Page 5 of Summer Sky
“It’s fine, really,” I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. “I don’t know why I’m crying anyway. You can’t cry over something you never had.”
Surrendering in defeat, I walk out of the bar for what will probably be the last time.
four
Tucker
“Why did you haveto say that shit to Sky, Tanner?” I grab my brother’s arm as he steps into the back office.
The pull toward Sky was so strong that I had to make an excuse to Turner and Travis to stop by her table--only to hear Tanner tell Sky the lies I told them to hide my true feelings for her. Little did I know, Travis was right behind me to witness the pain in Sky’s eyes at those lies.
“What are you talking about? I was only repeating what you said.” He shrugs out of my hold.
“I know that’s what I said, but I didn’t mean any of it.” I run a hand through my hair, trying to figure out a way out of this mess. “Travis was just being Travis, and I wasn’t ready to claim Sky. So, I said a bunch of shit I didn’t mean.”
“That’s really messed up.” Tanner says, making me feel worse than I already do.
“I know. But I’ll figure out a way to fix it. I only have two more sessions with Sara, my speech pathologist. My stuttering is almost gone, then I can claim Sky.”
“I hope you’re not too late. Besides, I doubt Sky cares about a little stuttering. She’s been waiting for you for almost a year.”
In my heart, I believe Tanner is right about Sky. But in my mind, I need to be sure that I’m giving her a whole, undamaged boyfriend—hopefully someday husband.
“It’s never too late. I’m not Travis. I won’t let the best thing that ever came into my life slip away from me.”
“Yeah, don’t be a dumbass like me, Travis says as he walks into the office. It’s too late for me and Grace, but you and Sky still have a shot.”
“It’s not too late for you and Grace. I’m sure...”
Travis cuts in before I can finish talking, “It is too late for me and Grace. I tracked her down at her last known assignment a few months ago--she was on a date with some lawyer-looking guy.”
Poor Travis. That was part of the fight that led to their breakup—he believed Grace would be better off with a professional businessman, not someone who ran a family bar.
“I’m sorry.” Tanner puts his hand on Travis’s shoulder. “I really believed the two of you would get back together.”
“Enough about me and my pathetic love life. What can we do to fix things with Sky? And for the record, I didn’t believe a word of that BS you were trying to feed us about Sky.”
“Then why did you repeat it?”
“I had to push you to choose to fight for her or give her up. A great girl like Sky doesn’t deserve to cling to dreams—she deserves the real thing. So, what’s the plan?”
I’m so shocked by what Travis just revealed that I stay silent. Luckily, Tanner takes the lead like he usually does.
“Wait. I’d better grab Turner—he'll want to be part of this.” Tanner rushes out the door looking for our other brother.
“You might want to grab Tessa. You know she’s going to want to help," Travis calls after Tanner. “Nothing like family bonding. Am I right?” Travis slaps me on the back.
It’s not exactly the sibling bonding I was expecting, but if it gets me Sky, I’m all for it.
five
Sky
“Idon’t remember thewaitress uniform skirts being this short before.” I tug at the hem once more, hoping to pull it down further on my legs.
“You look hot with all that skin showing.” Hazy nudges my shoulder with hers. "Besides, there are a ton of single guys here looking for a wedding hook-up. You’ll be able to forget about Tucker in no time.”
My eyes instinctively land on Tucker standing behind the bar at his family's reception hall. He looks so handsome in the black pants and black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows—I’m a sucker for muscular forearms. He glances over at me with a shy smile, and something tells me I’ll never forget him.
