Two nights later, the real test of my steadfastness happens.

Skylar’s heels click on her parents’ linoleum floor. I’m standing in the living room and I force my gaze to stay locked on the television, my breath catching in my throat. After my internal pep talk for the past half hour, I should have this.

“Zip me?” She turns her back to me and I swallow down the dry lump in my throat.

The opening of her dress lands right at her panty line, showcasing her pink silk undies with lace along the top. I step back just to make sure my now bulging dick doesn’t end up poking her in the back.

My shaking fingers grab a hold of the zipper and I slowly pull it up along her olive colored skin until it lands mid back.

“There you go.” The tremble in my voice matches my heart rate.

“Thanks.” She twirls around like a school girl getting ready for a dance. “What do you think?” The smile slowly fading from her lips. “What?”

“Nothing. You look great.”

She does. I’ve seen Skylar at her worst. Bedridden with the flu and smelling of puke. Three days into no sleep with a dry red nose from a head cold. Hungover with stringy hair and bad breath. Then there’s been the sponsor galas with her hair pinned up and red-colored lips. Tonight, she’s got her girl next door look perfected. Not too much makeup, a light gloss along her plump lips and a dress that shows her assets but isn’t inviting any takers.

“Do I look fuckable?”

I choke on the saliva in my throat. “What?” I ask when I’m done coughing. “I mean, you’re not...”

She pushes me lightly in the shoulder and I lose my footing. “You know me better than that.”

Jesus.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to look the part though.”

“Well, then mission accomplished, but don’t make me give him the dad speech.”

She giggles. A sound I love hearing but it’s not as sweet knowing it’s for another guy who’s going to be here any second.

“Drink to make the nerves disappear?” I’m already on my way to the liquor cabinet to grab the hardest shit Skylar’s dad has on hand. Sadly, he seems to be a mixed drinker which means his choice of scotch isn’t one malt.

“Sure. I’m not even sure why I’m nervous. It’s not like I haven’t dated before.” She follows me, her heels a constant reminder that she’s looking amazing for someone else.

“When was the last time you were out on a date?” I ask, pulling two glasses out from her dad’s makeshift bar in the dining room.

“Now that I think about it...other than Sam—”

“Sam? Sam on the team Sam?”

She accepts the glass and tentatively sips. “Yeah, we went out a few times in New Zealand during training this past summer.”

Traitor.

“I didn’t know.”

She waves her hand at me. “It was nothing.”

He’s still a fucking traitor.

The door opens and the sound of little footsteps racing through the hall echo out and seconds later Molly and Caiden are heading right for Skylar.

She holds up her hands and they skid to a stop, freezing in place with wide eyes. Molly approaches slowly, and Caiden climbs into the chair at the bar.

“Aunt Skylar, you look pretty.” Molly slides right up to the chair on the other side of Caiden.

“What will you two troublemakers be having tonight?” I ask.

Molly pretends to think while Caiden throws his hand on the bar. “A Miller.”

Skylar laughs, but Zoe and Vin round the corner of the room as Zoe shoots Vin a what the fuck look.

He holds his hands up in the air ready to defend himself when his gaze finds me and his arm extends. “Beckett, I hear you gave Molly quite the show.”

Zoe slaps him in the stomach and he pretends her tiny slap could hurt him. The man is six three, two fifty at least.

“Nice try,” I say.

Zoe doesn’t do any more scolding to her husband though because her eyes light up and she smiles when she spots Skylar. Her gaze shifts to me and her smile dims.

“Gotta hot date?” she asks.

“Yeah,” Skylar says and nods her head toward the kitchen and the two sisters disappear.

“Since the little guy is having a Miller, what will the lady have?” I ask Molly.

“Kiddie Cocktail,” she answers, straightening her back and acting like she asked for tea and crumpets.

“That’s an order I can handle.” I toss a glass in the air and catch it, two sets of little eyes on me the entire time.

