by Lanee Lane
Brendon turned toward Melanie and Sam and pointed. Skylar nodded his head in agreement and the pair walked toward them. Melanie began to feel self-conscious. She knew she was being silly. There was nothing between her and Skylar. They weren't a couple. They weren't even really friends. They were neighbors that bumped into each other sometimes. There wasn't anything romantic between them, so what he thought of her didn't matter. He could have Candace.
The two men reached them and Brendon announced that they were about to get the games going.
"Better take off that cover-up, sweet thing, so we can get in the pool," Brendon winked at her.
"You are so full of it. You know that?" she retorted with a smile.
Grabbing the hem of her cover-up she hoisted it over her head. A whistle come from Brendon. She gave him a stern look.
"Shut it."
Brendon raised his hands in surrender. She looked over at Skylar who was frowning. Maybe he was shaken by his ex's presence, or maybe he didn't like the way she looked in her swimsuit.
She leaned over to him and asked, "You ok?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He was still frowning.
"You’re frowning, for one. For two, your ex is here, so I thought that was making you uncomfortable."
"She's not my ex, and I'm fine."
"Ok, if you say so."
She didn't believe his answer, but if he wanted to be moody then so be it. His attitude wasn’t going to put a damper on her good time.
They got into the pool and began to divvy up teams.
"I get Melanie on my team," Brendon called.
Melanie and Brendon high-fived. Skylar, Sam, and her fiancé, Landon, all ended up on the other team. Brendon smack talked the other team boasting that they didn't need an even number to whoop them. He ensured that the other team was going down and that team B & M would dominate. They were about to start the game when Candace strutted over to the side of the pool where their game was set up.
Looking straight at Skylar, and in an overly sweet voice, she asked, "Do you guys mind if join? I see you’re down a player."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
No one said anything. Skylar ignored her altogether. Sam broke the silence.
"I've never seen you play a sport. Come to think of it, I've never even seen you get in the water at one of these parties."
Candace pasted on a smile that looked closer to a grimace.
"I get in the pool...sometimes."
Brendon being Brendon spoke up. "I guess you can join in. We were going to dominate with just the two of us, but you can join if you want."
Even though he invited her, his voice was filled with reluctance. He didn't seem to want her to interfere with their dynamic duo, but he didn't want to be a total jerk either. Skylar gave Brendon a look, but Brendon just shrugged his shoulders.
"Great," she clapped her hands together and smiled while looking over at Landon. "I only have one request. Would you mind switching teams? I would love to be on Skylar's team if I can," she smiled brightly at Landon as she spoke.
Landon looked at Sam for guidance. She rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. Landon nodded his agreement and swam under the net to join Melanie and Brendon. Candace sat down on the side of the pool and wiggled her fingers at Skylar.
"Skylar, babe, can you come and help me in?"
Skylar let his head fall back and looked up at the sky letting out a huff of breath. Annoyance radiated from him, but Candace didn't let that deter her. She was persistent. Melanie would give her that. He walked over to the edge of the pool and put his hand out to her. Candace pulled him close and placed her hands on his shoulders. Her body slid down his and she wrapped her legs around him under the water. Skylar kept his hands by his side in an effort not to encourage her.
Sam loudly cleared her throat, "Can we get this show on the road already?"
Candace gave her a sharp look over Skylar's shoulder but detached herself from him. Brendon and Melanie were both competitive to the point of being obnoxious, and gloated every time they scored a point. They were the perfect teammates. Melanie and Brendon won the first two games. Candace was not much help. She screeched every time that the ball went in her general direction. Melanie wasn't sure if she was afraid of breaking a nail or getting hit in the head. A good knock on the head may do her some good.
By the time their team took their third win, Melanie and Brendon had made up their own handshake. Skylar shook his head and laughed at their antics. He knew Brendon was crazy when it came to games, but he was surprised by Melanie's intensity. It made him like her even more. Not that he ‘liked her’ liked her although he couldn't deny that the bathing suit she had on accentuated every curve of her body. He never thought of himself as someone that was drawn to women with voluptuous bodies, but Melanie's was making him think otherwise.
"Dinner's done, kids," Arabella said from the side of the pool.
They all piled out of the pool and made their way to the long table overflowing with food. Skylar handed Melanie a plate and gestured for her to go before him. As she made her plate, he was right behind her making his. When she finished, she waited for him and they made their way over to a table to sit down.
Brendon, Sam, and their parents were already sitting at the table. Another man and woman that looked to be about the age of the elder Stillmans occupied two seats. Skylar pulled a seat out next to Sam for her. He leaned down to her ear and asked what she wanted to drink. When he ventured off to get their drinks, his mother looked at her with a warm smile.
"Melanie, we are so happy to have you today. Are you enjoying yourself?"
"I'm having a wonderful time. Your home is beautiful. Thank you for having me."
"It's our pleasure, dear. You're welcome anytime."
Skylar returned with their drinks just as Candace joined the table. She moved to the older man that Melanie didn’t know and hugged him around his shoulders.
"Hey, Daddy," she said and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hey, princess."
