Page 53 of Down & Dirty

The truth was, I just didn’t want to let her go. Sometimes I posed alone at these things, but not tonight. Sky was going to stay stitched to my side unless it was a trip to the ladies’ room. And even then, I would be right outside. I’d dragged her into my weird little world, the least I could do was make sure she didn’t feel alone in it.

The theater lobby was chaos. I managed a couple of quick hellos to some old friends, but everyone was getting pulled in different directions and the din of the crowd made it impossible to hear anything, anyway. It was the kind of frenetic event I’d loved when I first started. But getting caught in the current of bodies tonight was anything but a good time.

If I’d had to judge by Sky’s expression, I’d think she was doing fine. Her smiles came easily and she made gracious small talk when called upon. But the set of her shoulders was too straight, a line of tension down her spine. Her hand was still clasped in mine, and she let me lead her through the room, but I could feel the wariness in her movements. She was normally sleek like a panther, graceful and deadly. But tonight, she was reserved, almost stilted as she navigated the crowd.

Not that I could blame her.

She must have been asked fifty times what her name was. And every time their next question was about her brother. Sky was proud of Ronnie, but that trick would get old for anyone.

I’m sure the other women I’d dated had endured the same degree of intrusion over the years, but I’d never noticed it before. And that was a fact that made me feel even more like the self-centered asshole Sky had taken me for. I caught myself hoping she didn’t still see me like that.

When we’d been ushered into the theater and found our seats, a sigh of relief escaped me as the lights began to dim. “It’ll be less intense later.”

“Later?” she asked, pulling her clutch into her lap.

“At the after party. No flashing lights, just low-key people hanging out.”

Nodding, her eyes scanned the room. “Sure. Sounds delightful.”

I laughed at her sarcasm and poked her leg. “You did great out there.”

She eyed me sideways, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Lie better, Ellis. I was a mannequin with a voice recording on repeat.”

“Hardly. I think the number of folks curious about you should tell you something.”

Her laugh was dry and short. “That these people need to get out more?”

Leaning across the armrest I whispered into her ear, “That I’m not the only one that finds you gorgeous and interesting.”

I sat back, watching her cheeks pink as she looked away with a shake of her head. “Then maybe you need to get out more too.”

The lights dimmed further and I finally started to relax, draping my arm across the back of her seat and trailing my fingers over the bare skin of her shoulder.

I knew she’d refuse to see it, but people had been drawn to her like a magnet. And it had nothing to do with me. She could think whatever she wanted, judge us all as lame by sheer association. But Skylar had been impressive tonight. And I was even more convinced there was nothing she couldn’t do.

Twenty minutes into the movie, Skylar jolted in her seat. She rummaged through her purse, yanking out her phone and hitting the button to silence it. I hadn’t heard the ringtone, but I knew she’d put it on do-not-disturb like I’d done mine when we sat down, so I leaned forward to see what was going on.

“I have to take this,” she whispered, her eyes wide with panic in the light of the screen.

“Okay.”

I stood up and led her down our row, excusing ourselves as we went. As soon we hit the aisle, she started to jog up the ramp and I followed, getting to the door before her and pushing it open.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, but she already had her phone up to her ear.

“Elle, slow down,” she said, walking in a tight circle, her heels clicking on the marble floor. “So you’re already there? You drove him?”

She paused, wrapping her free arm around her waist like she was holding herself together and my hands started to sweat. I’d never seen Sky look so worried.

“Yes, of course I’m coming. I’m,” she looked around the lobby helplessly. “Shit. I’m not close, but I’m coming.”

Her eyes landed on me, apology in them that made my stomach knot. I nodded and we started walking for the door before she’d even hung up the phone.

“I’ll get there as soon as I can. Call me if anything changes.”

As soon as she hung up, I grabbed her hand. “What happened?”

“Micah.”

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