Page 6 of Choosing Skyler

I’m too distracted. I can’t believe I sort of told Brady he was the hottest guy in the mall today. When Devon looked almost hurt that I didn’t mention both of them, I knew that he knew exactly what I meant. But he wasn’t hurt, just shocked. When they bent down to lift me on their shoulders I squealed like a damned hyena. Then, all I could think about was Brady’s hand on my thigh, holding me up.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had boyfriends and therefore some amount of chemistry with guys before, but it’s never been like this. The most I’ve ever felt for anyone physically is with Devon but that is completely different, not to mention sporadic. That chemistry is mostly born of the trust I have in him. That first kiss notwithstanding. There are zero romantic feelings between us.

Once they proudly announced to anyone in the vicinity that, “We have a winner!” while bouncing me on their shoulders I was able to blame the blush I felt from my ears to my chest on embarrassment at their display. We went our separate ways after that. Devon and Brady went to catch up at the local college bar, TG’s Happy Hour. They invited me but I used this stupid program as an excuse not to go. I needed some space to get my wild libido—and maybe my heart—under control. Now, after fighting with said program for almost two hours, I need a drink.

In the kitchen, I pull the coconut rum from the freezer. I fill half a wine glass and top it off with pineapple juice. I lean against the counter, sip my drink, and let my mind wander back to Brady and the way he called me “Beautiful”. It wasn’t like a come-on or superficial statement. It was like I really was beautiful. He mademebelieve it—which is no easy feat. I can feel the heat in my cheeks just from the memory...Or maybe that’s the rum.

Devon comes in and interrupts my wandering mind. “You drinking alone? Why didn’t you just come to the bar with Brady and me?”

“I was working on my program for the game, but I’m stuck, and it pissed me off. So… Rum,” I say, holding up my half empty glass.

“Uh huh. You sure it didn’t have something to do with Brady and the fireworks that were flying between you two all day?” He smirks.

“Yeah, maybe a little. I have literally never experienced instant attraction like that with anyone. It has me a little out of sorts,” I concede.

“Ouch, our attraction was pretty instant. Like, fire on the fourth of July hot, the moment we met with that kiss,” he jokes. He’s not serious. How we met is a constant joke between us. So, I just laugh and bump him with my hip.

“Where is Brady staying for the summer?” I ask Devon. “He can’t move into the dorms until the first week of August, right?”

“Yeah, he’s at that extended stay place by the interstate right now.” Before I can point out what a shit hole that place is he raises his hand. “I know, I told him there was no way in hell he was staying there for three weeks. I offered to let him stay here. That’s okay, right?”

“Of course! He’s family to you and this is your apartment as much as mine. Besides, I wouldn’t want to let a dog stay at that seedy place. It may as well be a no tell motel for the types that frequent there.”

“I knew I loved you for a reason. Thank you, Sky, seriously. I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable. I know you’re timid around new people. Although, you and Brady seemed to get right on today. Which makes me ecstatic. I knew you two would be perfect for each other,” he says with a grin.

“Whoa there, Mr. Matchmaker. While I agree he’s the hottest guy I’ve ever seen—and yes, that includes you, sorry—I don’t have time for a relationship. I’ll barely have time to breathe when school starts between classes, the senior showcase project and work. Besides, I doubt I’m his type anyways. He looks like a model from Surfer USA and I’m… just me.” I wave a hand down the front of my body and shrug.

“Enough!” he shouts, making me jump.

Uh oh, I’ve done it now. Here comes the lecture.

“You think I didn’t notice the way you blushed every time he called you ‘Beautiful’ today? And, by the way, I’ve never seen him like that with a girl—ever. He hasn’t had anything close to a girlfriend since the tenth grade and she was a bitch that just wanted a pretty boy to go to dances and parties with her. So, he doesn’t have atypeand if he did, ‘just you’ is a pretty amazing one to have! You are beautiful! You are sexy! You are an amazing person inside and out and I don’t want to hear anything else come out of your mouth suggesting otherwise!” He pauses his rant.

“You done?” I ask, properly chagrined.

“Are you?!” he snaps.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I don’t know what has me so insecure today, especially with you. Maybe being attracted to someone like him has me thinking about things I don’t have time for, and I’m not used to feeling so much about anyone. Even with you it’s always just been friendship. I’m not just attracted to him, Devon. Ilike him, like him and that scares the hell out of me,” I admit sheepishly.

My hand shakes as I set my glass on the counter and he wraps me in a bear hug. “It’s okay to be scared, Sky. But don’t let it control the wonderful person you are. Not everyone gets to see the Sky I see and that is a damned shame, because you are the brightest sky in my life,” he says, kissing me on top of the head.

I push him back and laugh off the heavy. “I love you too, Dev.” I don’t know what else to say. He always knows what to say or do to get me out of my negative thoughts. “Why isn’t Brady with you, anyways? I thought he was going to crash here until the dorms opened. And before you ask… yes, I’m sure it’s okay and no, I won’t be uncomfortable. I’m at work or in the tech room most of the time anyways.”

“He didn’t want to lug all his stuff back to the car tonight and he refused to accept until I talked to you. I guess he’ll be okay there for one night. He has a meeting with the advisor at Thorngrove at nine in the morning to turn in the enrollment paperwork. You open at the coffee shop tomorrow, right?” Devon asks me.

“Yeah, I’m working five to three tomorrow. Chelsea said that she’s going to hate it when school starts back and I have to cut my hours back again. I think she likes sleeping in those two days a week now that I’m available to work mornings.” I yawn, knowing I’m in for a long day tomorrow.

“I bet. I go into Gamer Haven at eleven. I’ll let him know he can swing by either place to grab one of our keys and move his stuff in here. Is that cool with you?” he asks with a yawn of his own.

“Yeah, that’s fine with me. I can grab the stuff to make dinner on the way home. What does Brady like to eat, besides bourbon chicken?” I laugh remembering how hard it was for Dev and me to convince him to try it. When we stopped at Oriental Kings, he looked like he wanted to run the other way.

“Nope. You are not cooking for us after working a ten-hour shift. We’ll order pizza or go to TG’s if we’re all up for it. I’m going to call him before I go to bed to let him know that I talked to you, and he can grab one of our keys after his meeting in the morning,” he says, yawning again.

“Sounds good. Goodnight, Dev.” I reach up and kiss him on the cheek before heading to bed.

Brady

Devon called last night to let me know that Skyler is okay with me crashing at their apartment until I can move into the dorms. I tried to tell him I was fine here, but he insisted that neither he nor Skyler would take no for an answer. Honestly, I’m relieved. This place is sketchy as hell. I gave the clerk my credit card when I checked in yesterday morning, and she looked like I handed her a winning lottery ticket. She said that most tenants pay cash, a week at a time. When I told her I didn’t carry that much cash she agreed to run a week's stay as a pre-authorization. Then, at the end of the week I could pay cash for two weeks or she would run the card for two weeks with a twenty percent convenience fee added on. What a joke. Who the hell runs a business that way?

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