Melanie tried not to make a gagging noise. Just her luck; she was sitting with the enemy and her parents. Figured he would call her princess. She sure acted like one.
Candace moved to the woman that Melanie figured was her mother and hugged her. Skylar, being a gentleman, held her chair out for her since he was still standing.
"Oh, it's so lovely to see you two together again," Candace's mom said.
She made a side eye at Melanie, but no one else seemed to notice. Skylar kept his head down and dug into his plate not even acknowledging the comment.
The conversation flowed. The men talked about sports, while the women talked about the latest books they'd read and celebrity gossip. Melanie contributed to the conversation as she loved books. She found that she and Sam had the same love for romance. They had some of the same favorite authors and books. The pair decided to swap numbers so they could talk about any new books they read.
The conversation turned to Sam's upcoming nuptials. She was gushing with excitement while discussing colors schemes, the location, and the honeymoon. Her fiancé held her hand on the table and looked at her with pure admiration as she talked so animatedly about their wedding. Landon was a man of few words, but it was clear that he was happy to be marrying the woman beside him.
Seeing the two of them so in love made Melanie a little sad. She longed for the day that she found someone who looked at her the way Landon looked at Sam. At the rate things were going with online dating, that day would be immediately following the day that hell froze over.
"So, Skylar," Candace's mother addressed him with a stiff smile. "Are you going to be taking a date to your sister's wedding? I'm sure that Candace would be happy to accompany you. After all, you're both going to be going anyway."
Melanie couldn't believe the nerve of this woman. Yeah, she wasn't there in the capacity of Skylar's girlfriend, but this lady didn't know that. For all she knew they were passionately in love. Yeah, it was highly unlikely, but it could happen. Before S
kylar could answer, Candace jumped in.
"I would love to go with you, Sky. I assumed we would end up together once we got there anyway." She put her hands around his bicep again and smiled over at him.
Melanie glanced over at Skylar's parents and saw that his mother's mouth was set in a straight line. She didn't look pleased with the exchange going on between Skylar and Candace. Maybe she was angry that Skylar hadn't asked Candace already. Since they were family friends, she might've expected him to take her. Melanie stuffed a bite of potato salad in her mouth as a distraction. But, before she got it down, Skylar's words made her almost choke.
"Actually," he said as he removed Candace's hands from his arm. "I'm taking Mel with me."
He turned to her with a smile plastered on his face. His eyes looked frantic as he stared into hers. She took a big gulp of water to clear her air passage after her near-death experience. A large hand squeezed her knee under the table in a plea for help.
When she looked up from her plate everyone was looking at her expectantly. Everyone but Arabella, that is. She was looking at her with a small smile on her face. Melanie could tell she was trying to keep from laughing.
"Oh, well, yes. Skylar asked me to accompany him to the wedding."
There, that was non-committal. He did ask her, two seconds ago, and her answer did not confirm or deny if she would, in fact, be going with him. Sam started bouncing in her seat and clapping her hands.
"I'm so excited that you are coming to my wedding. Please tell me you agreed to go with him! We will have so much fun!"
Melanie held back a groan. How could she say no to that excitement? For some strange reason, Sam wanted her at her wedding. Melanie was a firm believer that a bride should have whatever she wanted, within reason, on her wedding day. Being at Sam's wedding was totally within reason.
"I wouldn't miss it." The smile she gave Sam was genuine.
Sam squealed and slung her hands around her neck in a hug.
When Melanie looked over at Candace and her mother, she could see that both of them were angry. Candace's anger was more evident than her mother's, but she could still see the indignation in the woman’s face. Little did they know that she was as shocked as them. She and Skylar had some talking to do on the way home.
CHAPTER TWELEVE
A few hours later, Melanie and Skylar made their way out to his car. His mother and father walked them to the front door. They both hugged Skylar telling him to call them when they made it home. Arabella pulled Melanie into a hug.
She whispered in Melanie's ear, "Be patient. My sweet boy will see soon enough."
She released her with a smile.
Melanie had no clue what his mother meant by that. Was the woman insane? What would her "sweet boy" see? She wasn't sure how ‘sweet’ said boy was either. He was a royal pain in her butt sometimes, but she had to admit that his presence had come in handy from time to time.
Skylar opened her door as usual and waited for her to slide into the seat. When they pulled out of the driveway, his parents stood on the porch and waved until they were out of sight. Melanie thought about what Skylar's mother had said and about the wedding invitation. Melanie contemplated bringing up what she’d said. He probably wouldn't understand it any better than she did. She'd bring up the wedding, but she decided to give herself time before she ripped into him.
The way she saw it, she could still back out of the wedding. It wasn't her family, and it wasn't like she had to see these people again. They were gracious to invite her into their home, but she had no real ties to them.
"My mom really likes you. Sam does too," Skylar said interrupting her thoughts.
"Your family is nice."
"I hope you had a good time."
"I did."
"Look, I'm really sorry about the wedding. Mrs. Millis kind of put me on the spot. I panicked. I broke ties with Candace, and I don't want her getting any ideas that we are going to be a couple."
