I wish I could tell her the truth, but it’s not safe yet. Not when I have to worry about Logan and Grady at the same time.
When things are more settled, I’m going to tell her everything and get it out in the open.
Then we’ll be free to move forward.
Skyla crosses one leg over the other. “You know, if there’s something going on, you can talk to me. I have my own share of skeletons lingering in my closet.”
“I know.” I turn out into the New York traffic, weaving through cars and heading to her family’s home. “There’s nothing to worry about, though. I’m dealing with Logan and Grady, and there are other aspects of my business I have to worry about, but they’re nothing that’s going to be a problem for you.”
Her eyebrows pull together, but she doesn’t continue to press me even though I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
She wants to keep asking questions, that much is clear from the way her mouth opens and snaps shut again.
I could tell her the truth right now.
It would ruin our night. And she probably wouldn’t forgive me.
She’s done worse. Maybe.
Skyla fidgets in the seat beside me, playing with the tattered fabric from the rips in her jeans as we get closer to the house.
I reach out and take her hand, lacing our fingers together. “Everything’s going to be fine. You don’t have to sit here and worry.”
“All I can do is worry. You want to tell them the truth about us.”
I turn onto Aiden’s street. “We need to tell them the truth, together, and then we can move on with our lives.”
“I know you think that’s the way this is going to go, but you don’t know my family. Not the way you seem to think you do. These aren’t forgiving people. Ellie held a grudge for over a decade. Royce kidnapped his ex-girlfriend.”
“They could’ve done worse.”
“They’re the most well-adjusted members of the family. Case in point, the serial killer sitting beside you.” She gestures to herself before looking out the window. “This is going to be a nightmare.”
My entire body tenses as I pull into the driveway. “Do you really think it’s going to be that bad?”
“I’m sure they’re going to tear us apart.” The corner of her mouth twitches before she sighs. “They’re going to be pissed, and I don’tknow if they’re ever going to forgive me. Things are tense enough between us all with what I do.”
“They all know?”
“Yeah. Most of them choose to ignore it, though. Gia—she’s with Royce—is the only one who doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. You should’ve heard how thrilled she was when her mother found the bloody milk I left in her fridge.”
“You left bloody milk in her fridge?”
“She was going to find the other body parts quickly. I thought it would be funny to leave something she wouldn’t find for a while since her daughter is the one royally fucking my family.”
“Zoe?”
“Ding ding ding.” Skyla points at me with a finger gun, something I never thought I would see her do.
It doesn’t translate well to the normal behavior of the woman sitting beside me.
She must really be worried about her family if she’s acting this strange. She’s even starting to freakmeout.
Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’m not telling her the truth about everything going on in my life. That might be throwing her off a little.
We pull into the driveway, and she pulls her hand from mine, getting out and freezing in place.
It’s only when I step out of the car that I realize why.