“Maybe we should.”
“No, Skye. I want one goddamn normal day. I want one day when we don’t have to talk of death and murder and revenge. For twenty years, those thoughts have occupied my brain. Give me one day, and I will give you one. Please. Please give this to me, even if it sucks.”
Her hand reaches up and swipes at the tear, and then she nods. “You think it will suck? You don’t like board games?”
“Not particularly,” I admit.
She cocks her head to the side. “Then why are we playing?”
“Because you asked.”
Her big blue eyes go wide. “And you would do anything I asked?”
“Within reason.”
“Interesting.” At that, her lips tip up into a mischievous smirk.
“I’d love to know what you are thinking,” I state, though I have a pretty good idea exactly what she is thinking.
“I bet you would.” She laughs while shaking her head. “Doesn’t matter. We aren’t doing it.”
“Shame.”
“Stop. Head out of the gutter. We are playing this game.” She looks down at the old board game. “Okay, since you pulled it out, how do we play?”
“You roll the dice and move your pieces,” I deadpan, and she rolls her eyes but laughs.
“Real helpful, Sherlock.”
I smile at her as she takes a turn. She has no idea what she’s doing. I can't stop laughing as Skye thinks about her next move. She plays with her tongue sticking out one side of her mouth, concentrating on not moving any of the pieces. It takes a while for her to get the grasp of the strange old game, but not long after, she’s laughing and joking, and her smile lights up the room.
A part of me feels light and happy for the first time in a long time. I can’t remember the last time I haven’t had the weight of the world on my shoulders. But here, sitting beside Skye, I feel the calm that only she can bring.
43
Skye
Reality has a way of catching up to us.
We spent the night in each other’s arms, but this morning, I woke alone. It was the most perfect twenty-four hours, but time doesn’t stop for anyone, and before it slips by some more, we must face the aftermath of the war.
My arms stretch over my head, and my eyes blink at the morning rays streaming in from the large window in the bedroom.
I spent yesterday entwined in Tobias’s arms, making up for lost time, but now, in the early morning sunshine, I step out of bed and walk over to the large window to look at the view. The property is beautiful. I wasn’t paying attention when we first drove here, nor when I was nursing Tobias back to health, but I am now, and even though I don’t know where here is, it’s gorgeous.
It reminds me of the town I grew up in, Reddington.
The trees are dense, and I wonder if that’s why he picked this location. No one would be able to breach it and find us in this little stretch of paradise.
Staring out into the horizon, I watch the trees sway slightly with the wind. It looks beautiful, like a perfect summer day. Something tells me today won’t be that.
Moving away from the window, I walk across the room to enter the bathroom and go about making myself presentable. I don’t know what is in store for me today, but I need to be ready.
It’s not long before I’m showered and dressed. I throw on a pair of leggings and a T-shirt Tobias left on the counter for me, then I walk out of the bedroom and go in search of him.
I hear their voices before I see them, but Gideon and Tobias are already sitting at the table when I enter the kitchen.
“Morning.” Tobias moves to stand, but I shake my head. He’s still healing, and we didn’t rest much yesterday.
He said he wasn’t hurt, but last night before bed, I noticed the grimace. We weren’t gentle. My cheeks feel warm as I remember the night before. And the day. And the morning.
I put my back to them so they don’t notice the blush I’m sure is creeping up my cheeks. Grabbing a mug, I fill my own cup with coffee and then sit beside Tobias at the table. He leans over and places his lips on mine.
I’m surprised by his show of affection. I assumed he would be hands-off, but it seems clear by the way he pulls back and looks at me that he’s more the “marking my territory” type of guy.
“Morning.” My mouth splits into what I am sure looks like a silly grin on my face as I look over at Gideon, who sits across the table from me.
“Morning, Skye.”
“Am I interrupting anything?” I lift the coffee to my mouth and take a sip.
“Nothing you can’t hear,” Tobias responds.
“Because I’m your legal counsel?” I ask.
He shakes his head, takes my hand back in his, and runs his finger across my tattoo. “No. Not because you’re my lawyer.” The way he looks at me makes me shiver, and I know without words, I’m here because I mean something to him. Because he wants me around.
Because he needs me.
This whole time, since Tobias has been back in my life, I couldn’t pinpoint the feeling I have when he’s around. It’s only now, now that I remember, now that I can understand our shared past, that I know why I’ve felt a connection to him from the moment I looked into his eyes. His words from all those years ago are still crisp in my ear. I’m the plane, and you’re the sky.
“What time will the guys be here?” Gideon reaches for the water in the middle of the table and pours himself a glass.
“Soon.” Tobias turns to face him while reaching his hand out to place it on my lap.
I wish I wasn’t wearing leggings. The feeling of his skin on mine is the best feeling in the world.
“Who’s coming?” I place my hand over his, needing the connection. I always want to touch him. It’s the only thing that brings me calm.
“Just a few of my most trusted confidants.”
“Do you need me to—?” His hand moves, and then his fingers are pressing down a little on my tattoo as if he’s telling me to stay.
“You aren’t going anywhere, Skye. Where I go, you go.” When I don’t say anything, he drills me with his stare. “Do you understand?”
“Kind of,” I squeak.
“Room,” he says to Gideon, who is quick to stand and vacate the space.
Then my chair is being dragged closer to him. The scratching sound echoes through the air. We are face-to-face, only a breath away.
“You are the only thing that matters to me. You are everything. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“If you told me to drop this—”
I shake my head. “I won’t.”
“I know, but I would.”
Leaning forward, I place my lips on his and say all the things I’m too scared to say with a kiss. I’m not afraid of much but losing him petrifies me. I already lost him once.
“What’s wrong?”
I ponder whether I should say what is bothering me, but it pours out when I finally open my mouth.
“I can’t lose you again.”
Tobias moves fast, and the next thing I know, he’s pulling me from the chair and placing me in his lap.
Touching might bring peace, but this, being cradled in his arms, feels like home.