Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(13)

I moved to the stall, giving my mare a scratch behind the ears. “Taking good care of my girl?”

“I only gave her one carrot,” Sage assured me.

“Goody Two-Shoes,” Birdie muttered.

“Birds,” Hadley said in a warning tone.

“Yeah, yeah. No mean names.”

“And?” Hadley prodded.

“Sorry, Sage.”

“Apology accepted,” Sage answered. “Even if she didn’t mean it,” she added more softly.

I chuckled.

Hadley simply rolled her eyes heavenward. “Let’s get inside. Grandma said dinner’s almost ready.”

I would’ve given anything to stay right where I was. Sky seemed to sense it and pushed her face into me, nuzzling my shoulder.

The girls’ footsteps echoed on the stone floor as they ran towards the house. Hadley looked my way. “You coming?”

“Sure.” I forced myself to step away from Sky but instantly missed her warmth and comfort.

Hadley slowed her steps so I could catch up with her. “How are you?”

I stiffened, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. “Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Because it’s normal to ask someone how they’re doing when you haven’t seen them in a week.”

The tension bled out of my muscles. “I’m fine.”

“This is where you ask me how I’m doing.”

I scowled in her direction. “Little sisters are damned annoying. You know that, right?”

Hadley grinned. “We’re the best. You should all be grateful you got the best little sister around.”

We were. She kept us all laughing and had put up with far too much, thanks to me. Those familiar claws of guilt tore at my insides again. Hadley had lost so much of her childhood because our mom had been terrified after my kidnapping. I’d wanted nothing to do with sleepovers and dates, but Hadley had, and she’d missed out on just about everything.

“I’m taking your silence as agreement.”

I scoffed, but that only made her laugh.

Calder stepped off the front porch, tickling his girls as they passed. He pulled Hadley into his arms and kissed her soundly. She all but melted into him.

My palms dampened, and I looked away.

“Missed you,” he murmured against her mouth.

“I was gone all of ten minutes.”

“Too long.”

Beckett made a gagging noise as he guided his pregnant wife towards our group.

Calder glared at him. “Like you’re one to talk. You practically follow Addie around with body armor.”

Addie tried to hide her laugh with a cough. Beckett looked at her with mock affront. “Really?”

She shrugged sheepishly, her shoulder-length, blond hair swaying with the movement. “He does have a point.”

Calder held out a hand to Addie for a high-five. She slapped his palm.

“There’s no loyalty around here, I swear,” Beckett grumbled.

“Where are Hayes and Ev?” Hadley asked, glancing towards the drive.

I shifted on my feet. “I think something was going on at the sanctuary. Hayes said they weren’t going to make it.”

Beckett’s gaze narrowed on me, assessing. Addie looked up at him and then back to me. “I hope everything’s okay.”

“They probably just got slammed with some extra work,” I said quickly. I’d pay for the lies later, but what was one more to add to the pile?

The front door opened, and Birdie popped her head out. “Grandpa says to come and get it.”

Our group headed up the front steps to the porch. I hung back, letting the crowd go in front of me. If they noticed, they didn’t say a word, but they had all gotten used to my oddities.

I followed them inside, greeted by the smells of steak and potatoes. A massive salad already sat on the dining room table. My dad set down a platter full of meat, fresh off the grill. “Perfect timing.”

Calder headed into the kitchen and took a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes from my mom. “I’ve got these.”

“Thank you.” She kissed his stubbled cheek. “You always were my favorite for a reason.”

“We’re right here, Mom,” Beckett said with a laugh. “And he’s not even your son.”

“He is now,” she called back.

Dad looked in my direction. I saw the same concern from earlier, but something else was there, too. Or maybe the lines the emotion created were just deeper now.

A wave of anxiety passed through me, and I started for the kitchen. Moving to the sink, I turned on the faucet and washed my hands. I felt heat at my back. My hands fisted in the towel as I turned around.

My mom studied me, her gaze probing. “You okay?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“You’re sure?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Her lips pursed, and my dad moved in behind her, his hands landing on her shoulders. “Not tonight, Julia.”

My muscles locked, and my fingers began to tap, the terrycloth of the kitchen towel rubbing against them.

Her lips thinned further. “I’m not overstepping. I’m allowed to be worried.”

“Of course, you are. I just—”