by E. M. Abel
“Fuck, I love it when I’m right. Don’t you love it when I’m right? And, while I’m at it, let me go ahead and drop some more knowledge.”
“Oh, great.”
“Hear me out. I see what you’re saying about being distracted. I know you’ve got a lot going on right now, but so what? Is Sky going to hold you back? She knows how you feel about your music. Hell, she’s been your biggest fan since you were teenagers. Right?”
“Yeah.”
He had a point.
“And, as far as your mom goes, who understands what you’re going through more than Sky?”
“No one, Matteo, but it’s more than that. First of all, there’s no guarantee that Sky even wants more, and even if she does, what if things go to shit? Then, I wouldn’t only be losing my girlfriend, but I’d also be losing my best friend.”
“Love is always a risk. Are you telling me, you’re willing to spend the rest of your life settling for friendship when you want more? You’re going to continue standing aside while she’s with other guys? I’m telling you, man. I’ve seen the type of women who start coming around once you’ve got money. They’re professional gold diggers. It’s hard to know who to trust. If you have a woman like Sky willing to accept you the way you are now, you’ve gotta hold on to that shit.”
He was right, and I knew he was right, but it didn’t make the decision any easier. I was already losing my mother. If something damaging happened between me and Sky and I lost her, too, I’d have no one left.
Matteo must’ve taken my silence as a sign to move on to the next subject.
“And, yes, TJ did tell me about Sky’s business. I guess they’re going to work together.”
Kuma stopped to sniff a tree, and I gave my brain a second to catch up with Matteo’s train of thought.
“Really? Is TJ quitting her job?”
“I guess so. She said they’d just made the decision last night. They were having a few drinks to celebrate.”
I smiled to myself. “Good for her.”
“I have to say, it’s pretty fucking sexy to see a woman going after what she wants. The way TJ was talking last night had me sporting a big-ass fuckin’ boner.”
“Too much information, Matteo.”
“What? I’m only being honest. And her ass in those jeans…goddamn.”
“Okay, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
I could hear Matteo laughing before I hung up on him.
Grinning, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and left my hand there to warm up. As Kuma and I made our way back to the apartment, my mind was no longer consumed with music; it was full of Sky.
I stood in my living room the next afternoon, watching the sidewalk below and waiting to see Sky. She was coming over to help me with my YouTube video, and I was anxious. Not about the video though. I was nervous to see Sky now that I’d finally admitted to myself that I wanted her.
Walking over to my dining room table, I sat down and tapped my fingers on its surface as a rhythm started playing in my head. I closed my eyes as words came to me, and I started to sing.
“What good is the sun without the rain?
Give me your love, baby.
I’ll take the pain.”
My eyes popped open. I was onto something. I ran over to the couch, picked up my notebook and pen, and started scribbling the lyrics down before I forgot them. I’d been struggling to find inspiration for that song, and now, I realized my muse had been with me the entire time…Sky.
Just as I started going over it again in my head, Sky’s trademark knock sounded at my door. Kuma barked.
Shit.
Closing my notebook, I dropped it on my coffee table and stood up. I needlessly dusted myself off and checked my clothes, as if Sky hadn’t seen me at my worst already. Kuma was standing at the door, wagging her little nub, when I finally got my shit together and went to answer it.
I pulled the door open, and Sky stood there with a bright smile on her face and a pile of clothes in her arms.
“What’s up, D?”
My shoulders relaxed as I took a step back to let her in. I felt stupid for being so anxious. This was Sky.
She walked over to my couch and dropped the clothes.
I closed the door. “What’s all that?”
“Your new wardrobe. Exclusive SKY designs, not yet available in stores.” She peered over her shoulder at me and winked. “Don’t worry; I won’t charge you too much for them.”
When she turned back around and started going through the pile, my eyes traveled down her back and to her ass. She was wearing a pair of tight leather pants that flawlessly hugged her curves.
Fuck, how did I ignore that ass before? It’s so round.
Sky spun around with a sweater in her hands, and my eyes quickly darted to her face.
“What about this one for the video?”
It was a dark gray ribbed knit sweater with a wide collar and three black buttons off to the side that fastened it shut. I never wore sweaters, and Sky knew that. I preferred hoodies.
She came closer and held it up to my shoulders, her blue eyes scanning the front of me as she grinned. “Perfect. Try it on.”
“Sky, I don’t—”
She narrowed her eyes at me, and I knew there was no point in arguing. She’d get her way anyway. Sighing, I pulled my T-shirt over my head and tossed it on the floor. Sky cleared her throat and turned around, busying herself with the rest of the clothes.
Interesting.
She’d seen my naked chest a million times before. Why was she looking away now?
I stuck my arms in the sleeves of the sweater and was amazed by how soft it was. Lifting it over my head, I pulled it down and around my waist. It fit me perfectly and was surprisingly comfortable. I actually liked it.
“What do you think?” Sky turned back around, and as soon as her eyes took me in, a wide smile spread her lips. “I knew it. That’s the one.”
