Page 17 of Keeping Skylar
“Hey, Jase. What brings you out here?” I say with a smile, trying to appear calm and composed, even though inside, I’m a volcano about to erupt.
He points his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of his car. “Umm ... I’m just about to head to the store. We’re running low on limes. I didn’t know you were here tonight,” he says, his voice faltering slightly, probably from the anxiety of keeping Kaden’s dirty little secret.
“Oh, yeah. Kirstin and I just stopped by for drinks, but we’re on our way home now.”
Jason gives Kirstin a curt nod, but she just glares, shooting daggers at him. She’s mostly silent, knowing I’m perfectly capable of handling the situation on my own.
“If I had known you two were here, I would’ve stopped by for a chat.”
“Another time,” I quip. “Anyway, we should probably go. Kaden will be home soon from his work event and I want to be there when he arrives.”
Jason’s gaze drops to the ground instantly, an obvious sign of his guilt. I wait to see if he’ll say something, maybe confess that Kaden and Lucia are in the bar together at this very moment. But he never does, and I’m left deeply disappointed.
Fuck this! I’ve had enough for one night.
I shake my head and without saying another word, I grab Kirstin’s arm and slowly walk away. As we near our car, I spare Jason a final glance, looking him straight in his eyes. “You know, I’ve always admired your loyalty to Kaden. You’re a trustworthyfriend, Jase. Not just to him but to me too. I know I canalwayscount on you. Have a good night.”
His expression cracks, revealing the guilt in his eyes. Before he can utter another word, we hurry inside the car and lock all the doors.
As we back out of the carpark, I catch the pained expression on Jason’s face in the side mirror, and for some reason, it stirs up even more anger within me. He had the chance to expose Kaden and Lucia, but instead, he chose to stay silent. He chose loyalty to his friend over being an honest, decent person. And for that, I hate him too.
CHAPTER 8
Kaden
It’s arm and chest day at the gym. Jase and I have just finished our final set of bench presses for the morning and are on our way to the locker room.
The air is thick with tension as we walk in strained silence. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but something about Jason’s behaviour feels off today. I watch as Jason quickens his pace, seemingly eager to get away from me. He sits down on a wooden bench in front of the lockers, and gulps down his protein shake within seconds, deliberately avoiding my gaze.
I’ve known Jason since preschool, and over the years, we’ve always had each other’s backs. We’ve shared every significant milestone—girlfriends, breakups, parties, graduations, career achievements, weddings, and even a divorce. We’ve been through it all together and will continue to be, no matter what lies ahead.
He stands a solid two inches taller than me at six-foot-three. Where my frame is lean, his is all bulk muscle and power. With short, wavy dark hair, jade green eyes, and a jawline that looks sculpted from stone, he easily captures the attention of nearly every woman who crosses his path.
Despite his brooding, intimidating exterior, he’s a true softie at heart—kind, loyal, and compassionate—a giant, cuddly teddy bear. But today, something feels different. He’s quieter than usual, his demeanour distant, as though something is weighing heavy on his mind.
Last night, at his restaurant, Jason rushed over to where Lucia and I were sitting at the bar, looking as though he’d just seen a ghost. Panic set in the moment he told us he’d just ran into Sky and Kirstin in the parking lot. Without hesitation, I took Lucia’s hand, abandoning our drinks, and hightailed it out of there.
After returning home from dropping Lucia off at her place, I nervously stepped into our bedroom bracing myself for an explosive altercation with my wife. Sky had just emerged from the shower, looking fresh and relaxed. She seemed her usual self, smiling and chatting away before settling into bed.
A wave of relief washed over me in that moment, but the knot in my stomach lingered even hours after. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling of how my recklessness that night had come so close to ruining everything. I vow never to do that again.
Jason hasn’t said more than a few sentences to me all morning, and I can tell it’s because he’s still affected by last night.
“Talk to me, bro. What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing. I’m all good.” He quickly dismisses me.
“You’ve been quiet this morning. It’s not like you. I know something’s up.” He lets out a frustrated sigh, as though my questioning is nothing more than a burden to him. “I really don’t want to discuss this with you right now. Just drop it, Kaden.”
“Is this about last night? I told you, Jase; Sky doesn’t suspect a thing.”
His head snaps up at me like I’ve just insulted his mother. He jolts from his seat and angrily stomps towards me, closing the distance until we’re standing face to face. His scalding gaze bores into mine and I get the sinking feeling I’m about to get my head bitten off. “Are you that much of a selfish jerk?!” he yells.
“Woah. Keep your voice down. What the fuck, Jason!”
“After everything that happened last night, the only thing you have to say is how relieved you are that your wife still doesn’t know?” he bites out, his voice tight, lips twitching withsuppressed anger. “Do you have any fucking idea what it did to me to have to look Skylar in the eyes and lie to her?”
“You didn’t lie to her, Jase.”
