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“I’m the nicest fucking person alive,” I hiss as he hangs up.
Asshole!
Speaking to him makes my blood boil.
But it’s obvious he wants the best for Skylar, too, so I’m not as mad as I could be.
Her shower is still running, and I’m full of anxious energy.
I don’t have the time to care about her.
Yet here I am, absorbing every detail of her that I can before I leave.
There’s a photo of her and another woman with light brown hair on her fridge—April.
In the photo, Skylar’s eyes are bright, and her smile is stunning.
I commit it to memory.
If only the police department here could spare a competent detective for her, then she wouldn’t have had to drive for hours, armed with a pretty face and cookies, just to have someone help her.
I studied my cousin’s report before I met Landon at the hospital.
Ben technically did everything right—there’s not much they can do, given how limited their reach is.
Still…
She deserves better.
I survey the kitchen, careful not to touch anything, and just observe.
I deciphered Skylar without even trying, and I saw a frightening amount of myself in her.
She throws herself into her work—the perfect distraction to not have to deal with any personal issues.
The dark circles around her eyes told me all I needed to know about her sleeping habits, and judging by the number of coffee bags lined up on her counter, I’m sure she’s also fueled by the stuff.
She’s stubborn and defensive.
But to be fair, most people are around me.
Then why would she cover me with her nesting blanket? It’s a selfless, vulnerable thing to offer.
It unnerves me.
I make my way out of the kitchen and peer down the hallway. There’s a closed door at the end, which I assume is her bedroom. On the left is the bathroom she mentioned, and I enter it and shut the door behind me.
I catch myself in the reflection as I turn on the lights.
I look like shit.
Looking in the mirror is just another reminder of my failures.
If I wasn’t in her house, I’d punch the reflection looking back at me.
The pain would ground me, and no one would be the wiser.
Instead, I scowl and wash my face, grateful for the products Skylar left out for me.
