Page 65 of Fierce-Hyde

“Sounds like I can see why he’s going on divorce number two. He can’t keep his opinions to himself,” Raina said.

“I thought that too, but Hyde said he’s a nice guy. Just kind of simple, but not in a horrible way. He gets taken advantage of more than anything. My point is, it was just a reminder that Hyde has been a certain way most of his life.”

“I hate to repeat what’s been said so many times,” Raina said.

“I know. Judging and all. I’m trying not to. And Ryder changed too.”

“That’s right. Get it out of your head. You know these things about him and it’s better than finding out later down the line. He sounds like he’s trying to prove to you he’s not like that anymore.”

“He is and that makes me feel bad too.”

“Why is that?” Raina asked.

“Because I ask myself if he really should try that hard. I said before we bring the worst out of each other.”

“I refuse to believe that,” Raina said, crossing her arms.

“It’s an exaggeration. I know that now. But maybe it’s not a good thing that he works that hard either. Do you think it’s right?”

“I think there is a reason he’s working that hard and you have to decide if you can accept that or not. I’m more than willing to bet you know that reason and it scares you more than anything.”

“Self-sabotage,” she said. “Got it.”

20

SLAVE OVER IT

“Ilove this bracelet,” CeeCee said on Sunday afternoon. “It’s so sweet of you to get it for me.”

“I saw it and it reminded me of you,” he said.

It was a silver cuff with the word “strength” carved into it in a script font.

That was his sister.

Strong. Full of strength.

Still smiling through it all and walking around her apartment giving him and his mother shit for hovering.

If he knew his mother would be here today, he wouldn’t have stopped.

Not that he didn’t love them both, but he wanted to talk to his sister about Tori. He knew CeeCee would appreciate him confiding in her.

“Where did you find it?” his mother asked.

“Did you bring cookies?” he asked his mother. He saw the container on the counter. “You don’t bring me cookies when you visit.”

“You didn’t break your back,” CeeCee said, slapping his hand when he went to grab one.

“No,” he said. “And I’m not going to in order to get cookies, but that also means you can’t catch me if I want to run with these.”

He picked up the container and dashed past her.

She picked up her pace and as happy as he was she was moving so well, his mother yelled, “Hyde James!”

He halted and handed the cookies to his mother.

She opened it up and gave him one. “Sorry,” he said. “But it was nice to see CeeCee try to take off.”

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