Kayla ignored Skye because she was just so intrigued by Amy. She wasn’t the slightest bit annoyed or even ruffled. Kayla was woman enough to admit that it stung her ego a little. “How long have you known?”
“Since the day we arrived.” A charming flush crept across her cheeks as Amy shot an embarrassed look at Skye. “I snuck out our first night to call about a patient and overheard you and Mack talking about your seduction plan over dinner.”
Skye’s eyebrows came together. “Wait. How did you sneak out without me knowing so early in the evening?”
Amy’s blush deepened. “You were, um, napping.”
When Skye blushed, too, it became pretty clear why they hadn’t been around the resort that first day. It was their honeymoon, after all. Even the oblique insinuation of Skye having sex with someone else would have made Kayla ill even two days ago, but right now she couldn’t bring herself to care.
Kayla said, “We hung out all week, and you didn’t say a thing. Why didn’t you call me out on it?”
“I’m not as insecure about my relationship as you must think. I know what Skye and I have is forever, and no one else could mess that up.” Amy’s smile was so sweet and lacked any sort ofbitterness that it took any possible insult out of her answer. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. I know what you had with Skye was special, and I’m sure you’re very seductive, but I knew nothing would happen.”
A pressure Kayla hadn’t even realized had been pressing on her lungs and shoulders suddenly lifted. If she were honest, it had probably been there since the moment Skye called off their wedding. From that moment, she had been determined to win Skye back, and she had put all her focus on it. Her mental health recovery had been all about being well enough for Skye to love her again. Her professional success had been about being able to build a comfortable home after their marriage. Everything had been about reclaiming the future she had been destined for. Now that that future was well and truly gone, she only felt relief. How very strange.
Skye was obviously moved by Amy’s confidence as well. She scooted closer to her on the couch and took her hand. Reaching up to cup her cheek, Skye pulled her into a gentle kiss. Rather than the smoldering jealousy or the acidic burn of fear, seeing this expression of love between them left Kayla feeling nothing but warmth and affection. It also sent a pang of loss through her that Mack wasn’t here to kiss her like that.
Skye pulled back from the kiss abruptly and looked over at Kayla. “Oh, um, sorry. I didn’t mean to rub it in.”
“You aren’t.” Skye looked confused again, and Kayla realized that might’ve sounded dismissive. “Sorry. It’s just that I realized a while ago that I don’t feel that way about you anymore.”
Looking annoyed by her reaction, Skye asked, “Then what was this morning all about?”
“Yeah, that was stupid. I’m not entirely sure what I was thinking, honestly. I had a plan, and I was just executing the plan, even though I knew I didn’t want you to say yes.”
To her surprise, Skye laughed at this. “That’s the thing about you, Kayla. You’ve always been decisive to a fault. Once you put your mind to something, nothing can deter you from it. It’s really easy to fall under your spell when you get like that.”
Something clicked into place, and Kayla’s stomach lurched. “That’s why you proposed, wasn’t it?”
Skye’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I think so. Don’t get me wrong. I loved you. I really did.”
“Just not the way you love Amy now.”
Skye nodded, still looking deeply ashamed, but Kayla wasn’t. It helped to know that. She hadn’t failed. There was nothing she could have done to keep Skye because they weren’t meant for each other. She saw that in the way Skye and Amy loved each other. But more than that, she felt it in the way she ached for Mack right now.
Amy cleared her throat gently. “So maybe you understand what Kayla did this morning a little better now?”
Skye laughed but raised an eyebrow at her fiancée. “You don’t have to rub it in, you know. I’ve always known you were the smarter, more insightful one.”
Kayla gave them a moment to share another tender kiss, but thinking about Mack made her anxious. She needed to process this old relationship, but the one she really wanted was slipping away. Her good knee started bouncing of its own accord, and that caught Amy’s eye.
Amy smiled at her. “I knew it.”
Skye asked, “Knew what?”
Amy’s smile positively covered her face. “I’ve read enough romance novels to spot a fake relationship when I see one. There’s only one way those stories end. You fell for her, didn’t you?”
Now Kayla was smiling. How could she help it? Just thinking about Mack made everything inside her light up. “Yeah. I did.”
Skye’s lip twisted. “For Mack? Gross.”
Amy patted her knee like she was calming a child. “Be quiet, honey.” Turning back to Kayla, she asked, “When did it happen? Was it that kiss on your balcony? That was really hot.”
Skye looked like she wanted to throw up or tear the paint off the walls or both, but she was smart enough to keep her mouth shut. Kayla’s stomach flipped pleasantly. “That was a start. It was actually our first kiss. But it wasn’t until our second that I realized I wanted more.”
“But you two were friends in high school. You didn’t ‘practice kissing’ back then?”
“No, we didn’t. Now I really wish we had. She’s amazing at it.”
