While Skye ordered an Uber, I called my brother.
“What are you up to?” I asked the second he picked up.
“Nothing.”
“Can you meet me, Skye, and Tess in Central Park?”
“Sure. What happened?”
One of the things I loved about my family? We could tell when something was off before the other even spelled it out. Walking a few steps away from Skye, I filled Cole in quickly.
“That motherfucker.”
“Which one? The investor or Skye’s guy?”
“Both. Who are they?”
“I don’t know.”
“They screwed with our sisters. We need their names.”
“Cole. Central Park. Twenty minutes. Don’t bring up the topic at all. Just managed to stop Skye from beating herself up.”
Cole was my opposite in many ways... except when it came to impulsiveness. Growing up, we’d competed in who was the most hot-headed, as if we were trying to win a medal for it. Luckily, our sisters had tempered us down. They were successful... most of the time.
Unlike the Empire State Deck, Central Park was crawling with people. Despite the vastness of the place, the perimeter of the movie screening was claustrophobic. But a deal was a deal, and Skye already looked more cheerful.
After I bought us hot dogs from a vendor passing by, Cole texted that he and Tess had found an empty patch of grass.
“Oh, look, Tess is waving at us,” Skye said. We bought two more hotdogs and then did our best to reach our siblings without stepping on anyone.
“Jesus, I can’t understand why it’s so crowded. The movie’s been out for fifty years,” Cole said.
Our sisters glared at him as the four of us somehow crammed in on the blanket Tess had brought.
“Yes, but it’s still more amazing than 99 percent of the stuff they make nowadays. So, let’s set some rules,” Tess said. “We won’t talk shop tonight.”
“Or about romantic stuff,” Skye added.
“Deal,” Cole and I said at the same time.
“You’re in for brothers of the year, both of you,” Tess declared.
“You only have two brothers,” Cole teased.
“Yeah, if we’re going to compete, it’s going to be among each other,” I volleyed back. “Personally, I feel like I’m in the lead by a solid lap.”
Skye rolled her eyes, taking Cole’s arm. “He’s less bigheaded. I’m siding with him.”
Tess crossed her arms over her chest, looking between the three of us.
“Tess, I’m going to be real mad if you don’t side with me,” I warned. The corners of her mouth tilted up.
“Of course I’m going to side with you. It’s all about balance in this family.”
I cocked a brow at Cole. “See? We’re even.”
“Only because you begged,” Cole teased.
“I only laid out my arguments. That’s not begging. It’s common sense.”
“By the way, why did you even go by the store tonight?” Skye whispered as the beginning credits started to roll on the huge portable screen at the other end of the perimeter.
“Avery and Heather are coming by my place tomorrow. We’re going shopping so Avery can have some stuff at my apartment. Thought you could give me some tips.”
My sisters gasped. Cole choked on the last bite of hot dog.
“Why didn’t you say anything until now?” Tess asked.
Then we got shushed. “Keep your voices down. Some of us actually want to see the movie.”
I shook my head, shrugging. Only in New York could people take the screening of a fifty-year-old movie so seriously. I blocked out most of it, thinking about Owen again. I wanted to find solutions for everyone I cared about, but it wouldn’t be tonight. Right now, all I could do was entertain my sisters.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ryker
I arrived at home after midnight but couldn’t fall asleep. I’d always been able to push work-related worries to the back of my mind, or if they were too pressing, a session at Northern Lights was everything I needed to unwind.
But there was no unwinding when my family or Heather was involved. My brain just worked tirelessly to come up with a solution, and when I couldn’t find one, like now, frustration with myself just ate me up from inside. I didn’t want Heather to run into any issues. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to protect my sisters too: from this madness, generally from ups and downs... from everything I could. We had a pact, a promise. Sure, we’d been kids back then, but I liked to make good on it as often as I could.
I only slept a few hours, so I was exhausted the next morning. I tried to push everything out of my mind when Heather and Avery arrived, but I couldn’t do it.
“Earth to Ryker?” Heather asked, smiling.
“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“We brought breakfast.” She held up two paper bags. “If today is going to go the way I think, we’ll need sustenance.”
“Good idea.”
“I already ate. Can I go to my room?” Avery asked, almost breathlessly. I’d shown her the guest room last time they were here, and when I said it was hers, she’d been so beside herself that she kept working my room in every sentence.
“Sure.”
Heather and I went to the kitchen. I took out plates, but she didn’t open the bags.
“What’s up with you?” Heather asked.
“Just tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“We can go shopping another time. Or... we don’t have to go at all.” Her eyes were loving and concerned, and I needed that.
I almost took her up on her offer, but I knew I’d be letting Avery down if we canceled everything.
“It’s fine,” I said.
Heather frowned. “Ryker, is something wrong?”
“No. Just tired,” I repeated. I didn’t want to bring my crap into our relationship; she didn’t need to deal with it.
“Okay.” She began opening the paper bag, then stopped. “You’re sure it’s not something else? Look, if you don’t want to go shopping, it’s no big deal. I understand if you got a little overwhelmed last time.”
“What are you talking about?”
She twiddled her thumbs, averting her gaze.
“I don’t know. Did you change your mind? If you don’t want us here—”
I closed the distance between us before she could even finish the sentence, cradling her head with both hands.
“Of course I want you here. Don’t even think that.”
“You’re sure? Because you’re... distant since I arrived.”
“Yesterday was....” I hadn’t wanted to ruin her day first thing in the morning, but maybe it was better if she knew right away. “Owen said he was the one who contacted that Dawson guy, asked him to write about the company too.”
Heather gasped. “Shit! Why? I thought it was clear that we were expecting this to be an exclusive story.”
“I know, babe. I’m sorry.”
“Damn. I’m going to have to email Danielle and let her know. Did Owen tell you when Dawson’s article is coming out?”