AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 42
Hank
I’d tried to be patient but as it turned out when it came to Skylar, I was about as patient as a kid on Christmas morning. I’d texted and called Skylar at least six times today and had gotten no replies.
Melody had been right, I hadn’t fought for her. When she told me she was leaving, I’d let her go. I’d never chased a woman before. Over the years women had come into my life and left just as easily. I was sure that a psychologist would have an opinion on why that was.
But Skylar wasn’t just some woman. She was the woman. She was the only woman I would ever want.
I paced the small back office and looked at my watch again. I’d been there for fifteen minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Since I didn’t want to disrupt Skylar while she was working, I was waiting in the office and asked Cash to send her back when she had a few minutes.
I was just about to text Cash to see what the hold-up was when the door opened.
Skylar walked in and she wasn’t wearing the smile she usually was when she saw me.
“You haven’t returned my calls or messages.” I got right to the point.
“I’ve had a busy day, and I’ve been at work.”
I continued staring at her. We both knew that was an excuse. If she’d wanted to respond to me, she would have.
“I’ve just…had a lot on my mind today.” Her shoulders slumped and I could see the internal turmoil behind her blue-green stare.
“If this is about Melody, nothing happened.”
She shook her head as she lifted her arms. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Yes, I do. We talked last night, said things that needed to be said. She asked to stay the night because she knew if she went to Mrs. Beasley’s the entire town would know. Not that it mattered.” The entire town did know. I’d been asked about Melody more today than I had the first time she left town.
Her lips pursed as she lifted her hand. “I think that’s my fault. I told Mrs. Birch. Well, actually Luna told Mrs. Birch that you were kissing someone. Mrs. Birch thought it was me, I told her it was your ex. And, well, she had a lot of follow-up questions, and I’d already let the cat out of the bag so I didn’t see the point in trying to sugar coat it. But it wasn’t my place to say anything and,” she took a deep breath before exhaling an apology, “I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m sorry. I’m sorry that Luna saw that. I’m sorry that you had to explain anything at all. We were saying goodbye and she kissed me. It took me completely by surprise. I didn’t even realize that Luna saw, I just heard her saying hi and waved. I’m sorry that you had to see it.” I reached up to cup her jaw but she took a step back.
“It’s fine. Really. It was good that I did.”
I dropped my arm. I didn’t like the sound of that, but I figured I’d let her finish her thought so I could see exactly where her head was at and what I needed to do or say to change it.
“What happened between us…it’s just, really fast. And I appreciate all that you’ve done for us. I am so grateful. You’ve made a very scary time in my life, not scary at all. And it’s not just me, but Luna. She loves you. You mean so much to her. I don’t know what I would have done this past month without you. You’ve done so much for me, for us. You told us about Mrs. Birch. And the books, they’re Luna’s favorite. And, I mean, the house. The repairs. The upgrades. I don’t know how I’ll ever pay you back but—”
“Stop. I did those things as much for me as I did them for you and Luna. I’m not a saint.”
“I think you’re a lot saintlier than you’d like to admit.”
The twinkle was back in her eye. The one that I’d missed so badly.
Stray strands of hair, the same pieces that always fell in her face, fell onto her forehead and cheek. My hands itched to be the one that put it behind her ear but she beat me to it. She tucked the offending chunk back off her face as she slowly inhaled as if she was preparing herself for what she had to say next.
“I don’t regret anything that happened between us, I really don’t,” she spoke with sincerity before taking a breath and waved her hand between us. “But this is too much for me. It’s just…”
I waited, wanting to hear what was too much. Did she feel too much? Did she want too much? If either of those were the case, I would quickly counter by telling her that I felt the same and that she could have anything she wanted. I was hers.
“I have to be realistic. And while this has been fun, it’s not sustainable. It’s not real. And it’s not just me, I have to think about Luna. I need to focus on being the best mom I can be for that little girl, not worrying about who my neighbor is kissing.” I thought I saw moisture in her bottom lid as she took in a shaky breath and opened the door. “I need to get back to work.”
“Skylar.” Her name came out in a plea. “What we have is sustainable. It is real. I love you. I’m in love with you. I know it’s fast but that’s how I feel.”
“Goodbye, Hank.”
I knew that goodbye was not a see ya later, even though we would be seeing each other all the time. We lived on the same property after all.
It was goodbye to us. But what she didn’t know was us was something I was willing and ready to fight for.
