Page 98 of Between Earth and Eternity
“Sky, you okay?” Ori leans over, whispering under her breath.
“I’m fine,” I say, snapping my attention back to Alister as he continues to drone on.
“He’ll be here. Don’t worry,” she says with a smirk.
I take a sip of water to appear nonchalant. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She gives me a knowing look, but doesn’t press me further.
“Thank you, and enjoy your evening,” Alister says to end his pointless monologue.
The band strikes up again as he escorts his wife to the dance floor. They both adorn wide smiles, but I can see the ice behind their eyes, Alister so unfeeling and Clarissa completely removed. Almost immediately, a handsome gentleman asks Ori for a dance, and I give her an encouraging wink as she takes his hand.
There’s a bar in an alcove of greenery off to the side that I quickly slip toward to avoid being forced into a dance. I reach for a flute of champagne, but before the bubbles hit my lips, “Skyler.” It isn’t the voice I was hoping for.
I turn. “Payson.”
“You look amazing.” His blue eyes are hopeful but sad.
“Thank you,” I say, taking a sip.
“This is quite the event.”
“Yep.” I take another sip. The least he could do is spare me the small talk.
“How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I reply with no attempt to hide my annoyance.
“Can you please say more than two words to me at a time?”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
He lets out a disgruntled sigh. Does he really expect me to participate in pointless conversation with him after everything?
“I’ve missed you,” he says.
I push my tongue into my upper lip. “Good to know.” My voice is cold as I rub my thumb over the charm on my wrist, hidden under the long sleeve. Maybe he’ll get the hint that I don’t want to hear a sob story.
“I heard about what happened with Slade,” he says, taking a step closer.
Never mind. This is worse.
“That was weeks ago,” I say, clenching my jaw, properly annoyed now.
“I know.” He bows his head, ashamed. He knew, and yet he did nothing all because of an ultimatum that he had no right to demand of me.
“Look. I’m sorry, Skyler. Keeping my distance from you, ruining our friendship . . . it’s been difficult, to say the least.”
Good, I think, but my patience is wearing thin.
“I was hoping that perhaps . . .”
I stare at him. He wouldn’t. Surely not now.
“I was hoping you might have changed your mind about me. About us.”
“Nothing has changed, Pace.”
