by Rhonda James
“She’s not enough woman for you,” she says desperately.
“Not only is she enough, she’s the only woman for me. Good-bye, Ashley.” I turn away and fall in step with the passing crowd. As I’m walking, I pull out my phone to call Skylar, but she doesn’t answer. I shoot her a text before heading inside the locker room to shower and change. By the time I’m finished, she still hasn’t responded and the possessive side of me starts to worry; soon, that worry turns into confusion. I’m afraid to leave the arena, because I don’t know if she’s here looking for me and maybe her phone died and she has no way of getting in touch with me.
I manage to get in touch with Cassie and Laney, and they both tell me Skylar was fine while they were all watching the game. Cassie mentions that Skylar was pretty choked up during the presentation, but that still doesn’t explain why she wouldn’t have just come to me where I could have held her and tried to make her smile. Why would she up and disappear?
While I’m on the phone with Cassie, I miss a text from Skylar. I have to look twice to make sure I’m reading it correctly.
I think we need some time apart.
What the actual fuck? Her words confuse me, because they come out of nowhere. Last night, we shared an amazing night together. Hell, the last two weeks have been nothing short of amazing. I know she’s heading back to Atlanta tomorrow, but that doesn’t explain her sudden need to bolt. To make matters worse, she doesn’t answer her phone and I haven’t a fucking clue why she ran off or where she even is. I keep telling myself if she’s back at the apartment, I’ll be able to get to the bottom of her disappearance.
I hightail it out to the parking lot and put the Charger in gear, breaking a few laws to make it home in record time. When I pull into the lot, I see Skylar’s rental still parked where it usually sits. I race into the stairwell and use every ounce of strength I have remaining, which isn’t a whole lot considering I’ve just finished crouching on the ice for damn near two hours. But right now, it seems as if I’m running on pure adrenaline and fear. I’m heading straight for Skylar’s door when I notice a small box resting against the foot of mine. I reach down to pick it up and notice a folded-up piece of paper is tucked behind it. Stuffing them both under my arm, I look over at her door, knowing deep down if I were to knock, she’d no longer be waiting behind it to greet me. She’s already gone.
Scott,
I don’t really know where to begin. These last two weeks have been some of the best days of my life. You’ve reminded me of what it was like to feel beautiful and desired. Something I haven’t allowed myself to feel in a long time. For that, I thank you.
I wanted to believe we could make this work, but then I saw you tonight with your ex, and it brought back a flood of memories that continue to haunt me. I realized there will always be an Ashley or Rachel for me to deal with. Girls will always be throwing themselves at your feet, and I can’t compete with them. Furthermore, I’m tired of wanting to.
Maybe it would be best to look at our time together as a chance for closure. I hate that word, but maybe I hate it because it feels so final, and final is not a word I associate with you. These last two weeks have proven that I never really got over you. Truth be told, I probably never will. I want you to know I don’t regret what we shared, and I hope in some way you never get over me, either. I know I’ll never be able to look at a pair of rubber boots the same way again.
Forever and always,
Sky
I carefully fold the note and take a seat in the closest chair before attempting to open the box. Common sense tells me what I find inside is probably going to gut me. I lift the lid and remove the piece of cotton hiding what’s beneath it. One hand goes to my mouth as I reach inside to slip a finger through the silver ring and watch mesmerized as the little boot dangles in the air.
I’m at a loss. I feel helpless, yet the compulsion to chase after her is so strong it’s all I can do to remain seated. She’s asked for time, and I need to honor that, but I feel we’ve been given a second chance, and there’s no way in hell I’m waiting another four years for our paths to cross again.
***
“Why would she leave without saying good-bye? What the fuck did you do?” Davis demands, looking to Cage before turning his attention back to me. “This happened four days ago. Why didn’t you call us?”
“Man, why do you think I didn’t call? I needed some time to myself. I had a lot of shit to figure out.”
Cage turns in the seat next to mine and offers a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Have you spoken to her since she left?”
