Page 23 of Desiring an Angel

Dad deserved my sympathy—if he even cared about losing his wife, but I couldn’t even rouse that little bit of humanity inside my soul.

I hung up with a promise to keep Colton in the know, and lips in a thin line, I tossed out my half-empty coffee and headed for my mom’s room. It was time to have…not a heart-to-heart with my dad but definitely speaking some harsh truths.

It was time to accept what was and make a plan so we could both get back to living our lives and facing whatever fate had in store for us.

8

Ashton

“It’s a date.” Skylar’s breathless voice hit me low and hard.

I imagined her gorgeous red hair spread across my chest, her hot exhales panting over my chest as Rhett and I made love to her.

“Hopefully, the first of many,” I added, grinning like a fool, my entire body buzzing with arousal and…sunshiny excitement.

“I was just thinking the exact same thing!” She laughed, the bell-like tinkle pleasant enough that even Rhett wouldn’t be aggravated by its tone.

“So, did you want to wait to meet in person tomorrow to see if we feel a connection, or do you prefer to get to know one another better over the phone?”

“Now, please. I like listening to your voice,” she rushed to say and squeaked as though she’d embarrassed herself by words not thought out.

My grin widened, my ego and mood buoyed. “I like yours too.”

“Aw! Thank you.”

Sprawling back onto the couch, I got comfortable, settled in for a nice long chat. “Tell me all about yourself, Skylar. Where you were born, your family, your hobbies, your aspirations. I want to hear everything.”

She filled her lungs audibly before exhaling just as loudly—then launched into a rushed tale about growing up on the plains of South Dakota with her smart-as-a-whip twin sister and two parents.

Twin.

My eyes stung when she stated the first connection between us, one that whispered perfect yet again in my head. She would understand…but I kept my lips closed, soaking in the words pouring from her lips.

Skylar held nothing back, and I found myself shaking my head often at her candid attitude.

“But let me tell you,” she continued on without pausing for breath, “growing up under Nora’s shadow sucked because she got all Mom and Dad’s attention. I haven’t been actually diagnosed, but I’m sure I’m ADHD. I have restless feet—seriously bad, and my mind is even worse. I can’t focus on much, but when I do, it’s wholeheartedly until I either figure it out or complete the task.

“I tend to chase squirrels—not literal ones,” she hastened to add with a soft giggle. “But I get easily distracted. I’ll be drinking my morning coffee—can’t live without it—see the mess of Nora’s pantry, and next thing you know, I’m pulling everything out and making an even bigger disaster before getting the items properly rearranged.”

“You like to organize.” I chose to focus on the positive rather than asking about the unspoken words about her doubtless being compared to her sister.

“Yes,” Skylar emphasized her answer, drawing it out into a hiss, and I found myself chuckling. “It’s like a serious illness when you live with slobs. Nora might have the IQ of a genius, but she…she’s the worst housekeeper in the world, I swear.”

“She’s lucky she has you, then.”

“Yeah, but…well, she doesn’t appreciate my good qualities. She thinks I’m foolish, but I can’t help who I am. Sorry. Enough about the mess of my mind. Tell me about you, Ashton.”

“You don’t have to apologize for your feelings,” I said, wishing I could wrap her up in my arms. “They’re valid. They’re a part of who you are—and you deserve to be loved regardless of what others see as shortcomings.”

Skylar exhaled loudly, muttering something about too good to be true.

“We all have issues,” I continued. “Childhood trauma. Things we wish we could change about ourselves. But I’ll be honest,” I said, hoping she heard what I said and took it to heart. “I enjoy your randomness. I loved your fragmented bio that was short and to the point. Hearing your laughter between words brings a smile to my face.”

“You’re going to make me cry.”

“None of that!” I grinned, her emotional openness a breath of fresh air.

“Tell me about you, Ashton,” she repeated, her tone wobbly.

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