by Mia Michelle
“So spill. What is going on with you and Nik? And don’t you dare lie to me!”
What? How the fuck did she know? Damn it!
Grabbing the throw pillow, I hug it to me and try to change the topic of conversation.
“I don’t want to talk about him right now, all right?”
“Kylie, what is going on?”
I know she isn’t going to let this go. Perhaps I don’t want her to. I’ve tried to hold this all in for so long now and I just can’t anymore. I need someone to talk to before I lose it.
“They want me to stay on here in LA. They even offered me an associate position. It’s the chance of a lifetime, but Nik doesn’t want me to take the job. At first, I thought that it was because he had been thinking about us getting married, but he made it clear that he never wants to get married or have kids.”
“I’m sure he might change his mind on that one day.”
“I was so sick and this lady I worked with told me I was pregnant. That’s when I realized that I’d missed a few pills and I may have been late. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure, so I bought a pregnancy test from the pharmacy down the street. Even though I hid it, he saw the strip and completely flipped out.”
I go on to explain how we argued and what he said when he walked out, and the false positive test. After I get everything out into the open, I’m shaking from crying so hard.
“Oh, honey,” she says, climbing over the bed to me. I listen to her tell me how much Nik loves me and how he’ll come around. I won’t lie. I thought that too, but deep down, I know it’s just far too late for that now. Love can only do so much, after all.
“It will be okay, Kyles. I promise you!” she says, rubbing my back.
Wiping my tears with my hand, I decide to push her to spill her guts to me. If she wants me to get all vulnerable and shit, then she’d better be damn well prepared for me to expect the same from her ass.
“Well, that is enough about me. So are you going to tell me what the hell is going on with you and why you are here?”
She takes a deep frustrated breath and blows it out.
“I told you on the phone, Kyles. I just need a break and I wanted to see my best friend. I miss you.”
“Uh-huh. Well, look here heifer, I know you like the back of my hand, so let’s have it. The truth this time, bitch.”
“I told you. I just need a break. It’s too much traveling and I rarely get any time off to see anyone.”
“You need a break from that fine ass man? I don’t think so! Spill!”
She looks at me and then darts her eyes away. She’s embarrassed, but she need not be. There isn’t anything she can’t tell me. Surely, she knows that. Skylar stands and paces in front of the bed.
“All right! I slept with Sebastian and Lucas walked in and found us right afterwards.”
I’m so shocked, I can’t stop the words from flying out of my mouth.
“What? Are you kidding me? And you didn’t call me?” I yell.
How the hell can she have kept that from me? That is some heavy fucking shit!
“Calm down, Kylie. I didn’t call you because it all just happened and I didn’t want to go into it over the phone.”
“So… does this mean you and Sebastian are back together?” I can’t help but sound hopeful. Don’t get me wrong. Lucas Drake is so much better for her, but I’ve never known anyone who’d loved a woman more than Sebastian Thorne loved her. The love they shared, well, it’s epic. I guess the stupid, optimistic girl inside of me wants them together.
“No, we are not together. I had to get away from the both of them, so I came here.”
“Wow, sister. And I thought I had drama in my life!” I giggle. She smiles and throws the pillow beside her at me. Both of our lives are fucked up right now and we need each other more than ever. I’m so thankful she’s here. I leave her to unpack and head to the kitchen to grab two spoons and a new tub of Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra ice cream. Once she’s situated, we grab a blanket and crash on my new comfy couch. Flipping through the channels, we decide to watch a horror movie marathon. Nothing like a good scary movie to make you forget the woes of your life.
“I’m heading to work. Are you sure you’re going to be all right?” I ask. The weekend has flown by so quickly. I have a major presentation to get ready for, so I can’t take off today.
“I’m fine. I think I’m going to maybe just read today. I have a ton of books on my Kindle that I haven’t even started. I might go lay out on your patio and grab some of this beautiful sunshine. I can’t believe how perfect the weather is here.”
