Page 8 of Where the River Meets the Skye

“Almost done,” River said. Skye grabbed his keys and wallet and slipped his shoes on as he waited for River to finish, then they were on their way out the door.

CHAPTER 3

Skye

“Good grief.” Jenna rolled her eyes at Skye from where she was sitting next to Nick on the other side of the table. They were at Jake’s and River and Anna had just gone up to the bar to get the group some more drinks. Anna had her hand on the small of River’s back and he leaned over and whispered something in her ear, making her laugh. He looked genuinely happy.

Skye wanted to punch something.

“You’re hopeless.” Jenna took a sip of her soda and Skye glared at her.

Nick laughed. He was a big guy, six foot three, and all muscle, with short dark hair and hazel eyes. Very handsome. Despite his intimidating appearance though, he was a total teddy bear, reserved and quiet, like River, even more so, really, and wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Jenna, on the other hand, was about as sassy and feisty as they came, and super outgoing. The four of them had met in college at one of the events for the Gay-Straight Alliance. Jenna was bi, Nick was straight. Skye loved them both to death but they drove him insane.

“Just what is that supposed to mean?” he said. They both laughed and Skye glared harder.

“You have been staring at him all night,” Jenna said, leaning over the table and talking in a hushed voice, her cleavage showing under the v of her blouse. Heat radiated up Skye’s neck and across his face.

“I have not.” He totally had. And he was thinking that asking River and Anna to join them had been an incredibly stupid idea, because the more he had to watch them flirt and touch and be all…them, the more tense he got and the more his stomach knotted. What the fuck was that about? Since when had he been so fixated on River? And why couldn’t he let him and Anna be without getting so…so…

“Jealous,” Jenna said, and Skye flinched. Had he said that out loud?

“What?”

“You’re jealous. Admit it.”

“I am not. Why would I be jealous? It’s River. He’s my best friend.”

Jenna exchanged a glance with Nick. Her dark hair was cut short and her green eyes sparkled. She had large hoop earrings in her ears that swayed when she turned her head. Or really, if she moved at all. Skye was pretty sure they were as big as her face. He was also pretty sure she was trying not to laugh again.

“You’re totally jealous, bro,” Nick said. “Just tell him how you feel and get it over with. Watching you is painful.”

“There is nothing to tell,” Skye hissed, as River and Anna made their way back to the table.

There wasn’t. He swore to God there wasn’t. River was his friend. That was all.

“Okay guys, time’s up, pass your papers forward,” Skye said on Monday morning, as he stood in front of the students’ desks and motioned with his hands.

There were a few groans and some last minute scribbles before the papers started coming forward, and he collected them.

“Are we going to have a pop quiz every week?” Amanda, a girl with short dark hair asked in dismay.

“If I tell you that it kind of defeats the purpose, don’t you think?” Skye grinned at her but she just rolled her eyes.

Another girl raised her hand. She had short blonde hair, freckles and braces, and was one of the most hard working students in the class.

“Yes, Gwen?” he asked.

“Did you grade our papers yet?”

“I did. You’ll get them back at the end of the period. Which reminds me, there are some of you who need to remember to write your names on your homework. I’m gonna start deducting points for it if it keeps being a problem. It takes me long enough to grade them without having to go through them all and figure out who they belong to. Got it?”

There were some nods and a few groans.

“Okay, open your books—” Skye was cut off by his phone buzzing in his pants pocket.

“Mr. Mckenzie, your ass is calling,” Gwen said with a chuckle, and the students laughed as he reached for it and silenced it without bothering to check who it was. He didn’t get calls during the day unless they were spam, because everyone knew he was at work. And if it was an emergency they would call back or call the front office.

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