Page 27 of I Blame the Rival

“Are you okay?”

For a moment, I think he’s questioning my inability to look away from his face, but then he continues, “I heard Walsh went after you.”

The night’s events filter through my mind and I start blinking rapidly, “Oh, that.”

He doesn’t say anything as a tear hits my cheek, just watches my expression carefully. Most people would push for an answer,needing to hear the false confirmation of being okay, but not Skylar. Just like in his letters, he lets me not be okay.

“It just… it brought back some painful memories, that’s all.” I swallow, letting the darkness of the night sky give me courage, “I have a bad habit of freezing. When things go sideways.”

He doesn’t push for more, just waits patiently.

“I froze again tonight and that makes me angry. A girl nearby ended up distracting Walsh long enough for me to get away, but if she hadn’t?” I blow out a breath, “Then I’m no better than where I was two years ago.”

“It’s okay to be angry sometimes. If you don’t let it out, it will find a way to control you.” Skylar clears his throat, “But the fact you recognize the problem shows you are better than where you used to be.”

I smile, “You’re even smarter in person.”

He shrugs, “Not really. I just go to therapy.”

Laughter takes a hold of me and soon my tears become positive ones. Wiping them away with a smile, I find Skylar studying me.

“What?”

“You keep laughing.”

I laugh again, “That’s because you’re funny.”

He blinks, “Most people don’t get my sense of humour.”

A smile breaks across my face, “Most people don’t appreciate deadpan humour. I love it.”

Skylar’s eyes light up and I feel it all the way to my toes. A lot of people have a tough time interpretingdeadpan humour because they don’t look beyond the surface. Skylar might not joke with his smile, but his eyes tell a different story.

My eyes dance between the blue and brown irises, soaking in the warmth radiating through them. There’s something precious about him, something that makes me think there’s a minefield of gems hiding beneath the quiet exterior.

“I actually drew something for you.” He shifts uncomfortably, “I don’t have it with me, but you were the inspiration behind it.”

“It’s not a cat lady, is it?”

“I’m saving that for the next one.”

I throw my head back and laugh, nearly giving myself a concussion against the hard exterior of Ava’s car. Skylar watches me with bright eyes and I feel myself start to blush.

“You’ll soon find out I’m not the most coordinated. Or graceful.”

He shrugs, “Coordination is overrated. I was always picked last for sport teams.”

“Me too! God, I hated gym class.” I laugh, feeling my embarrassment ebb, “There’s always that one person who sucks at everything. That was me.”

“I’m sure you didn’t suck at everything.”

“Oh, no. I was the worst. You know the king’s court? When you move up a level every time you win?” I shake my head, “I was a permanent resident of the toilet bowl.”

Skylar pauses, thinking it over.

“Okay. Maybe you did suck at everything.”

I laugh, “That’s what I’m saying!”

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