“Like I said, make yourself at home. I have a presentation to finish, so I might be a little late coming home. I can grab us some dinner on the way in if you want?”
“Or I can make us something. I haven’t gotten to cook in a while.”
“That sounds great. Whatever you’re up to is fine. I’ll call you when I have an idea of what time I’ll be home. If you get hungry, feel free to eat without me.”
“I’ll wait. Hope you have a good day.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
I feel so much better having her here. I know it sounds selfish and all because I hate her being unhappy. Hell, I hate both of us being so miserable. I’m just so relieved to have some sort of a support system here in LA. It took her coming here to realize just how much I’ve missed her. One way or another, she and I will survive the hurt and betrayal the Thorne men have caused in our lives.
KYLIE
It doesn’t seem possible that eight weeks have gone so quickly. With Skylar still here, I finally feel like I’m going to be all right. As long as she’s where I am, I have a small piece of home with me. She is my sister in so many ways. Especially in times like this, I can never thank God enough for putting her in my life. She’s the glue that keeps me together.
Skylar has been doing a bit of contract work on the side for Mr. Yung, the Japanese billionaire she’s worked with before. She seems really happy here and I’m so glad to see her smiling again. She’s even rescued a little dog from an animal shelter down the street. Bella’s such a sweet dog and has been a lot of company for her when I’m at work during the day. The damn thing shits in my house all the time and has chewed up countless numbers of shoes, but you can’t help but love her.
Lucas has texted and called me almost every week to check on her. At his request, I haven’t mentioned that to Skylar. He’s not nosey or anything. He just seems genuinely concerned about how she’s doing. Maybe it’s wrong, but I can’t help but feel sorry for him. I’m sure walking in and finding Sebastian and Skylar together shattered him. Regardless, I know he still loves her. It’s evident in every message and phone call he’s made to me. He wants her back, but that’s not my business. If he wants that, then he has to be the one who handles it. I, for one, do not want to be involved. I suck at matters of the heart. People should run far and wide when they see me trying to solve love problems.
Cough. Cough. Skylar sounds horrible. We won’t talk about how horrid and pale she looks. The dark circles under her eyes are even worse than yesterday.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t see a doctor about that cough? It’s sounding worse and worse.”
“I’m sure. It’s just a cold. I’ve gotten myself run down, I guess. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” Cough. Cough.
“Are you sure? I can run you to the doctor if you want.”
“I’m fine, Kylie. I’ll pick up some more cough medicine and maybe some new allergy medicine at the pharmacy. I’m sure that will kick it out of my system.”
“Well, if it doesn’t, I’m dragging your ass to the doctor. Got it?”
“Yes, Mom. I got it,” Skylar jokes. She knows how fucking much I hate it when she calls me that.
“I’ll see you when I get off work. Take it easy, got it?” I say as I check her forehead for a temperature, but she swats my hand away.
“Go to work and stop worrying about me.
It’s just a damn cold, Kylie. I’m not dying.”
“Ugh. I’ll see you later. I better get going before they fire me.”
“They're not going to fire their top associate.”
“Oh yeah, sure they won’t. Bye, bitch.”
“Bye, love bug.”
Another fucking name she calls me that I hate.
I’d not been at work long when my phone rings. Lucas. Rolling my eyes, I answer. I guess this is his weekly check-in.
“Hey Lucas. How are you?”
“Hi Kylie. I’ve been better. How’s Skylar?”
“She’s just staying busy working on that new addition for Yung.”
“Listen, I’m coming to LA tomorrow on business. I’d love to see her. Unless you think it’s too soon?”
“I… I don’t know. She’s just now gotten back to herself. I don’t know if she’s ready to see you. She’s embarrassed over everything.”
“I need to see her, Kylie. She can’t hide from this forever. We can make this work, I know we can.”
“Lucas, I—”
“Don’t tell her I’m coming. If you do, she’ll run. I just need to talk to her face to face.”
“She’ll kill me. You know that, right?”