Vin walks up and pats me on the back, hard. I cough and manage to keep the Sprite pouring into the glass. “I’m one-armed here.”

“You’re going to have a lot of lessons to learn when you and Sky have kids. The first one being always lock the bedroom and the bathroom doors.” He winks and walks around to take the third seat at the bar while I grab a Miller for him. Skylar’s parents must be the party house for fifty-somethings because the place is stocked.

“You’ve got a few things wrong there,” I say.

He raises an eyebrow.

“Marriage and kids are not for me.”

“Not for you?” he questions.

I shrug.

Vin and I are usually drinking buddies when we see each other. We talk sports with Skylar’s brother, Mike, shoot the shit about politics and anything other than our philosophies on life.

Setting down a pair of small napkins with a W embossed on them, I place the two kiddie cocktails down and the kids grin at each other.

“Why not?” Vin asks.

What I’m about to say will sound awful, but Vin’s biggest dream through high school was probably to get laid. Not that I wasn’t all for that, too, but we grew up differently and it shaped our views of the world. When he graduated he went to work with his dad. He’s always had a safety net.

I shrug. Is it really his business? No.

“Marrying Zoe and having these two rug rats was the best thing that ever happened to me.” He tousles each one of his kid’s heads and they give him an adoring smile. They love their dad and that’s great—for him.

“They’re great kids and Zoe’s okay.”

He laughs understanding the push/pull relationship I have with his wife.

“So is Sky…”

I nod, pouring myself another glass of scotch. “No denying that.”

“Then why are you letting her go out on a date?” He guzzles some of his beer, leaning back into his chair.

“Because Skylar wants what you guys have.”

“She said that?” His forehead wrinkles.

“I’m sure she’d rather not have her husband take her son to a bar so that he’s ordering Millers as a drink, but in so many words.”

He shakes his head then downs his beer. “Are all snowboarders like you?”

Vin’s met Grady and Dax and a few of the other snowboarders when the family came to visit Sky in Utah.

“How’s that?” I rest my ass against the back counter of the bar, crossing my ankles.

“Selfish.”

Little does he know, I’m doing the least selfish thing I can tonight. I’m watching the woman I want under me go out with another man. Hell, I’m encouraging it.

“You think I’m selfish?”

He nods. The kids slide out of their chairs and run off to the playroom.

Vin leans forward, his muscular forearms from his labor-intensive job flexing under his weight. “You won’t put your own shit aside for a woman.”

He just doesn’t understand.

“That’s not it.”

“Sure, it is.” He stands, downing the rest of his beer and placing the empty on the bar top.

“It’s not.”

He nods, heading toward the kitchen but the girls beat him to it.

“Miss me?” Zoe asks, placing her arms around her husband’s shoulders.

He dips her and kisses her making for an uncomfortable silence for the two of us not in the exchange. Skylar stares on with envy in her eyes, while annoyance wraps around me like a tight leash. When the doorbell rings Vin pops Zoe back up, leaving her breathless.

“Maybe Beck should answer. Freak the poor guy out a little.” Zoe giggles, leaning into her husband’s strong arms.

Yeah, thanks for that Zoe.

“I doubt I’ll scare him with one usable arm.” I step out from behind the bar because the masochistic part of me needs to get a look at this guy.

“Sky.” Vin dislodges himself from his wife, kissing Skylar on the cheek. “You look gorgeous, he’s one lucky guy.” He separates from her and shoots me an evil stare.

What the hell did I do to these people?

I say nothing because now that the moment is here, I’m thinking this was a shit brain idea. Opening the door, the guy stands there, sweat on his forehead, the flowers in his hand shaking more than my legs after a long day of riding.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hi.” He draws back looking at the address plaque beside the door. “Is Skylar here?” he asks, his voice shaking more than his hands.

Poor schmuck. When was the last time he was on a date?

“She is. Who are you?”

“I’m Tad.”

“Tad?” What kind of fucking name is that?

“Yes, I’m her date for tonight.”

