Page 60 of The Sky Between Us

Jake_K:I just thought of you a couple of days ago and imagine my surprise that you go to Baywater. I’ll be there in a couple of weekends; we could see each other? If you are free.

Repeated curse words flew from my lips as I stared at his message. What world was he living in? Was he really that self-centered that he thought he could just show up in my life four years later and act like nothing has happened? Like he didn’t leave me alone with an unborn child and turned his back on me? Like he wasn’t the reason I’ve been in that position in the first place? I’ve spent years blaming myself in that situation, but in the end, it was his fault. He was my boyfriend; he should have taken care of me and not exploit me for his liking in my drunken state. I was old enough to recognize being boyfriend and girlfriend doesn’t give you immediate consent. My emotions were a deep spiral from all the delusion I built up to protect myself from the truth, but being with Aiden has opened my eyes up. And it was time I looked truth in the eyes. I was a mess from all the lies and secrets I’ve kept. But that needed to stop. I had to be honest, at least with myself, otherwise I’d sabotage the best thing that has ever happened to me. Aiden.

I couldn’t let the past overshadow my present. I couldn’t let Jake have this much power over me. I could allow myself to crumble at the thought of him looking at my social media or sending me a message. I had to be stronger. I was stronger than that. I’ve been through hell on my own, I could handle Jake on my own as well. I needed to, for my own sake.

Hazel_McCarthy:I won’t have time to see you on game day.

Three dots appeared right away.

Jake_K:Not even for ten mins? Really wanted to talk to you.

Hazel_McCarthy:You are talking to me now.

Jake_K:I can see your sarcasm remains the same. Give me five minutes before the game. For old times’ sake.

“Old time’s sake?” I laughed out loud and left him on read, shaking my head. Jake was a self-centered egoistic bastard still and I had no interest in seeing him or talking to him. I had nothing to say to him, hence I didn’t understand what on Earth he had to say to me. After four years, nothing.

Picking myself up from the floor, both physically and mentally, I made my way back to Aiden’s bedroom, not wanting to disturb the family meeting which was still going on based on the sounds. Quietly taking two steps at a time, I admired the pictures of little Aiden and Camilla on the walls, which I missed yesterday. Aiden was an adorable baby with almost white hair, that over the years, grew dirty blonde. His eyes were the same, kind, blue ones that only changed when his mood shifted. In the majority of the pictures, the soccer ball was bigger than him, which reminded me of Sky. They both seemed to have the ball stuck to their hands. Camilla, on the other hand, looked exactly the same, minus her baby face getting thinner and longer from her diet. She was wearing pink tutus and tiaras as well as various dance costumes or dresses. She was always smiling and looking beautiful in all the pictures. It was a shame to see her in such a state as she is now.

I walked through the hallway opening to the three bedrooms and one bathroom. Aiden and Camilla shared a bathroom, while the master bedroom of their parents had an en suite. Growing up with my own bathroom, it came to me as a shock that they were used to sharing, but it only magnified my realization of how lucky I was in my upbringing. Not many parents would have done what they did for me and Sky.

Dropping onto Aiden’s bed, I looked at his childhood room which gave away more from him as his college room did. There were various pictures of his soccer teams, framed signed jerseys by an LA Galaxy player I’ve never heard off, trophies he’d won and a similar wooden boat I’ve seen in his room in San Francisco. It had the same-colored rope that he used as a bracelet. I didn’t dare touch anything; I just took it all in feeling closer than ever to him.

With a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes shut and prepared for the week ahead of me. My first halftime show still awaited me before Jake and Harvard came to our school. I had two more weeks to warn Aiden of the hundreds of possible outcomes of his biggest soccer enemy arriving. It wasn’t just the game anymore. I knew Harvard’s forward was legendary and Aiden has scouts looking for him to make his big career move. But now I was standing between them too. Jake’s intentions were still unknown, but I couldn’t let that get into Aiden’s head and mess up his big opportunity. Because Jake might have given me up over his career, but I would never let Aiden give up his career for me. That wasn’t even a possibility.

Watching Jake on the big screen wasn’t a dream come true. Honestly, it was probably on the bottom of the list of what I wanted to do on a Saturday evening, but Aiden asked me to sit through the Harvard game so he could take some live action notes instead of watching the tape later that week. He was preparing like crazy for their game against them and I wanted to be supportive. But Aiden’s constant comparison to Jake was driving me crazy. It felt like he wanted to be him, but a better version of him. And it was just a sick joke played by Karma.

“His footwork is quick, look at that,” he muttered, placing his elbow on his knees and watching the game. A notebook laid open in his lap where he was scribbling things occasionally. “I tried to do that, but couldn’t. He is much faster and the control he has is insane. That guy was born a soccer player.”

Grimacing, I glanced at my phone, “that guy’s” messages still in my device.

“You said there will be scouts at the game?” Aiden’s dad asked, turning to his son.

Aiden didn’t even take his eyes off the screen. “Yes. Coach said the LA Galaxy is coming. Both because of Kellerman and me.”

“Your stats are almost as good as his,” his dad muttered, causing his son to look up, surprise clearly written on his face. “Despite what you think, I follow your games, son. The last one against USC was amazing. You scored three goals and the penalty was outstanding.”

“Thanks,” Aiden mumbled and his cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

Wait, was Aiden Hitchings blushing?

With a small giggle, I ran my hand over his thigh and smiled at him.

“You know, I think you are even better. That kid has way too much ego,” he muttered disapprovingly and nodded toward the TV where Jake was getting out of his jersey and jumping on his teammates when he scored.

Some things never change.

I rolled my eyes hard as Aiden chuckled. He did that too sometimes. Maybe not as much in an exhibitionist way as Jake did it.

“LA Galaxy would be stupid not to take you,” his dad went on. “You worked hard for it all your life and you deserve it.”

“In life, you don’t always get what you deserve,” he sighed and placed a protective arm around me. “Sometimes you just have to work with what life throws you.”

Thomas snorted. “You busted your butt off on that field. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.”

“I agree,” I chimed in with a cute smile, earning a wink from his dad.

“Plus, that girl’s a keeper,” he added, causing me to blush.

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