by E. L. Todd
Her hands moved to my arms. “I know…”
“Don’t worry about that stuff with me. I know that’s hard and I get that. But you’ll just waste your time.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Now let me explain what I’ve been up to this week.”
She waited for me to speak.
“Skye’s boyfriend was basically a con artist. He was with her just to steal her wealth. I caught him in the act and told her about it. The whole week has been a little crazy with that.”
She gasped. “He was using her the whole time?”
I nodded.
“What a fucking jackass.”
“I know.” I was glad Uncle Sean beat the shit out of him and put him in the hospital.
“That poor girl.”
“I know. She’s doing better. Her dad came down and made her feel better. And I spent the night.”
“You slept with her?” She raised an eyebrow.
“On the couch,” I said. “Nothing more.”
She didn’t question me further.
“I was doing a good job avoiding her until this happened. Now I have to start over. Seeing her cry and sleeping with her just put me back in that place. It’s so easy for me to fall for her again and again. I’m doomed.”
She rubbed my arms. “No, you aren’t. You will get over her eventually. It’ll just take some time.”
“Yeah.” I found that hard to believe.
“Cayson, there’s one thing I want from you.”
“Name it.”
She seemed flustered. “When you’re with me…I don’t want you to think about her.”
That was a reasonable request. “I don’t, Jasmine. I admit she comes into my head sometimes but I push her away.”
“You promise?”
I nodded. “I promise. I respect you too much to do that to you. But I admit I think about her in that way at random times. Sometimes I’m in class and I’ll imagine kissing her. Sometimes I’ll be eating dinner and I’ll have a sexy daydream. But that’s it.”
“Okay.” She didn’t seem pleased with the response but she wasn’t angry either.
“Can I take you to dinner?” I pulled a few strands of hair off her neck.
“Sure.”
“Then let’s go. I’m starving.”
“And let’s get dessert—and bring it home.”
I smirked. “I like your thinking.”
“Moments of brilliance come every now and then.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for them.” I smirked then pulled her out of the apartment.
We headed to the sports bar to watch the football game on Thursday night. I brought Jasmine along because we spent a lot of time together. Plus, if Skye was going to be there, I needed a distraction.
We slid into the booth.
“Hey.” Slade winked at me.
I nodded then put my arm around Jasmine.
Conrad slid me a glass then poured beer from the pitcher. “Would you like a beer, Jasmine?”
“No, thank you,” she said.
“Can I get you some wine?” I asked.
“No, I just want water for now,” she said.
“Okay.”
Roland had his eye on the screen. “My dad and I have a bet going.”
“How much?” I asked.
“The loser has to do the dishes after Thanksgiving dinner.”
Slade cringed. “Man, that would suck to lose.”
“You’re telling me,” Roland said. “So I have to win. Plus, it’s my dad. I have to beat him anyway.”
“He probably paid the NFL to win in his favor,” Conrad said with a laugh.
Roland sighed. “I sincerely hope not.”
The girls came to our table. Trinity and Silke were in the front, and Skye was in the rear. I noticed all the heads that turned in their direction. They were all pretty girls, but Skye was exquisite. She looked at me and saw my arm around Jasmine. Then she dropped her look, watching the TV in the corner.
Roland slid out of his seat and went to her. “Hey, sis. How’s it going?” Roland had been particularly attentive to his sister for the past week. He normally acted like he didn’t care about her existence at all, but he obviously did.
“Good. You?”
He put his arms around her and held her. “You know you can talk to me, right?”
“Yeah…” She leaned her head against his chest.
Everyone watched their affection but nobody teased Roland for it.
“I really am better, Ro. Don’t worry about me.” She pulled away and gave him a smile.
“Okay. Can I get you a beer? Maybe some mozzarella sticks?”
“Yes. And yes.” She laughed slightly.
“Coming right up.” He guided her to the booth then headed to the bar.
Trinity smiled. “That was so cute.”
Skye shrugged. “I guess Roland does like me—sometimes.”
“I would never do that for my sister—because she’s ugly,” Conrad said.
Trinity hit his shoulder. “Yes, you would. You’re protective of me every single day.”
“Just because I don’t want Dad to get mad at me.” He drank half his beer.
She rolled her eyes. “Sure. Whatever.”
Roland came back and put the beer and cheese sticks in front of Skye. “Can I get you anything else?”
Slade leaned close to Skye’s ear. “Milk this.”
She smirked. “No, thank you. That was very sweet, Roland.”
He sat beside her then stole a cheese stick. “I know you would do it for me.”
I kept my hand on Jasmine and sighed. Skye and I were so close but we were still so far away. Just being around her was hard. I couldn’t help but feel awkward and out of place. If we were together, the group dynamic would be so different. If anything, it would be better.
Slade looked at Jasmine. “So…how about those cute girlfriends?”
“Are you going to sleep with them and never call them again?” she asked.
“Naturally.” He smirked.
“Then I don’t have any girlfriends.” She sipped her water.
Slade sighed. “Come on. Share the wealth.”
