37. Skylar

Chapter 37

Skylar

If anyone would have told me even a month ago that I would be sitting in a small restaurant, eating lunch in Tor's lap comfortably, while Dom and my sister Thea were across from us, I would have laughed in their face. Yet that's exactly what is happening. Well, mostly.

We're at some little hole in the wall called the Bar-B-Que Wagon, taking a break from hanging up flyers and knocking on doors. We haven't really found any clues to where Mattie might be, which is disappointing. The only good thing we know is that his body is not in the lake. The authorities have searched it on four different occasions—which is three more than they're required. I'm sure my father and Dragon are responsible for that. There has been no sign of Mattie either time, with the exception when we first found his Mattie's cut. I have to believe that means he was never in it.

Someone somewhere must have information about my brother and Torin has assured me we will not give up until we find out something. I'm putting all my trust in him. He's never let me down and I know he won't start now. I find myself staring out the window, letting the other three talk, while ignoring the way my sister keeps watching me.

"Take a bite, baby," Tor urges, getting my attention.

He brings a fork full of pulled pork to my lips and I smile at him as I open my mouth, and he slides it inside. I take the bite, my eyes never leaving his. I see how much my actions please him. It makes me proud. He thought I'd balk about being in his lap. He didn't even try to put me there when we sat down. I climbed up in it, willingly—without being asked. I knew if we had been alone, Tor would have put me there himself. This was my gift to him. I find myself making sure he knows I don't regret any choice I've made. I love the life we are building together.

"You two are just weird," Thea murmurs, and I grin at Torin. In response, he kisses my forehead and fingers my collar. "Mine," he purrs close to my ear.

"Yours," I mouth. Then I force myself to turn my attention to my sister and Dom. He's staring at us, too. I can't figure out what he's thinking and honestly, I don't really care. "So, what's next on the agenda?" I ask, trying not to sink into depression. I'm still trying to think positive, but I can admit that with each day that goes by, I'm starting to feel more and more despair.

"I thought we'd go knock on a few more doors after lunch. There are still quite a few streets and hotel rooms that are rented on a month-to-month basis. Who knows? Maybe something will turn up."

"Maybe," I respond to Thea.

"Are you sure you're up to doing more door to door, Thea?" Dom asks, and I wince. Thea might not be that far along, but Dom is playing with fire.

"I'm pregnant. I'm not helpless," she snaps.

"I didn't mean that at all, babe."

I tune them out, looking outside once more. I notice there's a guy getting out of the side of a transport van. He's a giant bear of a man with brown hair and highlights that appear natural. He reminds me so much of Mattie that my heart almost stops. He's leaning on the van talking to some gorgeous blonde. She's wearing tight jeans and an orange sweater. The woman has curves for days. My brother would love her , I think to myself, laughing in my head—a smile playing on my lips.

The more I stare at them, it hits me just how much the man outside resembles Mattie.

"Torin!" I cry, slapping at him blindly while still looking out the window.

"Peaches? What's wrong?"

I turn immediately, doing my best to shuffle off his lap. "Let me up! Hurry!" I order, beating at his chest when he doesn't move fast enough. My man scrambles to let me up while Dom and Thea are already standing.

"Kyla? What's going on?" she asks. One day, I'm going to remind my family how much I hate the way they shortened my name. It was done to stop confusing us when someone called out Sky . Mom and I both would always turn around. I actually really love that Torin has never called me that once. It's like he knows just how much I hate it—without once ever being told.

"I thought I saw Mattie!" I yell behind me, already racing toward the front door.

"We'll be right back," Dom yells to the waitress.

I'm already outside before I can hear how she responds. Tor is right on my heels. I look around desperately, trying to find where the man from the mirror is now. I stand on the sidewalk. Noticing the guy is now standing on the sidewalk across from the parking lot we're in. He looks so much like Mattie, I get excited.

"Mattie!" I cry. "Mattie! Over here!"

The man doesn't even bother to look up. Damn it.

"Who are you yelling at, Kyla?"

"Across the parking lot. Over there," I say as I point. "Do you see how much he looks like Mattie?"

"Oh my God. He really does," she whispers.

He gets in the van, and I take off running. "Mattie! Don't leave!" I cry.

Tor takes off with me. I can hear more running behind me. I'm guessing Dom and Thea are following us. I can't stop myself from getting excited. We make it to the parking lot just as the van pulls out. The guy on the passenger side is kind of blocked from sight. He's also wearing dark glasses and a hat. That's something that Mattie would never wear. It's not even a good hat. It's an ugly thing. I cry out once more, "Mattie! Don't leave!"

"He left," I whisper dejectedly. "He didn't even look up when I called his name."

"Skylar, baby, if that had been Mattie, he would have spoken."

"I could have sworn it was him," I whisper, already starting to question myself.

Dom pats my shoulder awkwardly. Seriously, it's going to be weird as hell having him as a brother-in-law. "It'll be okay, Kyla," he adds. "It's been happening to me, too. I'm seeing him everywhere, but it's never truly him. Just someone that resembles him."

I let out a defeated sigh. Maybe Dom's right and this guy was nothing special—just my mind playing tricks on me.

Torin wraps his arms around me from behind and pulls me close, my back to his front. He buries his face in the crook of my neck. "It really is going to be okay," he promises. "We're not going to give up and I won't let you either."

"I'm not going to give up," I acknowledge, and he places a kiss on my temple.

"We better get back inside before the waitress thinks we're trying to skip out on the check," Dom says, and head back inside. I spare one more glance in the direction that the van disappeared, then I follow Torin into the restaurant.

I know they all think I imagined the fact the guy could have been Mattie. I just can't shake the feeling that he really was. I saw some kind of logo on the side of the vehicle. I could only make out part of it. It was a vet, though. I know that much. I'll find who the van belongs to, then I'll approach the owner.

"Hold on Mattie, I'll find you, I promise," I whisper under my breath. I can't tell the others until I have proof.

I'll find it … somehow.

Turn the page for sneak peek of Loving Her— Breaker and Indy's story.