Page 55 of Never To Suffer

“Connor and Sky making out on stage while we keep playing will get us more views faster than anything else we could do. The more views, the more coverage. The internet will build an entire world of rumors and guesses around them and people will eat that shit with a silver spoon. More views equal more listens and sales. Are they dating, who’s cheating on who? Are they all sleeping together? So long as you’re both okay with it. We’re not forcing anyone to do anything. Understood?”

We watch the video climb over half a million views while we sit there. It’s electrifying and I can’t pull my eyes away, even as Skylar feeds me pancakes while they eat the bacon.

“Okay, so I’m super cool with this. How about you, Sky?” They take a moment, put their sunglasses back on, and nod. Connor flashes a lopsided grin and does a little shimmy in his seat. “Hell yeah. Best day of my life!”

My phone vibrates in my pocket and when I read the caller ID, I climb out of the booth. “Can someone send that to Xander for me? Sky, I’ll be right back, okay?” He nods and gives me a sleepy smile.

“Holy shit, we’re gonna hit two million!” Connor cheers from behind me.

“Hey, hold on two seconds, let me go outside!” I told Skylar I would take care of setting this up, because they need a break from everything. We all do, and you can’t believe the lies that addiction goes away or can be tackled without support. That sets people up for failure. It’s a lifelong struggle and unfair to handle alone. I’m glad they’re finally letting me help.

“Dani? What happened?”Coop starts before I’m at the door. He’s yelling, of course, and it sounds like he’s on a film set somewhere.“Everyone okay? I got part of your message, but your phone cut out. Did you say Skylar? That can’t be, right? Like, our SKYLAR?!”

“I did. Hang on!” I push open the door and wince at the blinding morning sun. Evil. Ducking around a corner, I plug one ear with my finger to hear him better over the traffic. “Hey, wait, let’s start with the important stuff. Have you heard from Ren and how are you holding up?”

“No and meh,”he grunts. As much as I love Steve and Jamie to death, Chase became my soul mate bestie the second we met. We tease each other relentlessly and have zero boundaries between us, and we’d both die for each other—but we’ve never been attracted to one another. I call it platonic soul mates.“Still no word from your sister, but I got another sunflower token thing. Guessing nothing on your end, either?”

“Nada. Don’t worry, babe. She’s a fighter and she’ll mess anyone up who messes with you. Also, she loves you, bro. Like, you two are gonna make babies together and stuff! The cards told me!”

“Yeah, well, did the cards tell you I lost a movie the other day because I’m barely treading water?”

“Chase Cooper… big time movie star with the butt so cute even my mama loves it! Get your stupid head screwed on andget those damn movies.” There’s noise behind me, and Skylar’s familiar hand tattoos come into view as they hug me and rest their head on mine. “Look, don’t you realize she’s one hundred percent finding ways to watch anything and everything you put out, work on, appear in, whatever? Awards ceremonies, TV shows, magazine articles, and everything in between. She’s devouring that shit since she can’t have the real you! I guarantee it’s keeping her going, so you can’t give up on her, or yourself, now. I won’t have it.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s a fair point. I miss her so damn much, Dani. I’m gonna marry her. Like the second I find her again, as soon as I’ve got her back, I’m marrying her right there. You know I will.”

“I do know that, sweetie. I do. Okay, onto other shit.” I take a deep breath to prepare myself. “Yes, Skylar found me, and yes, they’re playing in the band now. Also, yes, we’re sleeping together and stuff. Also, also, they can hear you right now, so no, I will not tell you about their dick jewelry at this moment.”

“Wait, what?!”

“To which part. Seriously though, trust me, neither of us planned this. But we obviously need to talk to Stevie, and before we do that, we need your help. More accurately, Skylar needs your help. We need a place that gets them.”

I love being back in my own car, with my own smells and toys that decorate it. I have a rotation of air fresheners, and the current selection of birthday cake fills the air. Skylar hasn’t uttered a single word since Connor dropped us off at my car, but I don’t blame them. I’d be shitting bricks right now if I hadto head back to the scene of memories I couldn’t access. Chase assured us Steve wouldn’t be at Casa Cooper when we get there, and he’s keeping tabs on him to keep it that way. We don’t need him walking in before we’ve figured out how to handle all of this. Steve’s a freak out about things and figure it out later with too many apologies’ kind of guy. I don’t see this as keeping secrets as much as planning out how to reveal a secret no one wants to keep.

My standard go-to option of blurting it out and dealing with the chaos won’t work for Steve and Skylar.

When I turn onto the road that loops into the Hollywood Hills, Skylar finds my hand. They don’t grab it, wrap around it, or squeeze it, they just find it, letting their fingers dance along my skin, waiting to see if I’ll accept their silent cry for help. I do. I’ll do whatever they need because they need to feel safe here in Los Angeles, and they need to be in Los Angeles if they’re going to be with Xander and I. There’s too much riding on one conversation we’re all scared to have.

We pull up to Chase’s gate and I punch in the code for access. As I park, I remind Skylar about the dogs, since Chase didn’t have Pongo or Lulu before the breakup. They nod, and I squeeze their hand before I let go and climb out of the car.

“Holy shit, it’s so good to see you,” Chase greets Skylar with a bear hug while I distract the dogs, who are both curious about the stranger on their front steps. “I missed you, pal. You’ve missed so much. How are you doing? I mean, other than being back in LA and needing to find a new support group. Like, you know…whatever.” He throws his arms around Skylar again, rocking them back and forth with a laugh I haven’t heard from Chase in months.

“Missed you too, big brother. So damn much.”

Chase takes a step back and stares, shaking his head. Skylar even does a little spin so Chase can get a good look.

“Dude, no wonder Dani’s riding you into the sunset. You look great!” Chase laughs, pushing my shoulder in a teasing gesture before pointing at Sky. “Shit, Dani, I’d go play for the other team for someone who looks that damn good.”

“You’re pseudo-engaged, Coop! To my sister!”

“Yeah, and I’m not about to bang Sky! Wait, what’s pseudo-engaged mean?”

“Ugh, when you’re basically engaged, but haven’t popped the question yet. And don’t lie to me and say you’re not. I remember what you said the other day on the phone, fucker.”

“Congrats on that,” Skylar’s voice returns, and they even offer Chase a smile as they pull me close. It’s not a possessive thing; it’s a protection thing. They feel vulnerable and know I’ll protect them. I’m feisty, even though I’m not worried about Chase.

“Let’s get inside so no one spots us,” Chase says, clapping Skylar on the back. “I made lunch, so you better be hungry.”

I watch Skylar eyeing the numerous awards and trophies in the case on the living room wall as we walk by. It’s odd, since the real Chase acts nothing like the persona he puts on for others. We forget he’s a movie star all the time, instead seeing him as the big, goofy, squish ball who will always be there for us. Even when I watch his movies, I don’t see Chase, because celebrity Chase Cooper and regular old Coop are two completely different people in my mind. I like it that way.

---