“I’m not going to throw one of my girls under the bus,” she said.
“Throw them under me.” Slade laughed at his own comment.
Roland squared his shoulders. “I’m a good guy. Hook me up.”
“Didn’t you sleep with a married woman?” she questioned.
Roland sighed. “Damn it. I’m never going to live that down.”
“Well, it was pretty bad,” Conrad said.
“Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same thing,” Roland snapped.
“Actually, I wouldn’t,” Conrad said. “I would never hook up with one of my dad’s employees. That’s a big no-no. He would take away my car, my money, and my Rolex. And my mom would throw a fit. Sometimes she’s worse than he is.”
Jasmine touched my arm. “Cayson is the only guy I’d hook up a girlfriend with, but he’s already mine.” She gave me a seductive grin.
I kissed her gently then pulled away. When I looked at Skye, she was staring at her cheese sticks like they were the most interesting things in the world.
“So, what’s the craziest sex the two of you have had?” Slade asked. “Behind a dumpster? Against a tree on the school grounds? At the foot of the bed?”
I glared at him. “Slade, this isn’t up for discussion.” I shared my personal life with my friends regularly, but I did keep certain aspects private out of respect for my partner. Most girls didn’t want their sex lives to be public knowledge.
“On the dryer in the laundry room.” Jasmine smirked. “While it was on and drying someone else’s clothes.”
Everyone fell silent. Slade’s jaw was almost touching the table. Roland looked at me like I was a god. Conrad held his beer halfway to his lips, staying still like someone hit pause during a movie. I blushed slightly, realizing what they were thinking.
I stared at it and did nothing.
Jasmine took my hand then did it for me. “It is worthy of an acknowledgment.”
Conrad clapped me on the shoulder. “You. Are. A. God.”
When I looked at Trinity, she had a bored look on her face. Then I noticed the full plate of cheese sticks. Skye wasn’t sitting in her spot anymore. She was gone. When I looked across the room, I saw her disappear into the bathroom.
Was that just a coincidence?
14
Skye
I spent the next few weeks getting back in my groove. I still felt a twinge of anger for the way Zack played me, but I pushed it away. Being upset was just a waste of time. I needed to move on and forget about it. I didn’t love him anyway so he really didn’t hurt me as much as he could have. I’m just glad my heart was strong enough not to let him in.
My dad kept in touch. He would text me every day and say a few quick words.
Did you see the game last night? My dad was a sports fan like I was.
Yeah. That interception was brutal.
If the QB gets three interceptions for a game, you know he needs to be benched.
He didn’t ask me how I was doing or if I was okay. He always stayed clear of the topic of Zack, discussing completely different issues. But it was nice not to talk about it. He was checking on me but being discreet about it.
He texted me on a different day. How did you do on that business ethics paper?
I got an A.
Typical.
You made me that way.
No. You get it from your mother. I slacked off in school.
Then how did you get a BA and MBA from Harvard?
I slept with a few professors.
Dad!
I’m teasing, pumpkin. No, I was a very hard worker. But my intelligence will never rival your mother’s. You get both your brains and beauty from her. Thankfully.
No wonder Roland is an idiot. He gets that from you.
LOL. No, he has your mother’s intelligence too. But he is a younger version of me. I’m lucky she gave me two beautiful children.
She deserves a medal.
You’ve seen that rock on her finger.
I smirked then put my phone away. My dad was a nice distraction. He reminded me I was loved even if he didn’t actually say the words. The conversation with him was natural and unforced. I was close with my mom, but the relationships between my two parents were completely different. The humor was different and so was the tone.
I didn’t see Cayson for the next few weeks. Honestly, I was avoiding him a little bit. Seeing him with Jasmine just rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn’t figure out why. She was a nice girl. She was pretty and smart, and it was obvious she was head-over-heels for him. But…I just didn’t want to be around them.
I never saw Zack. I expected him to corner me somewhere on campus and beg for another chance. When he did, I planned to knee him in the groin. I warned him not to come near me and he never did. I guess he wasn’t quite as stupid as I thought.
By the end of the second week, I came down with a terrible cold. I was coughing constantly and my eyes were red. I was exhausted and didn’t even want to get out of bed.
My brother noticed my absence from school and texted me. Why aren’t you in class?
I’m surprised you noticed. I coughed into a tissue then lay back on the couch.
Don’t be a brat. Is everything okay?
I’m sicker than a dog. I’m not sure if I’ll be coming to Thanksgiving.
What? You have to. Mom’s stuffing is the best.
It’s not going to be good when I blow mucous all over it.
Eww…yeah. Never mind. Stay home.
That changed pretty quickly.
Do you need anything?
No, I’m good. I put the phone down then snuggled with a blanket on the couch. I couldn’t keep anything down because I kept throwing it up. I was so plugged up, I couldn’t breathe. I was too tired to get up for water or food. I was just a mess. And my lungs hurt every time I breathed.
My phone vibrated again. Your brother tells me you’re sick. It was my dad.
I have a cold.
