Bare Skin (Skin Deep 5)

I stiffened in her arms and tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t let me go far. She looked me directly in the eyes as she finished. “Yes. Yes, I was, Dani, but you understand why I would feel that way. He’s my brother. But even then, I didn’t want to believe it, because that doesn’t seem like the person I’ve come to know. And you know what? I was right not to believe it. Luke called and explained. T.J. went down to the shop and came clean with him and Brandon.”

She ran her hands up and down my arms. “I wish you would have told us. When we mentioned T.J. that first time you were here, you should have just asked and saved everyone this heartache.”

“I couldn’t, Emma.”

She sighed and nodded. “I know. But it’s all good now, right?”

It was my turn to nod.

“Okay,” Emma said decisively. “Come on.”

I followed her in, my gaze immediately seeking Kaden out and finding him in Chloe’s arms on the couch. She stood, walking over to me and handing him over.

As she did, tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Dani. I…I ran my mouth without knowing the details and I shouldn’t have. Can you forgive me?”

I cradled Kade to my chest with one arm and pulled her in for a hug with the other. “Chloe, there’s nothing to forgive. You were looking out for your friends, your family. And I know you’ve been one of T.J.’s closest friends, so thank you for that.”

She sniffled and hugged me tighter, laughing when Kaden squirmed against her. “You know,” she said, pulling away. “T.J. always felt so haunted to me, but he also seemed so familiar. Maybe if I’d have paid more attention to him, and to you when you came to town, I’d have realized sooner that I knew you guys.”

“What do you mean, knew us?” I said, curious and a little afraid.

“I met you guys backstage at one of your shows like three years ago or so. Before…everything…happened.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, quietly asking, “What do you know about everything happening?”

She shook her head. “Not much, really. Just the rumors that Connor—er, T.J.—er, Taylor? What do I even call him anymore?--had some kind of breakdown and that another one, uh, Aaron? Maybe?” She shrugged. “That he got real heavy into shit he shouldn’t have been in and it caused some major problems for the other members. No one knows what problems, but most of it was speculation, and honestly, I haven’t heard anything about it in a while. Then again, I’m not in L.A. anymore, either, so…”

I rubbed my forehead. Damn. People were closer to the truth than they knew, but the damage control we’d done was holding so far if that’s still all that was being said. Thank God.

Nothing else was said after that about the band, and I had to practically threaten Chloe to get her to stop apologizing.

A little hand smacked me in the face and I glanced down to see Kaden smiling up at me. I smiled back and kissed his chubby little cheek before turning to Calland. “Well, are you ready? I want to stop by the store and grab a couple things for dinner.”

“Yeah, sure.”

I turned to Emma. “Thank you for keeping Kaden for me today…and I’m sorry.” I looked at Chloe, too, as I said, “I’m sorry to all of you for this mess. But thank you for not hating me…and for being my friends. It means more to me than you know.” They both hugged me again, then finally let me go so we could get going.

I strapped Kade into his car seat while Calland rounded up his stuff, and we said our goodbyes. We were getting in the car when Emma called my name again from where she stood on the front porch, Everly on her hip, Chloe standing beside her.

“So, is it true?”

“Uh, is what true?” I yelled back.

“Did he tell you he loves you?”

My eyes shot to Calland who just sighed and shook his head, but I could see the smile he was trying to hide.

Grinning, I answered her. “Yes, he did.”

She threw her hands up into the air, yelling, “YESSSSS!” and dancing around while her daughter giggled and held on for the ride.

Calland and I exchanged glances and then I saw him scowl. “You guys bet on something, didn’t you?” he yelled.

Emma shrugged, gave him an innocent smile, and abruptly pushed Chloe back inside the house, following hot on her heels, slamming the door behind them.

I could only grin while Calland muttered under his breath.