Page 149 of Wild Eyes
Reasons like my eyes catching on a large mason jar that West just pulled from the picnic basket. My heart stutters as I take it in. And when I glance back up, West is watching me. He’s propped on his knees and grinning at me, looking so utterly proud of himself.
“What is that?”
“Why it’s a jar of Skittles, fancy face.”
My eyes scan again. There’s no rainbow to be tasted in that jar.
“They’re all orange,” I say, making the most obvious observation.
“Of course. Orange is your favorite.”
A watery laugh falls from my lips as I shake my head in disbelief. “What did you do with all the other ones?”
He smirks as he twists the lid open and holds the jar out me. “Ate them. Can’t you tell? They went straight to my thighs.”
Our eyes lock, and in his baby blues, I see the sparkle and devotion I’ve come to revel in. The kind of sparkles that keeps me laughing every damn day. And the kind of devotion that has had him snacking on all the most disgusting flavors of Skittles for who knows how long just to save me an entire jar of my favorites.
“This is…” I trail off, reaching in for a few pieces of candy. And then I grin as I turn my palm over and see them there. The gift is ridiculous and significant all at once. “Too much.”
“Uncle Ford agrees,” Emmy pipes up. “He told me you overpaid for this date with our dad.”
Ollie laughs and West just grins.
“You can tell your uncle Ford that I wholeheartedly disagree.” Then I toss a wink at West. “Plus, it was for a very good cause.”
EPILOGUE
WEST
THE FOLLOWING YEAR…
I’m seatedin the front row. I’ve been here since Doris started setting up in the school gymnasium. She and Skylar started a charity that brings arts education to underprivileged children, and today is the fundraising talent show.
Guests begin to filter in. My parents take seats beside me. Ford and Rosie on the other side. Cora flits around onstage and backstage, wearing her signature black from head to toe and getting everything set up.
She recently told Ford she wants to be a roadie, traveling with bands, and he looked like he wanted to die.
It was the best.
Before long, people from town pack the entire gym. The same people who’ve accepted Skylar since her retirement—protected Skylar since her retirement. In the beginning, a few paparazzi tried snooping for a shot, but they soon discovered the hotels were full and the restaurants were fresh out of food and drinks.
They didn’t last long. And now, we live peacefully on the farm together. Or at least as peacefully as Emmy will allow now that she’s dead set on learning to play the guitar.
Ollie, though still quiet, has started to stretch his wings and talk to new people. A slow, steady evolution. He told me once he wanted to be just as brave as Skylar.
To me, he’s always been brave. But watching him flourish has been one of life’s greatest gifts.
As I reflect on how incredible the last year has been—how my life feels full to the point of overflowing while also feeling like it’s just getting started—the lights dim and Doris takes the stage.
“Right, well, good of you all to come out and bring your wallets. I’ll be honest, some of these performances are worth the ticket price and some just aren’t. But you have to clap anyway. All right?”
Laughter echoes through the gym. The acoustics are terrible, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone is here for a good cause. A small community coming together. I’ve always loved living in Rose Hill, but I’m not sure I fully appreciated it until I got to see it through Skylar’s eyes.
“But,” Doris continues, “this first group is pretty damn good. Apparently, one member is well-known in some circles. In others, she’ll always be the girl with the broken nose who decided to stick around.”
I’m laughing when I hold my hands up on either side of my mouth and call out, “It wasn’t broken!”
“Weston, sit your ass down and enjoy the show. Everyone else too.”