I shake my head and motion for Melissa to bring me another beer. The Hideout is busy tonight, but it’s not long before she slides another in front of me, narrowing her gaze as she clears away the pile of empties. “What the hell’s going on with you, Scott? You look like someone took a shit in your sandbox.”
“His woman dumped him,” Davis pipes up. “Clearly, he’s not taking it well,” he says, hooking a thumb at the stack of empty bottles in her hands.
She looks over her shoulder while dumping the empties in a bin. “Is this the same girl you were in here with last week? The cute blonde from Atlanta?”
“That’d be the one.” Cage tips his beer at Melissa.
“Damn. That’s a shame. I liked her. I was kinda hoping she’d stick around,” she says while wiping down the bar. “You two looked good together, too.” She grimaces right away. “Shit. Sorry, Scott. I probably shouldn’t have said that out loud.”
“It’s okay.” I wave it off before tipping back the rest of my beer. I momentarily consider ordering another but decide against it. I don’t want to feel like shit in the morning. I look back at Melissa to find she’s staring at me with one hand propped on her hip. When our eyes connect, she raises one perfectly arched brow, and I respond by doing the same.
“Well?” A second hand shoots to her other hip.
“Well, what?”
“What are you going to do to win her back? Smart guy like you, surely, you must have a plan?” By now, she’s moved on to drying a rack of glasses, stacking them behind the bar as she goes. When I don’t answer, she stops what she’s doing and comes over to me. “Let me ask you something. Do you miss her?”
By now, Cage and Davis have gone silent, because they’ve probably been asking themselves the same question since I broke the news to them earlier.
“Of course, I do,” I answer without hesitation.
“So? What are you waiting for? Go after her. I’m not sure what went down between you two, but I’m sure it’s something that can be fixed. She seemed like a smart girl to me. Good head on her shoulders.”
“She won’t talk to me, and I believe it’s all because of a big misunderstanding.”
“What do you think happened?” Cage questions.
“Based on the note she left, I’m pretty sure it has something to do with Ashley. After the ceremony, there were a bunch of reporters in the tunnel, and they were asking a shitload of questions. Ashley came up to me and put her hands all over me. I think Skylar may have seen that going on and took it the wrong way,” I answer with a groan.
“What the fuck was that bitch even doing there, and why the hell did you let her touch you? Seriously, Scott. That girl is like a disease, and you need to sever all ties to her. Permanently,” Cage grumbles.
“No shit. You think I don’t already know that? I didn’t want her touching me, but what could I do? We were surrounded by reporters and cameras, and I didn’t want to make a scene. I guess I figured I’d endure it for five minutes and then come clean about it to Skylar so she wouldn’t be pissed at me.”
“Looks like that plan backfired on you,” Davis quips.
“Do you want her back?” Cage asks sincerely.
“More than anything, but I’m not sure how to make that happen when she won’t answer her fucking phone.”
“Seriously? Are men always this fucking stupid? Women are not as complicated as you make us out to be
,” Melissa announces, pouring vodka and cranberry juice into a shaker and snapping on the lid before she begins shaking it. “Look, whether you intended to or not, you’ve hurt her, and words alone aren’t going to fix this mess. She needs action.” She pours the concoction in a martini glass and garnishes it with a wedge of lime before delivering it to the woman sitting on the other side of Cage.
Davis’ forehead crinkles in confusion. “By action, do you mean sex?”
“No, asshole,” Cage growls. “She means that he needs to do something to show Skylar that she’s the only girl for him.”
“Another grand gesture.” Davis shakes his head. “Here we go again. Okay, let’s think of what you should do.”
“I’m going to Atlanta,” I announce before pulling out my phone to check outgoing flights. “I have a lot to say, and I need to be there to see her face when I finally say it.”
“Yes! This is good,” Melissa cheers. “How are you going to convince her?”
“I haven’t figured it all out yet, but I think I know a way to get her attention. All I need to do is convince her best friend that I’m worthy of her.” I place a twenty on the bar and lean over to drop a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks for the kick in the ass.”