“I’ll tell her it was my idea. I’ll take the blame, I promise.”
“Fine, but it’s your funeral.”
“Thank you, Kylie.”
“For what?” I laugh.
“For being such a good friend to her when she needs it the most.” His words really take me back. Here this man is thanking me for being a friend to Skylar, when she’s ripped his world apart. Wow is all I can say to that.
“She’s the best and I love her. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. That includes burying someone in the backyard that hurts her… just so you know.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind.” He laughs.
“Be sure you do.”
“Once I know what day I’ll be arriving, I’ll let you know.”
“Sounds good. Bye, Lucas.”
“Thanks again, Kylie. Bye.”
Maybe I’m not doing the right thing by keeping this all a secret. If I knew Skylar was secretly talking to Nikolas, I would have to hurt her. Is this any different? I mean it’s not like Lucas has done anything wrong. So it can’t be the same, can it?
KYLIE
“Yo toots, I’m home,” I yell as I kick off my heels at the door. Bella meets me at the door, her tail wagging happily. “Hey girl, where’s Skylar?” “Skylar?” I call through the house, but there is no answer. “Sky?” I call, going room to room.
When I reach her bedroom, I find her fast asleep. A mountain of used Kleenex surrounds her. On the nightstand sits a half-drunk bottle of Nyquil. It’s all the girl seems to eat and drink anymore. She’d lied and told me she’d been feeling better and that’s why she hasn’t been to see a doctor. I lost it on her yesterday and told her I was taking her to the ER if her fever didn’t go down. Somehow, it managed to go back to normal and she managed to convince me not to drag her there.
Reaching over, I feel her head. She’s really warm, but I won’t wake her up to yell at her. Right now, she needs her rest. Normally she’s up coughing most of the night. Tomorrow, Lucas will be in town and I’m going to let him rip into her. He’s going to take one look at her and freak the fuck out, I’m sure.
Quietly, I sneak out of the house before the sun comes up. I leave Skylar a note to explain that I have an early meeting and will be working late. What she doesn’t know is that I plan on making myself scarce today. There’s no way in hell that I want to catch her wrath once she finds out I know about Lucas’ plan.
Busying myself with my latest project, I don’t realize how late in the morning it’s gotten. Lucas texts me that he’s just landed and wants to know my address. I reply with the information along with a warning about Skylar being sick. Like I said, maybe he can talk some sense into her. Taking a deep breath, I felt guilty that I haven’t checked on her this morning, but I didn’t want to risk waking her up. Maybe I should have just stayed and insisted she see a doctor whether she wanted it or not.
A knock on my door startles me. When I turn around, I see Evan’s handsome face staring back at me. Kissing him at that party had not been a wise choice on my part. Ever since then, I’ve managed to dance around the subject.
“Kylie? You got a minute?” he asks.
Ugh! I really don’t want to do this now.
“Yeah, um, sure. Come on in.”
“Wow, you’ve been working, haven’t you?” he says, admiring the work spread on the table in my office.
“Trying to. I just like to be prepared, I guess.”
“Well, would you like to grab some lunch?”
“I don’t know, Evan. I—”
“It’s just lunch, Kylie. I’ve told you, I respect that you want to keep this professional.”
“Okay, I guess I could use a bite. I skipped breakfast, so I’m starved.”
“Let’s go then. My treat.”
“Sounds good. Let me grab my things.”
We’ve barely gotten our appetizer when my phone starts ringing. The minute I see Lucas’ name on the screen, I hesitate to answer it. What if he’s calling because Skylar’s having a meltdown? Rolling my eyes, I answer the phone.
“So, how bad is my apartment, or are you calling because she hurt you?” I tease but Lucas cuts me off with his seriousness.
“She collapsed on me, Kylie. She’s burning up with fever, so I am taking her to the emergency room closest to your place. I’m almost there.”
“Fuck! I knew I should have stayed home and made her go to the doctor. Keck Hospital is the nearest to my house. I am on my way right now!”
