Kiss the Sky (Calloway Sisters, #1)

by Krista Ritchie

It’s a lot for one person to handle. I can’t see how designing a wedding dress will alleviate any of her anxiety, but I’d rather not be a hypocrite in this situation. My body is being fueled by Adderall. It’s not the noble solution, and I wouldn’t want Rose to take it.

my fav workaholics

“Eyes up here,” Ryke forces, waving his knife towards his own face in a threatening gesture. Scott doesn’t peel his gaze from Daisy, which is starting to aggravate the fuck out of me.

i'm so glad that daisy has them in her life

An impassioned spirit truly paints the gray world with color.

And Lily has been purposefully avoiding any criticism about her or the show. Scott took it upon himself to change that. Lo almost went postal when he came home to find Lily bawling in Rose’s arms. Literally, I had to cover my hand over his mouth so he’d stopped threatening to cut Scott into tiny indistinguishable pieces.

I’ve seen only a small change in my relationship with Lo. When we joke around, his features sometimes sharpen more quickly, as though remembering that I don’t love him the way he probably believed I did. That I don’t even love Rose. He questions what’s real and what’s fake between us now. I wish he wouldn’t, but I can’t change what’s happened.

lo really loves and cares for connor and rose more than he lets on

“I dare you,” Scott says with a creeping smile, “to go flash the paparazzi when we leave.” Ryke tosses his knife onto the table nearest Scott. It clatters in his lap. “I dare you to go fuck yourself,” he sneers.

WTF

“Let’s go,” Lily says in a soft voice. “Please, everyone…” People in the restaurant are beginning to stare. Lo rubs her shoulders.

lo and lily always known what the other person needs and their bodies are so in sync

When Scott tries to stand by her side, Ryke literally puts a hand on his chest and forces him back. “No,” he says. “You’re not allowed to fucking talk to her for the rest of the show.” Ahead of them, Daisy glances over her shoulder, and her lips lift in appreciation. Scott must be annoying her as much as he is the rest of us. “I can do what I want,” Scott says, lowering his voice so others can’t hear. “I own you and her. And these three behind me. Don’t ever forget that.” I don’t restrain Ryke. Neither does Lo. But surprisingly, he restrains himself, pocketing his fists in his jeans. He passes Scott, shoving him hard, shoulder-to-shoulder, before reaching Daisy’s side and leading her out.

RYKE IS SO FINE

Lily shrinks into Lo’s chest. “I wish my invisibility superpower would kick in,” she mutters to him. “Don’t ever wish that,” he says and kisses her cheek. “Then I wouldn’t be able to see you.” “Teleportation then.” “Yeah, I’m still fucking praying for that one.” He squeezes her shoulder. Rose and I watch them closely, waiting for them to safely exit the restaurant and grow the strength to move forward.

I study Rose for a second. Her neck is rigid, her shoulders locked back, and she looks ready to enter a fiery ring of hell. But she’s not breathing. “Tout va bien se passer,” I whisper. Everything will be fine. “Comment sais-tu ?” How do you know? “Because I’m here,” I say with all of my confidence, willing it in my voice, my posture, my being. Her lips rise, but she doesn’t mention how arrogant I am today. Her hand drops to mine, and she holds it tightly. And we watch as Lo finally encourages Lily to take her first steps outside.

i love that connor and lo's presence gives rose and daisy strength

My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter as I refill the coffee pot for Rose.

love a considerate man

No more Adderall. I already know that Wharton is going to be the first to suffer from this choice. And yet, I don’t care as much as I would have months ago. My priorities keep shifting. “I have a lot to talk about,” I add. “Category?” “Rose. Sex.” I only say this as bait. I have no real desire to share the details of my sex life with anyone but Rose,

i love that rose is becoming his main priority

For me sexuality is about attraction. Whether it’s men, women—it doesn’t really matter. The human race is filled with passion and lust. And to coin terms like heterosexuality, homosexuality or even bisexuality makes no sense to me. You are human. You love who you love. You fuck who you fuck. That should be enough—no labels. No stigmas. Nothing. Just be to be. But life isn’t that kind. People will always find things to hate.