"Well, you might lose that battle because she is not going down without a fight. I don't think she understands the word ‘no’."
"Yeah, she tends to get what she wants."
"I can tell. I don't know what to tell you, but I don't think I can go to the wedding."
"Why not?" his voice rose.
"Oh, let's see. One, I may have to work. Two, I barely know you or your family. Three, I feel uncomfortable."
"But you told Sam you would be there. She will be so upset if you aren't."
"I'll send her a gift. Besides, she won't even notice. She'll be too love-drunk to care who is there."
"Love-drunk?"
"Yes, you can totally tell that she and Landon are head over heels for each other. Their love is so obvious when they are together. It's beautiful really."
"She is happy," he agreed. "So what about me? You'll leave me to fend for myself against the Millis women? You aren't that cruel, are you?"
"You brought this on yourself. My suggestion is to not make rash decisions in the future, or maybe even stand up for yourself."
Skylar sighed. Even though it was dark, she could see the hard set of his jaw. She did feel a little bad for ditching him. His family was nice, and Sam was so sweet. It just felt like she was being played, and she didn’t like that.
They were silent the rest of the way home. When they pulled up to their apartment building, Melanie got out of the car before he was able to get around to open her door. In the elevator, Melanie hit the buttons to their respective floors.
"Want to watch a movie?" Skylar asked looking up from his phone.
She stared up at him. Why was he trying to spend more time with her after they'd spent all day together?
"We just spent the whole day together. Don't you want to go relax alone or something?"
"No, it's still pretty early, and I don't want to sit alone in my apartment."
"Why don't you call up one of your friends, or go out or something?"
"You are my friend, and I'm asking you." He gave her a look like her question was idiotic.
"I really don't understand you, you know? I get to pick the movie."
"Fine; I'm going to change, and I'll be up in a minute."
Before she could respond, the door opened to his floor and he stepped out. She rode up to her apartment and made sure that everything was clean. After a quick browse through her movies, she settled on one. A few minutes later, there was a knock at her door. She opened it without looking through the peephole knowing exactly who it was.
Opening the door, she took him in. He'd thrown on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt that had been cut into a muscle shirt. His hair was damp from a quick shower. He cleared his throat and shook her out of her trance.
She opened the door wide enough for him to walk past her. She shut and locked the door and followed after him.
"So what's on tonight's playlist?" he asked.
"She's All That."
Skylar groaned.
"Have you even seen the movie?"
"Nope, I don't make a habit of watching chick flicks."
"Haven't you ever watched one with your mom, or Sam, or even a girlfriend?"
"I don't usually watch movies with Mom. Sam watches comedies when we're together. She saves the sappy bullshit for Landon. I don't do the girlfriend thing."
"You are a regular ol’ Rico Suave aren't you, Mr. Stillman? This movie has comedy in it. You'll love it."
"Doubtful," he replied.
"Cry me a river. I'm going to shower real quick, and then we can start. You know where the drinks and snacks are."
Melanie headed to her bedroom. In the shower, she washed off the grime from the day. She twisted her hair up and wrapped it in a scarf then threw on a pair of PJ shorts with a matching t-shirt before heading back to the living room.
Skylar was sitting on one end of the couch scrolling through his phone with some sports show on the T.V. playing in the background. A glass of sparkling grape juice sat on the table next to a beer. Melanie picked up
the glass with the bubbly drink.
"Thank you," she said.
"No problem."
Pressing play on the remote, the movie started. Melanie wrapped herself in the throw blanket from the back of her couch. A little way through the movie, Skylar moved toward the middle of the couch and claimed some of the covers for himself. Melanie felt her eyes getting heavy, but she couldn't fight them from closing.
She stirred from her place on the couch. When she opened her eyes the T.V. was back on the menu screen for the DVD. Something heavy rested on her leg. When she looked down, she saw Skylar's head and part of his torso laid over her legs. His legs were still hanging off the couch like he was sitting up.
Melanie shook his shoulder gently to wake him. He moved but didn't wake up. With a little more force, she shook him again. His eyes popped open and he looked around. He rubbed his eyes and finally seemed to remember where he was.
"Hi," he said looking up at her. His head still rested on her legs.
"Hey, you fell asleep with me as your pillow."
"I see that." He lifted himself off of her. "I didn't even know I was that tired."
"It was a long day."
"Yeah, it was." He stretched his arms over his head and Melanie took in his body. He sure was something to look at.
"I better get going."
"Yeah."
He pushed off of the couch and collected the glasses they drank from. In the kitchen, he loaded them in the dishwasher. When he reappeared, he held his hands out to Melanie.
"Come on, you need to lock the door behind me when I leave."
She placed her hands in his and allowed him to help her up. On her feet, she was only inches away from his face. He looked down, studying her, and ran his hand down her cheek then abruptly turned and headed for the door.
"Thank you for coming today."
"No need to thank me. I'm the one that should thank you."
He smiled at her. "Mel?"
"Yes, Skylar?" she tried to sound impatient but didn't pull it off.
"Will you please at least think about the wedding? I know I shouldn't have put you on the spot, but I would really like for you to be my date. I think we would have fun together."