Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(75)

“I’ve got my motorcycle.”

“Pack enough clothes for a few days and anything else you’ll need.”

“Boone. I don’t have any place to go.”

Frustrated by the way her voice broke, I almost punched the wall, but I managed a calm tone. “I’m calling the motel I stayed at last time and I’ll get you a room for a week. But you have to promise me you won’t let Mom know you’re there or let her stay with you.”

“I promise. But what if she calls and asks me where I am when she sobers up? What do I tell her?”

“That you’re staying with a friend. After that, don’t take her calls until you hear it’s okay from me. Promise me.”

“I promise. Thank you, Boone. I know this isn’t your problem—”

“You’re my sister, Oakley. If I can help you, I will.”

She was crying so hard when she hung up I couldn’t understand her.

I did an internet search, found the motel and called. “This is Sergeant Boone West. I stayed there a few weeks ago with my sister? You remember me? Great. Look, I’m in a bind. I’m coming to visit my sister again and I’m not sure what day I’ll be there, it all depends on the army clearing the paperwork.” I forced a laugh when the desk clerk commented about too much red tape. “That’s the government for you. Anyway, I’ll reserve a room starting tonight. My sister will be there shortly so go ahead and give her the key. I’ll pick mine up when I get there.” I hated to lie, but they wouldn’t rent a room to a minor. “You ready for my credit card?” I pulled my Visa out of my wallet. The numbers swam and I blinked twice but they remained a jumbled mess.

Fuck. Fuck. Stress made the dyslexia worse. And I’d had a stressful day before this. I’d have to swallow my pride and ask Raj to read me the numbers so I could repeat them to the motel clerk.

I turned around.

Sierra had just walked in. Her scowl morphed into concern when our eyes met. Then she was right there, close enough to touch. “What’s wrong?”

I said, “Can you please hang on a second?” to the motel clerk and hit the mute button. “Same old crap with my mom. I’m reserving Oakley a motel room, but I’m so…pissed off I can’t even read the numbers on my goddamned credit card.” My face flamed when I said, “Could you read them to me and I’ll repeat them to the clerk?”

“Of course.”

On automatic, I turned back around, away from my McKay cousins’ questioning eyes. I pushed the mute button again. “Sorry about that. I’m ready to give you the number now.”

Sierra spoke the numbers directly into my ear and I relayed them to the clerk.

After a little more small talk, I hung up, relieved Oakley would have a clean, safe place to stay for a few days. I returned my credit card to my wallet and my wallet to my back pocket.

Sierra kissed me, bringing my attention back where it belonged: on her beautiful face.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s get out of here. This place has a bad vibe.”

We approached the table and Raj said, “What’s up?”

“Family stuff with my sister so I’ve gotta go deal with that.”

“Okay. Call if you need something. If not, I’ll see you at oh eight hundred.”

“Later.”

The McKay-kateers were strangely subdued as we walked away.

Once we were alone in Sierra’s car, I leaned over the console and kissed her, desperate for her taste to wash away the bitterness. Needing a reminder that my life and my future were with her. It was easy to get sucked into a dark place when a reminder of my ugly past literally came calling.

Her fingers were cool against my cheeks. “Sit back and close your eyes. Get your head together. We’ll talk after we get home.”



What did I do once we got there?

Stalled.

I showered. A long, hot shower that wasted resources and time.

My phone rang with a call from Oakley as I entered my room, towel wrapped around my hips. “You all right?”

Oakley expelled a shaky sigh. “It’s surreal being in this hotel room alone. I’m better now. I promised I wouldn’t cry, but thank you so, so, so much, Boone.”

“I’m just glad I could do something. Heads up; the only reason they’re letting you stay there as an unattended minor is because I told them I was coming to visit. So if they ask you when I’ll be there…tell them you don’t know.”

“I hate how good I’ve gotten at lying.”

“Me too, Twig. I can’t believe I forgot to ask before…where’s Rock?”

“In juvie. This time it wasn’t his fault. But they locked him up for two weeks anyway. I think that’s why Mom got high; she felt guilty.”

“Mom got him shipped off?”

“Yeah. He took the car without permission according to Mom, but she gave him the keys. She didn’t remember that and she called the cops and turned him in. They found drug stuff in the car—which was hers. He passed the drug test or he’d be locked up longer. He’s better off there than here this week.”

She had a point. “It’s getting late. Get some rest. Let me know how you’re doing tomorrow. If you need anything just call me. No matter what time.”