I’m going to take his advice and sleep. But I don’t want to wake Rose by crawling into bed, so I head downstairs to sleep on the lower level—the room that Daisy used to share with a few rats. It’s clean now, but we’ve been using it for storage.

my considerate man

I don’t want to jump to irrational conclusions. Like it’s Rose on the other side. There’s no reason it would be her. Logic says it’s not. But I begin to stupidly imagine Rose on her knees with some other fucking guy. I pound my fist against the wood. “Open up.” A lump lodges in my throat at this unnatural, senseless fear. She’s not in there, Connor.

But I see the worry behind the façade she’s created. Daisy has a talent at hiding her true feelings, something I’m an expert in.

“You’re about…twenty-two?” I ask. “Twenty-three.” Fuck. Ryke is twenty-three. He’s going to kill him.

the way that ryke was one of connor's first thoughts while talking to daisy's boyfriend…

Daisy is confused. I read it across her face almost every time I see her. She has a career and has been treated like an adult from the fashion industry, from agents, photographers and models like Julian, since she was fourteen. But there are people, like Lo and Lily, who see her as a little sister. Who treat her like she’s sixteen going on seventeen and not her maturity level. Age is a number that doesn’t reflect circumstance, environment or psychology. Age matters very little to me when some thirty-year-olds act like children and some teenagers take on the responsibility of households. I don’t judge people based on two numbers. I judge them from the inside-out. I’ve contemplated talking to Daisy about her situation. Letting her know that as confusing as it seems, it’s merely the construct of society that’s causing her to feel lost. That, no matter how many boxes people try to put you in, as long as you know yourself, you’ll be fine in the end. And you may have to play by their rules, put up with their labels and use their terms—I’ve done so all my life—but it’s what you believe that matters most.

“Word of advice,” I say casually. “If you’re going to have sleepovers in this house with your good friend, keep your orgasms to a minimum. I may not be the one to catch you next time, and it sounds like you enjoy your balls.” “So…who exactly should I avoid?” He laughs. “Everyone but me,” I tell him. He laughs again as if this is a joke. I don’t break my even gaze and his smile falters. “Oh…” he mumbles. “Shit, that bad huh?” “Yeah, man, that bad.”

especially ryke

I have no intention of ever calling him, but if something happens to Daisy and she’s with him—it would be important information to have.

work smarter, not harder

“It’s okay. I like the challenge,” I lie. That’s Connor’s thing. Challenges. Games. I’d prefer my path to be an easy one.

“Don’t you already own a slav—I mean a boyfriend.” He flashes a sardonic grin. In perfect timing, Connor walks through the doorway easily carrying my other two duffel bags without an issue. Yes, I have a problem over-packing. I need choices, and I would have gladly brought my own luggage inside but we divided up duties. “We were just talking about you,” Loren tells Connor. “I heard,” he says. “In terms of ownership, we’re both on equal footing…unless you’re talking about in bed.” “I can see how she’d be bossy.” Connor grins and slides past Loren and Ryke to drop off my bags. Loren’s brows bunch together in confusion while my neck heats.

connor, the strong man that you are

Since Daisy doesn’t have a brother, the three of us are in charge of questioning her new boyfriend. I’m really just here to make sure Ryke doesn’t hit him and Lo doesn’t make him cry.

i'll be surprised if ryke doesn't hit him during the trip

“I’m seriously going to kick his fucking ass,” Ryke says to us. “I’m standing right here, man,” Julian retorts. “What’s your deal?” “You’re twenty-three,” Ryke snaps, “and you’re fucking a girl who’s seventeen.” “We’re not fucking. And aren’t you the one on Princesses of Philly who’s always around Daisy?” His eyebrows rise in accusation. “Maybe you’re the one fucking her. Or maybe you’re just jealous. Yeah, that’s probably it.” Before Ryke has the chance to lunge, Lo steps in front of his body, blocking him from Daisy’s boyfriend. “Julius,” Lo says, purposefully using his name wrong now that he knows it irritates him, “maybe you’re feeling a little goddamn disgusting being with a seventeen-year-old. Keep your shitty feelings to yourself. Don’t project them onto my brother.” “I’m not projecting anything. Have you see the way he looks at her? He wishes he was me right now.” Lo would normally have a snide retort ready, but he’s busy restraining Ryke who tries to charge forward, probably to sock Julian in the face. Lo rests his arm against his brother’s chest, forcing him back. Ryke stares disgustedly at Daisy’s boyfriend, and the guy just leisurely sips his beer. But I sense an antagonizing quality in Julian’s fixed stance, in the way he watches Ryke with a hawkeyed gaze. He’s the type of guy who’d love to fight him—just to prove he’s the bigger fucking man. Ryke, on the other hand, just wants to protect that girl inside. It’s an interesting dynamic.

