Page 20 (1/2)

"I’ll go out and get all of this," Autuoodbye to Brenna

I watched as Auturabbed the keys to the aparts Control freak As his sister prepared to leave, I got this sudden feeling of claustrophobia It tightenedhere alone felt like a worse idea than going out in public with a bruised-up face "Hey," I burst out, "can I come with you?"

She looked surprised "What about your bruising?"

"You know," I glanced out of the patio doors to the river outside, "I’ a little fresh air I feel like I’ve been in this apartment forever"

"Of course You’re not a prisoner Hey," she dug through her purse, "I havethat had to take up all the room in her purse "I can do your makeup if you want Cover up the bruises?"

Relief washed overpa my makeup She also twisted my hair into a messy, stylish bun When I looked in the les so my face somehow looked fuller

It made me want to cry

O’Dea’s sister saw the shimmer of wet in my eyes and clutched my shoulder "You did what you had to do, Skylar But it’s tiain"

Angry atevery decision I’d o" It came out harsher than I meant

We were silent as we left the apart unsure ofto break the aardness as we got in the elevator "I can’t rein a box over the Clyde It’s weird to be in a building I don’t re into"

"Killian said you were pretty out of it"

"You two seem close?" The question slipped out before I could stop it

"Well, that’s what happens when you only have each other My uncle James isn’t the most affectionate man in the world," she said dryly "I don’t kno Killian can work for him I’d have killed him by now"

"O’Dea works for your uncle?"

"Yeah Uncle James owns the label"

That I did not know "So, O’Dea is in line to take over?"

Autu standards"

And suddenly everythingO’Dea wants more than to run that label one day"

"And he deserves to He’s brought in more money for that label in the last five years than anyone Does h a never-ending cycle of hoops Nothing h"

Clearly, I wasn’t the only one whose fa, O’Dea called Autumn as we stepped out into the fresh air It was cold but Autuht me It was remarkably si the cold breeze wash over me My skin prickled to delicious life under its crisp caress

"Everything went great," Autue Rover If I remembered correctly, O’Dea drove a Sport Autumn’s was the smaller Evoque Apparently, they were fans

The car beeped and I ood ar Skylar to the store for foodWe’re getting everything on the list Brenna gave usbecause she needs fresh air" She sighed "She’s finemakeupmy makeupAren’t you busy?We’re fineFineokay, okaySainsbury’sYes, that oneOkay, we’ll see you there Bye" She hung up and shotus at the store"