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Still, as she listened patiently, I felt the knot in my stomach shrink a little bitup with Gayle,It was an LA number and my thumb hovered over the accept button for a few seconds as I fearfully considered who I would get on the end of the line

Whoever it was, it wouldn’t be easy

Sucking in a shaky breath, I answered

"Skylar?" Brandon asked, sounding disbelieving "God, is that really you?"

"Brandon?" I slu my eyes It felt like years and years since I’d heard his voice "It’s me"

"Fuck Fuck, fuck, fuck When Gayle called, I wasn’t sure she was for real It still doesn’t feel real Say soh renewed tears "I’ry, Sky" Tears filled his words, sending ry with you but I’lad to hear your voice I was so worried you hurt yourself or someone hurt you Why did you leave? Why couldn’t you stay and letto the tears in uy I only ever saw cry once and that was at my mother’s funeral I’d hurt Brandon I’d hurt et a hold of myself

"I’m sorry for that too" I wiped at my cheeks "You don’t need to hear that froy"

"I deserve honesty"

"You do" I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me "I wish I had a better answer than this but here is the truth: I was a fucked-up, selfish kid and it tookto pullon the streets God, Sky, when I think what could have happened And who is this guy? This label guy? Did he blackmail you? Because it sounds like he blacke to tell you so much in less than fifteen minutes?" I said, awed at her ability I’d been on the phone with her for over an hour

"So, it’s true? He black badly of Killian caused a tightness in my chest "No It was coavenew music"

"You have millions in the bank Why the hell did you need to rely on this guy?"

I sucked in a breath "Because I knew once I called Adam, he would call Gayle, and she would call you I left it so long to coer I waited, theyou I was a coward"

"What did you think ould do?"

"Hate me," I answered immediately "You’re the only family I have left, and I treated you like crap So yeah, I was terrified of you hating ht ry with you But I could never hate you I love you You’re h hell Then I keep re myself that you were already there In hell That I can’t possibly understand what you’re going through But I kind of do because I loved Angie too I know it’s not the same, but I lost her too You could’ve come to me"

Fresh tears scored hotly down my cheeks "But I couldn’t, Brandon It wasn’t just about losingher the way I did It was about Bryan and Micah and the band I was so miserable in that life but I didn’t want to let anyone down When Mom died, it was easier to walk away fro her because of how unhappy I was"

"Gayle told me about Bryan Why didn’t you tellitmy mo away back then And I kept running However, I’ anymore"

"Okay" He let out a heavy exhalation "There’s so much to say and talk about, but I don’t want to do it over the phone Can I co with Heather in LA I could get on a plane today"

The thoughtto run anymore and then do just that "I’d like that"

THAT NIGHT KILLIAN CAME OVER and held hts and emotions He didn’t make , I got a text from Brandon to let ow by five o’clock Killian had left early, as always, to fit in his workout and would be on his way into the office I called him to tell him about Brandon and the line went quiet

"You’re not okay with this?" I surmised by his silence

"You’ve been really lucky here, Skylar This is a pretty laid-back city and if you have been recognized, no one cares enough to plaster it on the internet But put you and another band et attention"