Page 73 of The Sky Between Us

“Thank you,” I slid next to her, putting my arms around her.

Hazel sank into my embrace, her trembling hands wrapped around my neck and she pushed her face into my shoulder. Her entire body shook from the proof of how much she loved me. Getting naked might have been hard for her, letting me in was even more challenging, but putting me first was the ultimate proof of her feelings towards me.

Now all I had to do was not gamble her trust. Which wasn’t as easy as I thought.

Chapter 17

“Why did you drag me here in the middle of the freaking night?” Elliot grumbled as he walked into the media room where we watched tapes.

It was five am the day before our big game and I couldn’t sleep. Nervousness kept me tossing and turning as I waited until the last moment to fill in Elliot. Part of me was terrified of saying it out loud because it made everything real. I knew it was real, but until it wasn’t out there for anyone else besides me to know, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Now suddenly it was a huge deal.

“I need to tell you something,” I kicked out the chair next to me and motioned towards it. “Sit.”

“Dude,” he muttered, lowering himself in his wrinkled T-shirt and sweatpants he quickly threw on himself. His hair was a messy nest and I was sure I just dragged him out of bed from next to Sarah. “You are scaring the shit out of me.”

“You can’t tell Sarah,” I warned him.

Elliot snorted. “Do I look like a whipped little pussy who tells their girlfriend everything?”

Rolling my eyes, I ignored him. “I’m serious. You can’t tell anyone. I’m telling you this because I trust you.”

“Dude,” Elliot mumbled impatiently. “Spill it out…”

I took a deep breath and running my hand through my hair I slowly exhaled. “You were right about Hazel.”

My friend’s puzzled look gave it away. He had no idea what he said about her.

“Sky is her son.”

“WHAT?” Elliot kicked out the chair and jumped up. “You are joking!”

Shaking my head, I watched him with caution.

“Holy shit, dude! Did you dump her?” he asked as he started pacing. “You don’t want a kid on your plate now. Especially not her kid. Do you even know who the father is?”

“This is where things get messy,” I laughed dryly, causing him to stop.

“Messy? What do you call a kid?” he mocked me childishly.

“A kid is an accident,” I muttered through clenched teeth. “But the father leaving is a choice.”

Elliot’s brows hiked up and looked at me in surprise. “Go on… who is the father? Do I need to sit back down?”

A low chuckle escaped me and I nodded. Elliot took a seat and with a bouncing knee looked up at me. “Spill it or I’m gonna have a heart attack.”

“It’s Jake Kellerman.”

This time there was no outburst, no jumping up. My friend stared at me with a blank, shocked expression like he couldn’t believe what I’ve just told him.

“Are we talking about the same Kellerman, yeah?” he asked as he dragged in a long breath. “The Harvard guy, who is coming here tomorrow…”

I silently nodded. “Him.”

“That Kellerman and Hazel? Your Hazel? Their kid is… Sky?” Elliot stuttered in shock. “And he left her alone knowing?

“Yep,” I nodded again.

“Are we going to beat the shit out of him?” he asked, jumping up. He cracked his knuckles and fisted his hand. “I can help you, name the time and place.”

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