Page 7 of Handling Skylar
All through the evening, my eyes kept looking for her. Even as we ate and conversed, I was constantly aware of her. After the food was consumed, Anna Kate drew me away from the crowd and closer to the shadows. Contrary to what she thought, I wasn’t eager to kiss her, and I had fended off her advances, my excuse being that we should get to know each other.
When I expected her to make her advances, she said in a harsh whisper. “Are you staring at that little cowgirl shop owner trash to irk me?”
I stared down at her suddenly galvanized. “Sky is not trash, Anna Kate. She’s a business owner and respectable.”
“You can’t be serious about her, Jake. I see the way she looks at you.”
“I can’t control how she looks at me. If you’re insinuating something, then spell it out.”
“Are you seeing her behind my back?”
“Why are you asking me that? Because I talk to her like a gentleman? We’re friends and had been friends before we were going out.”
Her voice low and furious, she shot back. “I don’t like it.”
“Don’t push me, Anna Kate.” God, I was sick of being pushed and pulled. Shoved into a corner, I stepped back and said, “I don’t answer to you or to anyone. I’m not seeing her and your jealousy is ugly.”
Her mouth dropped open and she just stared at me. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that.”
My jaw hardened. “Talk to you?” I said through gritted teeth. “How can I talk to you about anything that has to do with me when you’re never interested? You have a better relationship with your phone.”
“I’m not going to stand here and listen to this,” she snapped, indignation in every line of her pinched face.
“Fine, but I’m not leaving.”
She huffed a breath, turned on her heel and left without another word. She marched up to one of the guys who’d been eyeing her all evening, smiled, fluttered her lashes and they walked out together. All I felt was relief.
“Trouble in paradise?” I turned to look at my sister and sighed.
River’s expression softened, and she took my hand in hers, her tone chiding. “She’s not the right person for you. She’s a bitch.”
“River. No name calling.” I pulled her close and placed a kiss on her temple.
“She thinks she’s better than anyone in this town,” she sniffed, her tone as dry as a good martini. “She’s only interested in you because she thinks she has power over you. She likes that. Please tell me you see that?”
I wasn’t an idiot. I knew Anna Kate’s little cold, mercenary heart. “She’s necessary.”
“No, she’s not,” River sniffed once more. “We don’t need her to prop up our reputation. We’re already making strides on our own, and Chase just took us up a notch.”
“Chase again.” I was sick of being compared to him, a flush of anger burned up my neck.
“Jake, please,” River pleaded, my sister genuine and caring. “We need to work together to be a family again. Anna Kate will never make you happy. She’s already making you miserable. Don’t you think we see that?”
“You think you know every damn thing because you’re so blissfully happy.”
Her face and tone softened. “I don’t know everything, but I do know when you’re unhappy, especially since you’ve never really introduced us to anyone you’ve been seeing.”
“I’ve been busy. Going to school, working,” I said, not inviting her to ask more questions about my love life.
She nodded and wrapped her arm around my waist. “Jake, I love you to pieces, but sometimes you can be so thick,” she said in exasperation. “Open your eyes to the possibilities, and try to find some way to let go of things, especially the past.” She nudged me and looked toward Sky as she eyed the pie table. “Sometimes your future is just a few steps away.”
She kissed me on the cheek and walked away.
Before I could stop myself, I headed toward Sky. She and I weren’t meant to be no matter what my sister said. By necessity, to keep us in the right circles, I needed a high-profile woman. Didn’t mean I couldn’t talk to Sky. We could be friends. Right?
I leaned in and said, “Go ahead. You know you want to.”
She spun around and smiled, slapping my arm. “I had almost decided not to indulge. Don’t give me permission.”