“Ohhh...she mentioned something about that.” I usher him in with my hand. “Come in. Drink while you wait?”

As he stands in Skylar’s parents’ foyer, I examine my competition. I guess he’s not really my competition since I’m not playing the game, but whatever.

“What do you do?” I ask.

He uses his free hand to push it through his short red hair, his cheeks so red I fear he’s having an allergic reaction.

“Hi, Tad.” Skylar rounds the corner.

I keep my eyes on her date. No need to see her energetic smile.

Molly and Caiden run in, sliding to a stop on their socks.

Tad’s eyes widen.

“Honey, did you not tell him about the kids?”

Skylar narrows her eyes at me.

“Sorry, Tad, we were just leaving. It’s my weekend and all.” I grab their coats off the hooks near the door with my good hand.

“Oh, your profile didn’t say—”

“Forget him. This is my friend Beckett.” Skylar grabs her own coat from the hook and the nice guy Tad is, helps her get it on. What a gentleman.

“Are you?” He tilts his head. “I recognize you from the Winter Classics, right?”

“Yeah,” I answer and then he looks at Skylar.

“And you?”

She nods.

“I’ve seen you guys on commercials!” His face lights up with excitement. “Whoa, my mom is going to be so impressed I’m going out with a Winter Classics athlete.” His hand moves to his pocket but then he stops. Good move, Tad.

“We should probably go.” Skylar rolls up and down on her heels.

“Yeah, oh, um.” He turns back to me, holding his hand out. “Could I just get one picture? My mom...”

“Sure. You don’t mind, right, Sky?”

“Not at all,” she says between clenched teeth.

“Oh here.” Zoe saunters in, holding her hand out for his phone and the flowers. “I’ll take one of all three you.”

Tad looks around the room.

“Sister.” Zoe points to herself. “Brother-in-law.” She points to Vin and he gives a little wave. “Niece and nephew.” The two kids look up and smile.

“But I thought…” Tad wiggles his finger between Molly and Caiden and then points to me and back to the kids.

“I was kidding.”

“Oh.” His head falls back like I just told the funniest joke he’s heard all year. When we went on GeekMatch I thought that would entail a date with someone who was highly intelligent. I think we got scammed.

Skylar blows out a breath and Tad holds the phone out to Zoe.

“Now, all of you get nice and close.”

Vin steps forward and takes Molly and Caiden’s coats from my good hand. Tad gets in the middle, I have to switch spots with Skylar so that my bad arm is on the outside. We all smile big and a flash blinds us.

“Looks good.” Zoe hands it back and Tad’s like a teenager checking it out before we all move in case we need to take another one.

“Perfect, my mom—”

“Is going to love it,” all three of us say in unison.

Skylar opens the door, and has one foot outside before Tad has even processed it’s time to start his date. Totally clueless and I have to admit that a part of me is not disappointed about it. No way this guy is going to try to get in Sky’s pants tonight.

“Have fun you two!” Zoe calls out the door like I’m assuming Tad’s mom might do. Hell, she might be in the car waiting to drive them to the restaurant.

The door shuts and Zoe’s fun demeanor turns cold and icy in an instant. “Kids get your coats from your dad and put on your shoes, Daddy is taking us out.”

“But I wanted to have game night. Uncle Beckett will play,” Molly whines.

“I’m totally game for Monopoly, Life. Pick your poison, kid.” I wink.

“No, Uncle Beckett likes to be alone. Alone and unattached.”

“Zoe,” I sigh.

She puts her hand up in the air. “Have a great night, Beckett.”

The kids get ready, Vin shooting me a ‘I’m sorry’ expression. After hugs from the kids, Zoe peeks her head in the doorway one more time. “Don’t think about her with Tad too much. She’s had a dry spell so I’m fairly sure it won’t take much.”

Slam.

Mission accomplished, Zoe. Now all I can think about is that maybe I was wrong about that doofus Tad. What if he has what it takes to seduce Skylar...where would that leave me?