CHAPTER 11

SKYLAR

I wake to a dull headache and the sound of someone snoring softly in my ear. I peek over my shoulder, and sure enough, I find Scott Rivers in the bed with me. I don’t have to check to know I’m only wearing a tank top and underwear, but now I’m curious about what he has on. Very carefully, I lift a section of the sheet and sneak a glance beneath the covers. Bare flesh and grey boxer briefs are all I see. Well, there is something else. But I’m trying to pretend as if I don’t see it. Something big, thick, and pressing firmly against my backside.

Oh, my God! We didn’t… Did we?

Surely, I would remember having sex with a guy. And I especially want to have all of my faculties if or when I ever do sleep with Scott Rivers. I’d hate to think I had my one shot with him and wasted it on the one night I chose to get wasted on tequila. In my defense, it was either get drunk or lock myself in my room and cry myself to sleep.

I’d made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t force things between us, but the way he held me when he danced behind me. The way our bodies pressed together. The feel of his strong hands caressing my skin. Warm breath tickling my ear.

I’m weak! That’s what it is. I’m a weak woman with absolutely no ability to resist his charms. It was the same way when we were younger. But last night, I vaguely recall throwing myself at him. Oh, God. What if I passed out during sex? Or worse, what if he took one look at my body and changed his mind?

My head throbs from overthinking things. I try to ease myself out of bed, but a strong arm curls around me and draws me back against him.

“You’re doing that thing again,” he murmurs groggily.

“Doing what thing again?” I wiggle my hips to get comfortable.

“That thing where you overthink things. Just lie here with me and don’t read so much into it.” I feel his lips brush the top of my shoulder before he buries his nose in my neck and inhales deeply. “I always loved the way you smelled. After you left town, I went out and bought a bottle of your body wash. I kept it beside my bed and used to open it up and smell it every night just to help me fall asleep,” he admits, his voice still heavy with sleep.

His admission stuns me into silence. He missed me so much that he had to go out and buy himself a reminder of me. And I missed him so much I didn’t want anything that reminded me of him. Back then, all I wanted had been him, and if I couldn’t have the man, I most certainly didn’t want any damn token.

His hand finds mine under the blankets, and he laces our fingers together. I don’t know why, but the phrase perfect fit is the first thing that comes to mind. The way he’s acting reminds me so much of the boy who used to hold me tight and sing me to sleep on nights when my mom would have too much to drink and things would turn ugly. Really ugly. My heart clenches in my chest, because I don’t want to read too much into this moment. But inevitably, I will. I always seem to lose my head where he is concerned.

“We didn’t have sex, if that’s what you were wondering,” his voice rumbles from behind me. “But you did order me to strip so you could suck my dick.”

I duck my head under the covers and groan. “Please. Just kill me now and be done with it. I promise it will be less painful than facing you right now.”

“Skylar?” He tugs at the blanket, prying it out from the death grip I have on it. “Nothing happened.”

I peek up at him. “We didn’t have sex?”

He shifts up onto one elbow and leans over me, waiting for me to meet his steely gaze. “There are two things you need to remember about me. One, I’d never, ever, take advantage of you that way. If two people choose to have sex, I think it’s important that both of them be mentally present. Two, if I had fucked you last night, you wouldn’t have woken up this morning wondering whether or not it actually happened. The throbbing between your legs would leave no doubt I’d been there.”

While his answer may leave me blushing, it also leaves me longing for him to make good on that promise. Something tells me that right now isn’t the time or the place. I raise a hand to his face and graze my fingertips over his mouth. I can still picture the look on his face after I hit him. There was no hatred. No anger. Just sadness. Sadness with me. Sadness over what he’d done.

As if he can read my mind, he tries to placate me. “Doesn’t hurt anymore.” I trace his lips once more before kissing the side of his mouth.

“That pain only lasted a few minutes. It’s this pain that takes the longest to heal.” He taps a finger to his temple. “That shit stays inside you for a long time.”

“Oh, my gosh. Scott, I’m so sorry.” My eyes start to water, and he gives me a sad smile.

“What on earth do you have to be sorry about? You didn’t cause this pain.” He taps his head again. “That’s all on me, Blondie.”

I reach up and cradle his head in my hands, staring straight into his eyes while I make small circles on his temples with my thumbs. “You want to know what would make me happy?”

