Page 29 of No More Love Songs

“What makes you say that?”

“I guess because I keep forgetting you’re Skylar Thomspon.” She tilts her head back and the warm breeze blows softly over her face, making her smile. “You’re just Sky now. Have been since I sat down at the table with you.”

“That’s how I did,” I tell her, smirking as I think of my brother and the look he used to give me every time he sat down for a meal to find me sitting at the table too. “That’s how I kept ahold of myself no matter how crazy things got,” I explain. “I held onto family dinners. First at my parents’, then later when my brother got married and had kids, with them. I knew I’d never lose myself if I kept coming back to sit with those who knew me the best.”

“That’s really smart.”

“I have my moments,” I joke. “Speaking of tables, should we go set one for dinner?”

She crinkles her forehead. “For pizza?”

“Do you not eat pizza at a table?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. We eat that on the couch. With dishtowels instead of plates. While we watch a movie. Though, it’s dad’s turn to pick, so it’ll probably be terrible.”

“Well, you’ll have to tell me about it tomorrow. If I’ve seen it, we can tease him about his bad choices together.”

She looks confused. “You’re not going to join us?”

“Of course, she is,” Kit says, stepping out onto the balcony as if on cue. “And even though I had something awesome picked, neither of you will ever know what it was now, because I’m deferring the honor to Sky, being our guest and all.”

“What?” I’m not even sure what I’m questioning first. The crashing of their father-daughter pizza movie night, or the fact that I scored the high honors choosing said movie.

Either way, he chooses to bypass my question and just waves for us to hurry up. “Come on, pizza won’t stay hot forever.”

Ari takes off inside first, but I’m a little slower to follow. “You know you don’t have to include me. I’d be perfectly fine just eating in my room with a book to keep me company.”

“Are you declining the invite?” he asks, brows reaching.

“No. Just offering you an opportunity to rescind it.”

His hand moves to my lower back, guiding me onward since I seem to be struggling on my own. “I thought we went over this before I left. We like having you around, Sky.” He pulls the door shut behind us. “Besides, after the movie we usually go outside, look for constellations and track the nightlife based on sound. You can put that on your list of new things you’re trying to fall in love with.”

“That does sound kind of cool.”

“Oh, it’s super cool.” He nods, making a strange face, like he’s trying to sell both of us on the cool factor here. “Ari has, like, three fancy apps on her phone she makes use of while being one with nature. It’s neat. Especially if you appreciate irony.”

I laugh, something I notice I’ve been doing a lot of since I got here. “You’re a good host,” I tell him, keeping my gaze ahead. “I can see why your lodge is so successful.” We’ve reached the stairs, so it’s only natural for me to look forward instead of back at him, even if we are still talking.

“I am.” We reach the bottom, and he catches me by the wrist to stop me. “But that’s not what’s happening here.”

“It’s not?” I frown, embarrassed I even brought it up. “It’s completely fine if it is, Kit. I spend most of my life surrounded by people on some payroll or another, all investing in my comforts and happiness. I’m used to it.”

His mouth turns thin, and his eyes go darker. “You’re too used to it.” He shakes it head. “Yes, this lodge is my business, and yes, you’re paying to stay here as my guest, and fine, Gray is my friend and I would open my home to any friend of his, but,” he stops himself, pausing as if he has to recollect his thoughts before he goes on, “I wouldn’t go out of my way to spend more time with someone I was being kind to on behalf of someone else or for the sake of my business. I’m inviting you to go on walks and to watch movies and to join us in stargazing because I genuinely enjoy your company. Not as the lodge owner. And not as Gray’s friend. As yours.” Then he smiles again. “Got it?”

“Yes.” I bump him with my hip when we start walking again. “You might rethink the terms of our friendship though when you see my taste in movies.”

“You overestimate my expectations by a long shot. I’ve been letting Ari pick on movie night since she was two. There’s nothing you can choose that’s worse than sitting through Hey Hey Hazy for two hours straight.” We reach the door that connects his quarters to the lodge and slow to a stop so he can open it. As soon as he does, he gestures for me to go inside.

Which I do, bowing my head slightly to slip in under his arm. “Hey-hey, everybody,” I squeak on my way by.

He bursts out laughing so suddenly, he briefly lets go of the door. It starts to swing shut on me, but he catches it just in time. “So, you’ve had the pleasure,” he says, still laughing.

“I’m the sort of kick ass aunt who will sit through horrible toddler television, yes,” I confirm, grinning myself.

“You ever watch the one that looked like everyone was tripping on acid when they made it?”

“Sooooo Wadda Wadda,” I call out enthusiastically. It amounts to a yes.

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