OH

“We all win some,” Julian says to Ryke, “and we all lose some. You’ll find another girl who’s a better fit for you. Though she won’t be as hot as Daisy, and there’s no way she’ll lick cock as well either.” Lo’s jaw unhinges. Ryke almost loses it. He shouts a string of curses at the top of his lungs. I catch motherfucker, cocksucker, and a new one—dickfucker. I would laugh, but I want to throw Julian off the porch just as badly—I just don’t express myself with such vehement aggression. Veins pop in Ryke’s neck, his face reddening as he shouts and points at Julian, who starts to scream back. “You don’t know shit about that girl!” Ryke yells. “And you do, right?!” “Fuck you!” is Ryke’s only response.

ryke is always defending daisy's honour

And right as Lo is about to move out of the way and unleash his pissed off brother, the backdoor opens. Lily steps outside, wearing Rose’s black fur coat that swallows her skinny frame. Everyone stays tense, but no one makes a move to hit Julian in front of her. “Hey, guys.” She shuffles to our group as we go silent. She notices the strain between the guys, and she quickly slides in the middle of Lo and Julian to try to diminish the prospect of a fight. The girls are clever.

i love lily and the fact that the boys don't like to fight infront of the girls

I chime in, “You three can play the strip version.” Lo lets out a short laugh. “Always trying to get me naked.” My lips rise.

i'm their biggest shipper

“That was the first time I didn’t warn a guy to protect his balls before talking to Rose.” “That’s because we all hope she crushes them,” Ryke says roughly. I remember how delicately she held my cock for the first time, and I try my best to hide my smile into my next sip of wine. I know her better than anyone.

connor really does know her the best

“You okay, Rose?” Loren asks with a knowing look. Connor combs his fingers through my hair, which feels so damn good that I forget to snap back at Lily’s boyfriend. “Hey, stay away from the fucking knives!” Ryke yells angrily as Daisy clatters around. He’s about to shoot up from the couch opposite of us, but Julian, her real boyfriend, beats him to it, sauntering into the kitchen.

ik this is gonna become so mess omg

Connor’s hand falls to my neck, and he rubs the bareness of my skin with his finger and thumb. I lean into him, snubbing the couch cushion which was warm from my back. But he feels much better, my buzz tingling my body.

Ryke keeps stoking the fire so no one grows cold. It’s nice. All of us here.

ryke is such a gentleman

“I’m next,” Ryke says, watching with a hard gaze as Julian guides Daisy into the living room.

he's so the other woman coded rn

Daisy puts her hands on Julian’s chest and breaks apart from him. Then she settles in her seat beside Ryke, Julian slouching on the other side of her. She sits up on the edge of the cushion so he can’t wrap his arm around her shoulder.

not them all sitting near each other

Connor’s lips brush my ear. “She’s okay. Lo and Ryke have an eye on him.” I nod, realizing that I can’t fixate on my little sister all night, even though I see how much she just wants to push Julian into the snow and leave him there. But she’s not rude enough to do that. I most definitely would.

connor knows her so well and what she's thinking

Scott motions from the shots to me and I shake my head. I’ve had no reason to fake an orgasm with Connor. And he’s the only guy I’ve ever been with.

SPEAK ON IT, i hate scott

His interjection immediately makes me side with Connor, believing my boyfriend more.

“Really?” Ryke says. “You’re a sex addict. I honestly didn’t think you’d need to fake an orgasm.” He must have been trying to help her out. “Not all guys are created like Loren Hale.”

i need a loren hale in my life

“Here,” Loren says, grabbing a plaid flannel blanket off the large recliner he shares with Lily. He wraps it around her shoulders and cloaks her body from view. “Take off your sweater.” “That’s breaking the rules,” Scott informs him from a rocking chair nearest the coffee table. Loren glares. “Yeah, and maybe I’d abide by them if there wasn’t a goddamn camera in our faces.” He doesn’t want the world to see Lily in her underwear. None of us really do. There’s already enough sick fan mail sent to the house. It’s easy to assume what men would do to a near-naked image of her. Lily skillfully pulls the sweater off from underneath the blanket and tosses it to the floor. She looks more at ease.

i love loren sm