12
ASHTON
Hearing how Nora treated Skylar had shifted something inside me, a sense of protectiveness I’d only felt for my siblings and Rhett. I’d wanted to tear into that kitchen and set the b***h straight on how awesome her sister was, how her sunny disposition outshone any brain smarts.
The fallout had been worse than I’d expected, but I hadn’t known Skylar that long. She’d been overcome with emotions and had melted against me, clinging, seeming to soak up my arms—as if no one had ever offered her comfort before.
Anger still simmered in my gut long after we bagged up Skylar’s things and filled my trunk before heading south.
Nora hadn’t left her room, thank God. Hadn’t said goodbye—but neither had Skylar.
Using trash bags, we had quickly packed up her meager belongings, which consis
