time of night.

Soon, the panic causes my voice to rise again. “Skye!”

She could have left a couple of minutes ago or right when she got off the phone with me. That window of time is concerning. She could be anywhere, especially since she’s panicked about her dog.

I round the corner and start down the next street over when I get a text from Gabriel.

Gabriel:I found Skye. We’re looking for the dog.

I blow out a breath, my legs close to collapse.

Me:Is she okay? Where are you? I can catch up to you.

Gabriel:She’s absolutely fine.We’re on Fifth Street.

He managed to get far. I turn around and jog to catch up with them. But I’m slow. Just from his body type, I imagine Gabriel squeezes in a few-mile run every morning.

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