Coming over to me, she ran her hands over my ribs and arms, checking the fit. It felt good to have her hands on me…a little too good.
“Damn.” Her eyes raked over me one more time. “You look hot.”
I smiled, and she bit her bottom lip, her cheeks turning pink.
Is she blushing?
She spun back around. “So, anyway, you can keep the rest of these clothes. Are you ready to do this video?”
“Yeah. Where should we do it?”
Sky and I looked around my apartment, and she walked over to the windows facing the street.
“This will work. There’s good lighting over here.” She turned one of my dining room chairs to face the windows. “Grab your guitar, and come sit.”
I picked up my guitar and walked toward her to sit down. “You’re awfully bossy today.”
“I guess that’s what happens when you become CEO of your own company.” She smirked and put her hands on her hips while I sat down.
I stared at her as she took a step back, holding her hands up to frame my face as she closed one eye. When our gazes locked, she opened her other eye, put her arms down, and awkwardly glanced around my apartment. She was uncomfortable.
My lips lifted into a crooked grin when the realization hit me. She feels it, too.
“Looks good. You ready to do this?” she asked, going to get her phone, her eyes still looking at everything but me.
“You okay?”
“Huh?”
Her blue eyes finally met mine, and the connection was like a shock to my system, sending waves of adrenaline down my spine. If I’d had any doubts before, they were erased with that one look.
I’m in love with my best friend.
I cleared my throat. “I was just asking if you were okay. You seem a little…distracted.”
Sky shook her head, trying to deny it. “No, I’m fine.”
She forgot I knew when she was lying. Looking down at her phone, she hit a few buttons and held it up, blocking my view of her face.
“Okay. You ready?�
� she asked, staring at the screen.
I nodded.
“Three…two…one…” She hit the record button and pointed at me.
Staring directly at the phone, I said, “I’ve missed you, Sky.”
Her eyes snapped up from the screen, but I kept mine on the little lens on the back of her phone.
“When you’re gone, the sun isn’t as bright, music doesn’t sound as good, my heart doesn’t beat as fast…”
I broke my gaze from the phone and looked at her. Sky’s eyes were glossed over with tears, and she seemed afraid but also a little hopeful.
“It’s taken me a long time to realize this, but I know it now. I’m in love with you. I love you, Sky.”
Her lips parted as she sucked in a breath, her chest filling with air. Noticing the phone was still recording, she stopped the video and dropped her hand to her side. She was in shock, and the lack of response was killing me.
“I hope I’m not—”
“I love you, too,” she blurted.
I couldn’t contain my smile. “You do?”
Sky nodded, and I got up from my chair to move closer, but she held up her hand to stop me.
“I’m scared,” she said, her watery blue eyes gazing up at mine.
“I know. I am, too.” I closed the distance between us.
“I don’t want to lose you, Dillon. Love ruins things, and I don’t want it to ruin us. I couldn’t handle—”
I put my finger on her soft lips. “Shh.”
She stopped talking, and we both stood there, suspended in hope and fear, wondering which would fall first. Moving my finger, I watched as it traced her lips. I wanted to kiss her so bad, it hurt, but I wouldn’t make that decision for the both of us. If she didn’t want to take this step, I had to respect that.
I dropped my hand and her tongue swept across her bottom lip before she gripped it between her teeth. I nearly groaned with the swelling desire to finally make her mine.
“Tell me to stop, Sky,” I murmured as I stared into her eyes.
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she released her bottom lip and put her hand on my chest, over my heart. It was beating out of control, and I was sure she could feel it.
Leaning down, I paused with my lips only inches from hers. Our breaths were mixing, our hearts were pounding, and our will was breaking. Anticipation crackled like electricity in the air between us, every second feeling like an eternity.
At last, Sky closed her eyes and lifted her head, pressing her lips against mine. The contact was new but familiar; her lips were foreign but felt so much like home. I never wanted to leave.
Reaching up, I slid my fingers into her silky hair, cradling her head in my palm, as I parted my lips and grazed hers with my tongue. She moaned, and her hand on my chest fisted into my new sweater as she opened up for me. Our tongues caressed and explored as our bodies did the same. Sky’s soft curves fit into my hands, like they belonged there. Like missing pieces to a puzzle that had finally been found.
I was complete.
After some time but too soon, Sky pulled away. And we opened our eyes and saw each other in a new light.
SKY
My lips were tingling from our kiss as I watched Dillon through the screen of my phone. He was asking his fans to donate to his crowdfunding accounts while I tried to wrap my mind around the fact that Dillon had just confessed that he loved me. Not only loved me, but was in love with me. My heart was still hammering in my chest, and I couldn’t decide if I should be jumping for joy or running away to hide.
Never in a million years had I expected this. It was like I’d found a sack of money washed up on the beach. I should have been elated, but I couldn’t help looking over my shoulder, wondering when someone might rip my happiness away.
“For those of you in New York, I’ll be playing at Blakely’s this Saturday night at nine, so make sure you come check it out. Thanks again for all your support.”