“Go and get her!!” she calls after me as I hightail it out of the bar.
On the walk back to my apartment, I fire up my phone and locate the number Skylar gave me in case I ever needed to get in touch with her and she wasn’t answering. He answers on the second ring, and after I’m convinced he’s alone, I tell him my plan. It takes some convincing, but he finally agrees and tells me that she’s been miserable without me. That makes two of us. I’m going to need his help if I hope to pull this off. What I have in mind is crazy and could backfire big time if I’m not careful, but I know in my heart it’s what I want. I can only hope it’s what her heart still wants as well.
CHAPTER 26
SKYLAR
“You ‘bout done in there, Sky?” Ash checks after rapping his knuckles on the door.
I glance down at the array of supplies spread over the bathroom counter and pick out a black eyeliner pencil that’s been freshly sharpened. We’re getting ready for our friends, Paul and Sophie’s, annual Halloween bash. They had to bump up the date this year, because Sophie is about to give birth any day now. “Almost. Give me one more minute.”
“Is that a woman’s minute or a man’s minute?” he groans through the closed door.
I smile carefully so as not to mess up the small heart I’m stenciling below my eye. “What does that even mean?”
He sighs dramatically before answering. “You know. Women always say ‘I’ll just be a minute’ but that really means fifteen.”
“I see.” I laugh quietly before standing back to look over the result of my efforts over the past three hours. Surprisingly, I think I did a pretty damn good job.
My hair took the longest, but I actually like how the ponytails look with the pink and blue ends. The sequined hot pants and fishnet stockings are actually more comfortable that I first expected. I couldn’t find a sweater like Harley wears, so I improvised by painting letters on a cut-up red-and-white baseball shirt of Ash’s. He has a ton of them in his closet, so I’m pretty sure he won’t miss one. Even the red lipstick and dog collar look pretty good one me. All in all, I think I make a pretty sexy Harley Quinn lookalike. I pick up the baseball bat, the finishing touch to my costume, and open the door to get Ash’s opinion. Based on the way his eyes bug out of his head, I’m guessing he agrees with my assessment.
“Holy. Fuck. You look hot,” he declares after picking his chin up off the floor.
“Why, thank ya.” I bat my overly made-up lashes. I give him a once-over, taking in the neon green hair and stark white face paint. The tattoo on his forehead may read Damaged, but Asher Reeves doesn’t remotely fit into that category. “You’re looking pretty sexy yourself.” I rub my thumb across the center of his lower lip. “Nice lip stain. Red’s a good color on you.” I laugh.
“Ya think so?” His fingers go to his lips. “I just hope the damn stuff washes off. The lady at the drugstore claimed it was the best one they had.”
I pat him on his broad chest. “I think you’re safe, but if not, you can always tell people you were drinking Koolaid. That shit always used to stain my lips.”
“Good to know.” He laughs before placing a hand on my lower back to guide me down the hall.
I spin the bat in my hand and then lower it down to strike against my palm. “Watch where you’re putting those hands, buddy. Don’t make me use this on you,” I tease with a wink.
“Oh, I see how it’s gonna be.” He laughs deeply. “I loan you my favorite bat, and you threaten me with great bodily harm. And don’t think I don’t know you stole that shirt out of my closet.” He makes a disgruntled noise while ushering me out the door.
I’m quiet on the drive to Paul and Sophie’s, and when I look over at Ash, he offers me a warm smile. “You doing okay?” I don’t need to ask to know he’s referring to the whole ordeal with Scott.
It’s been five days since we last spoke. Five days consumed by a feeling of complete and utter emptiness fueled only by stubborn fear. I’m pretty sure the whole situation with Ashley was all a misunderstanding on my part. But in my defense, seeing them together brought on past feelings of paralyzing betrayal. Back then, I’d been hurt so badly when I thought he’d gone back to Rachel, but seeing Ashley beside him did more than hurt. It pissed me off. Before he made love to me that first time, he told me that once he was inside me, that made me his. Well, I felt the same way. When our bodies became one and he filled me with his release, right then he became mine. I want to be with him, but I won’t share him. My heart won’t allow it. Scott Rivers owns me. Not only my orgasms. He owns all of me. And I want the same from him. But I can’t be the one to force that. If he wants me, then he’ll have to offer me the one piece of him I’ve never truly owned.