Evan looks at me with deep concern.
“I’m sorry, Evan, but I have to go. My friend’s really sick and being rushed to the hospital.”
“Let me drive you,” he offers standing and throwing bills down on the table to pay for our lunch.
“No, really, I can just get a cab.”
“Nonsense, I’ll take you. Let’s go.”
Too frazzled to argue with him, I nod and follow him out of the restaurant. The valet pulls his car up to the front of the restaurant and Evan helps me inside before rushing to the driver’s side. Honking his horn, he weaves his Ferrari in and out of traffic. The way he shifts gears and drives makes me wonder if he is some sort of race car driver on the side. In no time, he’s pulling into the emergency entrance.
“Do you need me to stay with you?”
“No, I got it from here. Can you please tell them at work I won’t be in for the rest of the day?”
“Of course. Keep me posted on your friend. I hope everything goes okay.”
“Thanks,” I yell over my shoulder as I run through the entrance doors.
I hate fucking hospitals. Let’s face it. I’m sure no one loves them. I’ve just had my share of scary experiences with them when it comes to my best friend. Between the fatal wreck that killed her parents and the time she’d been beaten nearly to death by her uncle, this girl has fucking scared the hell out of me enough times.
As I scan the waiting room for Lucas, I come up empty. Surely, he brought her here. It’s the closest hospital to where we live. Rushing to the nurses’ station, I pray she can tell me something.
“Miss? My best friend, Skylar Rose, was just brought in. Can I see her?”
The older lady types on her computer and then shakes her head at me.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you’ll have to wait in the waiting room. Only one person is allowed back with her at a time. Right now, she has a family member with her.”
A family member? I am her family. They must be talking about Lucas. I guess he lied his way to stay back there with her.
“Can you at least tell them that I’m here?”
“No, I’m afraid not. You’ll just have to wait over there until someone comes out.”
“Fuck!” I snarl, ignoring t
he woman’s shocked expression.
Walking over to an empty seat near the window, I slump down into it. I hate fucking waiting. I try texting Lucas to let him know I’m here, but I can’t get enough signal in the building to send it.
“Excuse me, Miss. You can’t have cell phones in here. It’s hospital policy,” the woman warns.
“I don’t give a damn about hospital policy! My best friend is here and I’m trying to find out if she’s all right.”
“I understand, but—”
I don’t even let her finish her sentence. I’m pissed and scared out of my mind. She’s picked the wrong time to scold me. I am just about to let her have it when I see Lucas come through the doors into the waiting area. Shoving the old battle ax aside, I run to him.
“How is she?” I ask frantically. “I should have taken her to the doctor yesterday. She was sleeping when I left this morning and I didn’t want to bother her.” Guilt rushes over me more and more by the second. I’m an awful friend. I should have thrown her ass in my car and taken her kicking and screaming.
Lucas wraps his arms around me in an effort to comfort me.
“She’s stubborn, Kylie. You know that. Don’t worry, she’s going to be fine.”
Once she is admitted to a room, the nurse brings us up to see her. She still hasn’t woken up yet and they are having trouble bringing her fever down. The nurse informs us that the doctor is still waiting on a few test results and we should know more when he makes his rounds later in the evening.
“Someone needs to call Sophie,” I say, breaking the awkward silence. Lucas is so entranced by watching her sleep that I’m surprised he even hears me.
“I’ll call her,” he replies, kissing Skylar on the forehead and walking out the door. When he leaves, I make my way closer to the bed, pulling a chair with me. I brush the hair away from her face, frowning when I feel how warm she is.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t make you go to the doctor. Please, get better.” I beg as my eyes tear up. Sitting beside her, I continue to stroke her hair.
“You know, I’ve always envied your hair. When I was younger, I used to wish every night that I’d wake up and mine would be beautiful and shiny just like yours. It’s a good thing you’re asleep right now because I’d never admit that otherwise.”