Dillon smiled at the camera, and I stopped the video.
“How’d I do?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair. It had grown a couple of inches since he first cut it.
“Good.” I hadn’t really paid attention, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
He raised an eyebrow. “Were you even listening?”
Of course he knew. I couldn’t hide anything from him.
I smiled and shook my head as heat rushed to my cheeks. Fuck, I’m blushing again.
“You keep blushing.”
I pointed at him. “You hush and pretend not to notice things for a change, will you? This is weird, okay? We just made out. Like, ten minutes ago.”
Dillon grinned, and it made me want to kiss him again.
Someone, help me, please?
“You ready to go eat?”
“Yes! Let’s go out. In public. Away from this apartment.”
Dillon chuckled as he stood up, and I rushed over to the couch to grab my purse.
“You’re really freaked out, aren’t you?”
“Of course. Aren’t you?”
He shrugged, totally relaxed and chill about the entire situation. It wasn’t fair.
“I was a little apprehensive at first, but now, I’m not. Not after that kiss.” Dillon came closer, and the number of butterflies in my stomach doubled. “There’s no way you’re convincing me that was wrong.”
I looked down at the purse in my hand to avoid his gaze. My feelings were too intense, and they were fucking with my reasoning.
“Hey.”
I lifted my eyes to his.
“If you’re having second thoughts, you can tell me, Sky. You can tell me anything. You know that, don’t you?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“So, what’s going on in that crazy head of yours?” He tapped the side of my head with his fingers and smiled.
God, his smile did things to me. Naughty, naughty things.
“It’s too good to be true. Things like this don’t happen. At least, they don’t happen to me. Best friends don’t fall in love and live happily ever after. That’s just not how life works. I’m terrified I’m going to lose you, Dillon.”
Dillon took my face in his hands and stared deep into my eyes. “You’ll never lose me. You know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I couldn’t stand to live my life without you.”
Dillon didn’t let go of me. His eyes were studying mine, like he wanted to make sure I believed him. And I did. For better or worse, I believed him.
I closed my eyes and nodded my head, as much as I could in his grip. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
I looked up at him. “Let’s do this.”
Walking into Luigi’s with my hand in Dillon’s was surreal. I couldn’t remember a time in my life when I’d been happier than I was in this moment.
Luigi was standing behind the counter, taking orders, when he glanced in my direction, his face lighting up with recognition and a smile. “Ciao, bella!”
“Hi, Luigi.”
His eyes went to Dillon and then drifted down to our hands. The immediate shock on his face was comical. “No! Is it true?”
His other customers all turned around to look at us.
I peered up at Dillon, biting my lip, as I held back my smile.
“It’s true,” he said, draping his arm over my shoulders.
“Berto! Do you see this?” Luigi shouted over his shoulder.
His cook stuck his head through the small kitchen window to see what the fuss was about. I waved to him, and his eyebrows shot up.
“Bravissimo! Bravissimo!” he exclaimed, congratulating us.
Coming over to give me a hug, Luigi whispered, “Go, sit. You eat for free today.”
Before he could pull away, I kissed him on the cheek, and he gave me a wide smile.
He wagged his finger at Dillon and told him, “You are one lucky man. I hope you know.”
Dillon grinned. “I know.”
“Good. Now, go.”
Luigi shooed us toward our usual table.
Dillon kept his hand on my lower back, waiting for me to sit before he did.
I raised my eyebrows, impressed. “Wow.”
I took my seat, and he sat across from me.
“I didn’t realize you were such a gentleman, Dillon Frazier.”
“Well, you’ve never been my girlfriend before.”
I giggled and covered my face with my hands. Separating my fingers so that I could look through them, I asked, “Is it just me, or is this totally weird?”
Dillon shrugged his shoulders and leaned back in his seat, widening his legs. “Maybe a little but only if you think about it too much. Relax. It’s me. We’ve done this a million times, right?”
I dropped my hands and straightened my back. “You’re right. I can do this. We’re just having lunch.”
Dillon’s dark eyes were staring at mine, and he started smiling.
I instantly blushed again. “You have to stop that.”
“What?”
“Looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like that.” I put my hands over my cheeks to try and cool them off. “You’re smiling at me.”
“I’m happy.”
“And you’re making me blush.”
“I like that I make you blush.”
“You have the best dimples.”
Dillon smiled again as Luigi came to our table with our food.
“Here you are. The usual. Enjoy! I’ll bring water.”
“Thank you, Luigi,” I said, smiling up at him.
“It’s my pleasure.”
All awkwardness was forgotten once I saw my slice of pizza. Picking it up from my paper plate, I folded it in half and took a big bite. I moaned and closed my eyes as I chewed the greasy, cheesy goodness in my mouth. When I opened them again, Dillon was watching me with a look in his eyes I’d never seen before.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He quickly turned his attention to his food and started eating.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I took another bite. I knew he could feel me watching him, but he was avoiding my stare.
After a few seconds, he finally looked up. “What?” he asked, a guilty grin spreading over his lips.
“What was that look you gave me?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”