His whole heart.
Ash pulls the car off the road and turns down a narrow dirt path. I sit up straight in my seat and take in my surroundings. We’re in a farmer’s field and it’s dark out. The only light comes from his headlights and the full moon shining over the field of soybeans. I look over at him; his hands are on the steering wheel, a strange grin forming on his painted face. For a second, I get a little creeped out, because right now, he looks so much like Jared Leto it feels as if we’re starring in our own version of The Suicide Squad. My fingers instinctively tighten their grip around the bat.
“Umm. Where are we going? I thought the party was at their house.”
“It is.” He nods but keeps driving as he covers my hand with his. “Relax, Skylar. I just need to do something first.”
“Ash? You’re not bringing me out here so you can kiss me again, are you?” I ask apprehensively.
“No.” He laughs. “Believe me, I know my place, and that is being your best friend.” He stops the car and shifts it into park. “As your best friend, I felt it was my duty to step in and help steer you back in the right direction.”
“What are you talking about?” I look over at him and follow his gaze to the water tower standing at the edge of the field. Confused, I get out of the car, still clinging tightly to the handle of the bat as I make my way forward to read what’s been painted on the side of the tower.
Please Say Yes
10/14/16
Suddenly, a flurry of questions comes rushing out. “Ash? What is this? What are we doing here? Whose field is this?”
He chuckles and joins me where I’m standing. “My uncle owns this land. I brought you out here, because I think he deserves another chance.”
“Who?” I find myself asking, though somewhere deep inside I already know the answer.
My breath catches in my throat when a figure steps out from behind the water tower. By the light of the moon, I see him. Wearing blue jeans, a Captain America t-shirt, and a blue leather mask over his eyes. I snap my attention back to Asher
to confirm I’m not dreaming and this is really happening.
“How did you? When did you?” I fumble for words.
He merely shrugs as a brilliant smile spreads across his handsome face. “What can I say? He called and asked for my help. You’re in love with him, Skylar, and I’ll do anything to make you happy.” He steps forward and places a kiss on my cheek. “How ‘bout giving him a chance to do the same?”
“Thank you,” I whisper into his palm.
“Anytime, Ned.” He taps the end of my nose and throws up a hand to Scott, who’s making his way toward us. I watch Asher pull away before turning to find Scott standing right behind me. He studies me for a few seconds before stepping closer and lowering his mouth to my ear.
“You’re not thinking about hitting me with that thing, are you?” He motions toward the bat I still have locked in a death grip.
“That depends. Are there any more of your ex-girlfriends looking to sink their claws into you?” I snap.
“No,” he answers adamantly. “That scene with Ashley… I am so sorry. I handled that entire situation wrong. I never wanted her hands touching me. I wanted to lash out at her, but we were on camera and I was worried about looking bad in front of the press when what I really should have been worried about was looking bad in front of you.” He reaches tentatively for my hand, and I watch as his throat bobs when he swallows. “Can you ever forgive me?”
I release a heavy sigh and finish linking our fingers together. “I can forgive you.”
“Are you still mad at me? If you are, I’ll understand. I mean, I’ll be sad, but I get it. I hurt you again.”
“No, Scott.” I shake my head and open my fingers until the bat falls with a soft thud next to my striped leather boots. “I’m not angry anymore. I don’t like being mad at you.”
“Thank, Christ,” he mumbles. “I promise you nothing like that will ever happen again. I made it clear to Ashley that she’s history.”
“While I appreciate that, I think we both know it will probably happen again,” I scoff. “But next time, I’ll do my best to give you the benefit of the doubt.”