“What?” His eyes search mine.

“If you would take that pain you’re holding on to and just let go of it. You don’t need to beat yourself up for something that happened when we were kids. I promise you that I’m okay and seeing you, being with you this way… It seems to have made everything better. So, that’s what would make me happy. And if you don’t do this little thing for me, then I’m going to bother you every single day I’m in town. I’ll bother you so much that you’ll grow tired of me and have to give in.” I smile up at him.

He reaches between us and curls a lock of my hair tightly around his finger. “I don’t know, Blondie. I rather like it when you bother me.” He dips his head to give me the slowest, sexiest kiss I’ve ever known. It’s one of those kisses that is sure to leave its mark long after his lips have left mine.

“That’s good, ‘cause I sorta like bothering you, too.”

***

We make it back to Detroit shortly after six, and I have a voicemail confirming the repairs on my apartment have been completed. All I want to do is go inside, soak in the tub, and then crawl into bed. It’s been an emotionally draining weekend. I feel like Scott and I covered a lot of ground, but I’m really confused about what’s happening between us. One minute I think he wants me, and the next it seems as if the only thing he’s interested in is friendship. If that’s all he’s offering, I’ll still take it, because regardless of the terms, I’m still richer for having him in my life.

Despite the conversation we had in bed… Wait. That sounds really weird when I say that in my head, since nothing actually happened other than an amazingly hot kiss and maybe some light touching. But despite that time we shared, we were both fairly quiet during the ride home. Maybe he was analyzing everything that had just happened. I know I sure was.

We get out of the car, and I don’t even wait for him to join me on the walk in. I think right now, I just need some time to myself. “Well, I have a lot of work to do.” I hold up my camera, referring to all the photos I need to sort through and edit. “I guess I’ll see you sometime tomorrow? I was hoping maybe we could sit down with Brantley and go over some of those questions.”

He catches up with me, and since our hands are full, we decide to take the elevator.

“Listen, Sky, about this weekend—”

I hold up my hand to cut him off before he can finish, because my emotions are so fragile right now, I’m afraid a brush-off will send me into a downward spiral of a bucket of ice cream and a crying fit.

“Don’t worry about it. We were both just caught up in the moment, then there was also the tequila factor.” I laugh, hoping he won’t see right through me. “I promise I’ll stay out of your hair tomorrow and do more of that blending I was talking about before.”

He gives me a funny look, but rather than argue or beg me to stay, he simply nods his head and stares straight ahead.

“Right, okay,” he says coolly.

The elevator doors open, and I’m immediately greeted by one of my favorite faces. I can’t believe he came all this way to see me. I drop my bags to the floor and jump into his awaiting arms.

“Ash!” I cup his handsome face in my hands. “What are you doing here? I didn’t think I’d see you until I got back.”

“Are you kidding? I couldn’t go that long without seeing my girl. The apartment seems empty without you.” Ash drops his lips to mine and plants a big one on me right in front of Scott. When we break apart, his dark eyes sparkle with mischief.

Someone behind us makes a sound to clear their throat, and I’m reminded that we’re not alone. I give Ash’s shoulder a tap, and he gets the message and lowers me back down to the floor.

“Skylar?” Scott’s eyes move between Ash and me before landing where Ash’s hand is joined with mine. My fingers wiggle uncomfortably, but his grip tightens and he draws me close against his hard body.

I can feel them silently sizing the other one up. Asher knows all about Scott, at least what I’ve shared with him. There were some things I kept to myself. But Scott is completely in the dark about Asher. Part of me wants to blurt out that we’re just friends, but another part of me wonders, why even bother? It’s not as if we’re looking to jump back into a relationship. Even if we wanted to, it wouldn’t work. We live in two different worlds.

I’m still a little stunned by that kiss, so I end up not saying anything at all, and Asher speaks on my behalf.

“I’m Skylar’s roommate, Asher.” He sticks out a hand for Scott to shake, but instead, he just gawks at it like he’s not really sure what to do with it. “And you are?”

“Scott Rivers. I’m an old friend of Skylar’s. We go way back.” His voice fades away, and he searches my face for an explanation.

“Pleasure to meet you, Scott, but my girl and I have some catching up to do, if you know what I mean.” I look up just in time to see the wink he shoots in Scott’s direction. Scott turns on his heel and walks straight into his apartment without looking back.