Page 31 of March 5

"Why don't you come in and eat your dinner? I'll reheat it in the microwave," said Aunt Brooke.

"I can't. I'm going to go back to the apartment." She turned around and grabbed her aunt's hand. "I'm sorry for messing up our dinner."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. Havlin makes life interesting, and our daughter makes it even more exciting." Aunt Brooke hugged her. "Let me package some food for you and Mariah."

"Thanks."

"I'm also a phone call away if you need to talk."

"I know." She hugged her aunt again. "I can't stop thinking about him fighting. I hope he'll be okay and hasn't hurt himself."

"I imagine the others would've stopped him in time." Aunt Brooke softened her voice. "You know we love Dio like family already."

"Do you think it's stupid that I want to be with him?" She followed her aunt into the kitchen. "Am I being unrealistic to think Dio loves me in the way that I want to be loved?"

"Do you really want to know what I think?"

She nodded. Part of her wanted to walk awayand not find out what anyone else thought about the situation. She was afraid Aunt Brooke would tell her it was an impossible task to have Dio love her.

"Dio has always loved you. You were his princess. At first, I thought his connection with you was like a favorite uncle or a guy who wanted to be a father but lacked a family, and he turned to you to fill the love he sought in his own life." Aunt Brooke's gaze softened. "The last couple of years, you've been busy with school and working; he hasn't accepted that you've grown up. Then, suddenly, you want him to see you for a woman, and he's scared."

"But he shouldn't be scared." She pressed her hand to her stomach. "Was my dad scared of loving you?"

Her aunt put the lid on the leftovers. "Do you remember when your dad came back into your life?"

"Of course. Right after we moved here."

Aunt Brooke handed over the container. "Your dad went to the extreme to get you into his life—to make me fall in love with him. Just like Dio is doing now. I know it's hard for you to step away, but you must let him figure it out. No man wants to feel like they were pressured into a relationship."

She grabbed her phone and went to her car after saying goodbye. As much as she wanted to ride straight to the clubhouse and see if Dio was okay, she wouldn't go against her dad's orders.

Maybe Aunt Brooke was right. She had to step back and let Dio figure out how to love her on his own.

Chapter Fourteen

The bedroom door swung open. "Skye?"

She raised her head off the pillow. "I'm awake."

"Can I come in?" Mariah opened the bedroom door. "It's important."

"Absolutely. I was only staring into space, thinking." She sat up on the bed and pulled the blanket up to her armpits. "How was your date?"

"Don't hate me."

"I would never hate you." She yawned. "What's wrong?"

It had to be after midnight. Once she got home from Dad and Aunt Brooke's house, she took a long shower and crawled into bed, hoping the night would go fast so that tomorrow would come, and she could find out what happened with Dio. All she'd done was stare at the ceiling, reviewing everything that had happened the last few weeks.

"I've kept something from you," whispered Mariah. "It's killing me, and I want to tell you everything."

"I already heard." She patted the bed and waited until Mariah sat beside her. "You and Brett hooked up."

"Twice." Mariah groaned. "I was going to tell you the night you went to Dio's. But you came back so discouraged, I didn't want to tell you because it'snot fair that I'm having fun and you're miserable—"

"Stop." She grabbed Mariah's hand. "I'll always want to know what's going on with you, no matter what."

"Are you sure?"