Page 13 of Filthy Rich Single Daddies

Skylar's eyes meet mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their hazel depths. "Theo, I..." she starts, then falters.

I reach out, cupping her cheek gently. "I know, baby. We've got a lot to talk about."

She nods, leaning into my touch. "This is...God, I can't believe you're here. After all this time..."

I pull her close, reveling in the feeling of her skin against mine. "I can't believe it either. When I heard you lived here, I thought I was dreaming."

Skylar chuckles softly, the sound vibrating against my chest. "Some dream, huh?"

I can't help but laugh, too, the tension easing slightly. "Better than any dream I've had in years."

We lay there in comfortable silence for a moment, fingers tracing patterns on each other's skin. I'm struck by how familiar yet new this feels, like coming home to a place you've haven’t been to in a long time.

Chapter 5

Skylar

Istumble into Birdie's sunlit kitchen the next morning, my head pounding and thoughts swirling. One look at my disheveled appearance and Birdie's eyebrows shoot up to her hairline.

"Sit," she commands, gesturing to a chair. "I'm making tea."

I slump into the seat, grateful for her no-nonsense approach. The familiar clinking of china and the whistle of the kettle fill the air as Birdie busies herself, moving with the kind of grace and efficiency that speaks to years at finishing school. She’s been through her fair share of hardships, but there’s an elegance about her that’s always remained unshaken. Despite all of it, he carries herself with a grounded calm that makes everything seem just a little less overwhelming. Somehow, being in her presence always makes me feel like everything will eventually be okay, no matter how messy things get.

"Rough night, dear?" she asks, her tone light but knowing.

I manage a weak nod, my mind drifting back to Theo. His unexpected appearance, his touch, his...everything. The sex wasmind-blowing, just like it always was with him. But now, in the harsh light of day, the heartbreak lingers like a bruise. I never thought I'd see him again, and yet here I am, tangled in emotions I thought I’d buried.

"Earth to Skylar," Birdie sing-songs, waving a hand in front of my face. "Where'd you go just now?"

I blink, focusing on her concerned expression. "Sorry, I'm just...processing."

Birdie sets a steaming mug in front of me, the scent of peppermint wafting up. "Processing what, exactly? Or should I say, who?"

The warmth from the mug radiates through my fingers, a small comfort. I’m grateful for something to anchor me to the here and now. Theo did always have a way of taking up all my thoughts, good and bad. "It's complicated," I mumble.

"Isn't it always?" Birdie chuckles, settling into the chair across from me. Her bright eyes study me over the rim of her own mug, her attention unwavering. She has that way about her—like she sees right through me, without judgment, without rush. She’s patient. I’ve always envied that about her. "Want to talk about it?"

I take a sip of tea, buying time. How do I even begin to explain Theo's sudden reappearance? The way my body sang at his touch, while my heart screamed in protest? I want to tell Birdie everything, but the words feel too heavy.

"I ran into someone from my past," I finally admit. "Someone I never expected to see again."

Birdie leans forward, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "And I'm guessing this someone left quite an impression?"

I can't help but snort at her understatement. "You could say that."

I stare into my tea, watching the steam curl upwards. Memories flood my mind—Theo’s smile, the sound of his laugh, the way his hand fit perfectly in mine. It feels like a lifetime ago. I want to reach for those memories, but they're so tangled up in pain, so wrapped in the heartache of everything that went wrong. "It's Theo," I confess softly. "My ex. The one I thought was...well, the one."

Birdie's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh my. That is quite the blast from the past."

"Yeah," I sigh, tracing the rim of my mug, watching the faint trail of steam rise and dissipate. "I keep thinking about how it all fell apart. Our parents never approved, but..."

"But?" Birdie prompts gently.

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat growing. "He stayed away. He chose to obey them. He left me." The words taste bitter on my tongue. "And then, like dominoes, I lost everything else too."

Birdie reaches across the table, her wrinkled hand covering mine. She doesn't say anything at first, just offering silent support. Her touch is warm, grounding. It’s like she knows there’s no need for words. She’s been here before, seen it all, felt the weight of what it’s like to lose someone you thought would always be there.

After a moment, she squeezes my hand. "My dear," she says softly, her voice filled with compassion, "sometimes the universe has a funny way of bringing our past back to us. Not to hurt us, but to heal us."

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