Page 46 of A Million To Fall

I always knew I was different, that I didn’t quite fit in. But now I feel like I don’t even belong on the same planet.

I change shirts right here in the parking lot, then get into my car, and drive across town for shift number two.

nineteen

Skye

“Ican’t get over how hot Boss is,” Lily whisper-shouts at me just as the waiter finishes clearing our table.

It’s my first full day back in Stillwater, and despite his grand declarations of wishing to spend “every second of summer” with me, Archer has been spending his morning with the guys.

Suits me fine, though. Lily and I were overdue for a girls’ day. We started that nice and early, though not too early, with a leisurely brunch.

“I’ve noticed,” I say, eyebrows raised knowingly. Boston has been her discussion topic of choice since we ran into him at AJ’s last night. Even after we left the restaurant, the conversation kept circling back to our collective disbelief at his reappearance. Jake, Pacey, and Jonathan kept shaking their heads, remarking on how incredulous it was that Boston was really back.

Lily, on the other hand, seems to have dusted off the crush she had on Boston in high school.

“Seriously,” she continues, walking behind me as we exit our brunch spot. “That body. That face. Makes me want to drop my panties.”

She fans herself dramatically. “If this isn’t a sign from the universe that I need to finally make my move on Boss, I don’t know what is.”

I push the button on my key fob to unlock my car. The alarm goes off instead.

“Shit,” I mutter, hitting the correct button, silencing the car horn.

Lily raises an eyebrow at me, then slides into the passenger seat. “You still down for a little shopping?”

“Sure,” I say as I buckle in. “Could be fun.”

“Could be necessary. My closet’s an actual crime scene.”

I laugh. “Oh my god, you’re so ridiculous.”

“Me? Never.”

We spend the next hour walking in and out of boutiques, Lily holding up sundresses like it’s a uniform requirement. She’s paying for yet another one—a little yellow, strapless thing—when my phone buzzes.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Skye”—she sounds rushed—“I have a quick favor to ask.”

“I’m all ears,” I say, navigating the light traffic.

“Jessica just texted me to let me know she forgot the snack boxes at the office. Could you swing by and grab them?”

I frown. “Snack boxes?”

“For the kids,” she says like that should spark something.

I blink at the car ahead of me. “Snack boxes for the kids. And they need to go… where?”

“Oh, right,” she says with a light laugh. “Sorry, baby, I forget you can’t just read my mind. Okay, so there are fifty snack boxes that need to be delivered, like, ASAP. Baby, I’m about to step into a meeting with the contractor to sign off on the punch list for the apartments. I’ll text you the address right now. Jessica will meet you there.”

“But Mom, Lily and I were just—”

“Take Lily with you. You might as well check the place out since you’ll be taking over for Jessica next week. Gotta go, baby. Oh, and thank you!”

She ends the call.