Page 49 of Reckless Skye

‘It’s not you she’s worried about.’ His dad nodded to the chair closest to TJ. ‘Sit down.’

As frustrated as he was, TJ sat. His father was one of two people in the world he respected absolutely, second only to his mom. But he’d have his say too. ‘Why is everyone treating Skye like she’s made of glass? She doesn’t deserve that. She’s fucking fierce.’

‘Do you remember that stray dog we picked up off the side of the road when you were about ten?’

TJ settled in for the story, knowing that there would be no escaping it. ‘Of course.’ The dog – a mutt of indiscriminate lineage – had been abandoned on the side of the road, probably left to die when his owner realized he’d taken the beatings and routine starving too far to escape a vet’s notice.

‘The poor thing was bone thin, covered with mange, and had open wounds over most of her body,’ his dad said patiently. ‘And despite how weak she was, how tired, she fought us the entire way to the vet, snapping and snarling and trying to take a bite out of us every time we tried to get close.’

‘I remember. When we brought her home, Mom cried.’

What he didn’t say, what they both remembered, was that his mom had then spent the better part of two months loving that dog, showing her that not all humans were bad. Janey had called her Ladybug, but it hadn’t mattered how much she had loved her – the dog had been too wary of TJ and his sister to keep permanently. Eventually, they’d rehomed her to some friends of theirs who didn’t have kids.

‘Sometimes,’ his dad said patiently, ‘being fucking fierce is not resilience or strength of will. Sometimes, it is uncontainable fear leaving the body.’

‘I understand that,’ TJ argued. ‘I do. But both can be true. I know Skye’s afraid. Because unlike you and Mom, I’ve talked to her about it. She doesn’t want or need to be babied because bad things have happened to her. She wants – needs – to be treated like someone who has fought her way out and survived. Like someone who is strong and in control and capable. Because she is.’

His dad used his own words against him. ‘Both can be true.’

‘I would never hurt her.’ It had to be said. Because their concern chaffed.

‘I can see that. And in my defence, I told your mom this girl was different.’ Ryan put the paperback down on the table. ‘But she worries; it’s her nature.’

TJ kicked out his feet and linked both hands behind his hat, defeated. Agreeing with his dad’s observation felt like too much, too soon. So, he gave an easy truth: ‘I feel like I knew everything about women just a few days ago,’ he said, and ignored his dad’s amused snort. ‘But now, suddenly, the rules have changed, and I don’t know a damn thing. But for the first time, I want to. I want to know everything about Skye. And, worse, I want her to know everything about me. Which is ridiculous,’ he added and glared up at the ceiling fan. ‘I’ve known her three days.’

‘I knew I was going to marry your mom the first time I saw her.’

‘So, you’ve said,’ TJ drawled. But only because talk of marriage made him sweat.

‘Well, I don’t want to nag. But I promised your mom I’d say something, so this is it: be careful with that girl.’

‘I will.’

‘Okay then.’ Ryan tipped his head, dismissing him. ‘See you on the dirt.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Give ’em hell.’

‘I always do,’ TJ replied as he stood.

But as he walked away, his dad called him back. ‘Hey, TJ!’

TJ braced, half expecting another lecture. ‘Yeah?’

‘I’m really proud of you.’

TJ relaxed. He waved one last time before walking to his truck.

But as he drove, he mulled over what his father had said – and he second-guessed himself.

Skye was fierce. And she absolutely deserved to be treated as such. But his dad hadn’t been wrong either. Those telltale signs of fear were still there. Even just the way she watched everyone, as if she needed to be able to defend herself or bolt at any minute, reminded him of what she’d been through. But how was she supposed to heal if nobody let her get used to those little everyday things?

It bothered him. So much so that, when he pulled into the WestWorld venue and navigated his truck to the parking lot, he was lost in his thoughts. Distracted.

It was only when he got out and heaved his gear bag over his shoulder that he remembered where he was and, more importantly, why he was there.

It took effort, but TJ pushed Skye to the back of his mind. Distraction was a dangerous game in bull riding.