Do you need anything? Only my dad would drive two hours to bring me cough medicine.
No. I’m fine. Roland will get me something if I need it.
Will you be missing Thanksgiving?
At this rate, yes.
Okay. Get better so that can change.
I’ll try. I put my phone down and tried to go to sleep. The only time I didn’t feel like crap was when I was unconscious.
My front door opened and I cracked an eye. Only one person came into my apartment unannounced. Everyone had a key to my place but he was the only one who used it.
Cayson came to the couch. “I heard you were sick.”
“Man, word gets around fast.” I had a coughing attack and covered my mouth.
Concern came into his eyes. “You look terrible, Skye.”
“Thanks,” I said sarcastically.
He put his hand on my forehead. “You’re scorching hot.”
“I am sick…” I coughed again.
He went to my counter then sorted out the bags he brought. “I got cough medicine, crackers, soda pop, Nyquil, and everything else you could possibly need.”
“Thanks. Now go before you get sick.”
He came back to me then felt my forehead again. “No. You’re too unwell. I can’t leave you.”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous, Cayson. You have class.”
“Class is important, but not as important as you.”
Cayson was always there for me, no matter what. He seemed like he cared about me more than himself. “You’re so sweet…”
“Only to you,” he whispered.
“What?”
He spoke up. “Only to those I care about.”
“Oh. But you really should get to class.”
“Don’t waste your energy arguing with me. I’m not leaving.” Firmness was in his voice. He rested his hand on my neck. “Open your mouth.”
“What? Why?”
“Let me look at the back of your throat.”
Oh. Sometimes I forgot Cayson was pre-med. I opened my mouth and he stared inside.
“You’re definitely sick.”
“Wow, you’re smart,” I said sarcastically.
He felt my forehead again. “You’re so hot, Skye.”
“What?”
“Your forehead—you’re hot.”
“Oh…yeah.”
He sighed. “Does it hurt when you cough?”
“Yeah. A lot.”
“Have you been able to keep anything down?”
“No…”
He looked at my skin then pinched it.
“Ow!”
“I was checking to see if you’re dehydrated.”
“Obviously, I am.”
He laughed slightly. “Skye, I think we should go to the hospital.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a cold.” I coughed again, feeling it deep in my lungs.
“I think you have pneumonia.”
“What? No. I’ve never been to the hospital for anything.”
“And that means you never will? What kind of reasoning is that?”
“I just don’t need to go. I’ll stay home and feel better in a few days.”
“I really think you have pneumonia.” He put his hand on my chest and felt it rise and fall.
“Are you a doctor?”
“No, but I’m not stupid.”
“Cayson, just go to class.”
“No.” He stood up then disappeared into my bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I yelled. A coughing attack struck me and I gripped my chest while I tried to get through it.
“Sorry, I can’t hear you when your lungs are trying to get rid of the bacteria living in them,” he snapped. He
came back with an outfit. “Change into this and we’ll go.”
“I’m not going.”
He grabbed my forearm and gave me the death stare. “You. Are. Going.” He wasn’t usually this aggressive with me. I tended to always get my way but Cayson wasn’t letting me. “Get dressed.” He pulled the blanket down, exposing me in my sweats and t-shirt. I wasn’t wearing a bra but Cayson didn’t look at my chest once. “Do you need help getting changed?”
“I think I can do it.”
“Okay.” He walked into the kitchen then turned around, playing with his phone.
I took a deep breath then stood up, trying to get my pants off. Somehow I stumbled and fell on the ground.
“Skye, are you okay?”
“Yeah…I’m just so weak.” My sweatpants were around my ankle. I knew I looked absolutely hideous and pathetic. I’d never been so embarrassed in my life.
“Let me help you.” Cayson came beside me then pulled my bottoms off. Then he helped me get my jeans on. He didn’t seem uncomfortable by my nearly naked body. It was like he’d seen it before. He didn’t make me feel on display or ugly.
When his hands reached my shirt, he closed his eyes then pulled it off. Then he felt for the new shirt then helped me get it on. When I was covered, he opened his eyes and handed me my jacket. “Put this on and stay warm.”
I tried to pull it onto my arms but my body wouldn’t respond. Cayson finished the work then pulled me back to the couch. “If you’re just sick, you shouldn’t be this weak.”
Maybe he was right. Maybe there really was something wrong with me.
He grabbed my purse then put it over his shoulder. Then he lifted me from the couch.
“I can walk…”
“You couldn’t even change. I’m not letting you walk downstairs.”
We left my apartment then he got me into the passenger seat of his car. He buckled me in and checked the safety belt before we drove to the hospital. He stayed calm for the drive, acting like everything was fine.
I was a little scared.
Cayson, reading my mind like always, grabbed my hand. “You’ll be okay, Skye. All you need is antibiotics and you’ll be good as new.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so.”
Cayson checked me in at the front desk then I was given a room in the emergency department. I changed into a gown then tried to get comfortable. I kept coughing and it wouldn’t stop. There wasn’t a tickle in the back of my throat. It was like an explosion every time.