Page 18 of Keeping Skylar
“No, I didn’t, but I didn’t tell her the truth either. Lying by omission is just as bad, if not worse.” He begins pacing in front of me, running a hand through his hair.
My back is pressed against the lockers, my palms rubbing against the side of my shorts as I anxiously watch him pace. “Look. I appreciate you not saying anything to Sky. I will tell her eventually. I promise. I just need to end things amicably with Lucy first,” I lie.
The fucked-up truth is I’ve already fallen for Lucia and now, I don’t know how to let her go. What’s even crazier is that my heart still refuses to give up Sky. I’m well and truly screwed.
“How do I know you’re not lying right now? You said she was only temporary, and that you would end things with her soon. It’s been two weeks since you promised me that. I’m no idiot, Kaden. I see how you two are with each other. I fucking know you have strong feelings for her. Fuck, it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s already in love with you!” Jason snaps.
I drop my gaze to the ground, unable to withstand the weight of his intense stare. The moment he finds out how I truly feel about Lucia, any trust he has in me will be gone for good.
When I nervously lift my gaze to his, his expression is filled with anger and disgust. I steel my spine, clearing my throat. “Look, all you need to know is that Iwilltell Sky everything.”Just not any time soon.“I’ll end it with Lucy and then I’ll tell Sky about the whole affair. I just need a little more time.”
“Just remember, Kaden—the longer you drag this out, the harder it’s going to be to repair what you’ve already destroyed. That’s if she evencanforgive you. By the time you finally tell her, it might already be too late.”
Jason knows all too well the sting of infidelity—he lived through it when he discovered his own wife’s affair. I saw firsthand the devastation it caused him and his family. And now, my affair with Lucia has likely dredged up all that buried pain, reopening wounds he fought hard to heal. I’m seriously the shittiest person on earth.
Jason first found out about my affair with Lucia a month ago when we ran into each other at the gym. I hadn’t realised at the time that he’d been watching us from the sidelines during our entire workout.
In that time, he witnessed his best friend kissing, sharing intimate touches, and staring seductively at a woman who wasn’t his wife. He knew exactly what was happening before even asking. He knew I was cheating on my wife.
After two weeks of avoiding me and ignoring all my calls and messages, I was finally able to convince him to meet me for drinks so I could explain everything to him in person. But instead of telling him the truth, I lied and deceived my best friend.
I told him that Sky and I had been struggling in our marriage for months, with the constant fighting wearing me down. I explained that I just needed a break to work through some personal issues so I could be a better husband to her. Assuring him that Lucia had been an unexpected mistake, I tried convincing him that she was nothing more than a brief fling, and that I had every intention of ending it.
Jason was furious at first, calling me every name under the sun. He thought I was a bastard for going after my wife’s best friend, and lying to her behind her back. But in the end, he said I needed to ‘sort my shit out’, and stop being a selfish arsehole.
He made it clear he wanted no part in my mess—telling me straight up not to involve him or expect him to lie on my behalf. Then came the warning: if I didn’t end things like I said I would,he’d go to Sky himself. After everything that unfolded last night, I know it’s only a matter of time before he follows through on his threat.
He sits back down on the bench, hunching over with elbows bent on his knees. His head is bowed and he looks to be deep in thought. He shakes his head, the expression on his face filled with disappointment and what seems to be resentment as well.
“You know, I’ve always admired and respected Skylar.” He smiles sadly while still not looking at me. “But last night, I became another shitty person on her list because while I covered for you and your whore, I was enabling your affair and betraying Skylar’s trust at the same time.” He shakes his head in disgust. “I’m no less of a coward than you.”Ouch!
“I’m sorry, Jase,” I whisper.
He ignores my apology and adds, “You have no idea how lucky you are to have found someone who is loyal, sincere, and selfless in every way. Sky would never lie or betray you. She would never hurt you. She’s the type to always put your needs ahead of her own because that’s just who she is—the kind who comes around only once in a lifetime, and you just threw that away for some cheap fucking fling. So, I hope you know what you’re doing, Kaden. I hope you never forget how fucking lucky you are ... even if you don’t deserve someone like her.” He finishes with a note of finality in his voice.
Without another word, he stands up and retrieves his bag from his locker. I watch as he walks away, only stopping when he reaches the exit. He glances over his shoulder at me, shakes his head again then quietly leaves.
I’m left standing alone, in an empty locker room, tormented by Jason’s words. The truth strikes me harder than a fucking sledgehammer. Sky has always been the ideal woman, the perfect wife. My truth will only destroy her. The moment shefinds out about Lucia and me it’s game over for us. I can feel it. Sky will never forgive me; she will never trust me again.
The thought of losing my wife feels like a thousand razor blades slicing through my chest. I’ll never stop loving her, but I can’t deny what I feel for Lucia as well. Never in my thirty-three years would I have imagined loving two women at once, yet here I am. As painful as it is to face, I know I can’t keep holding on to both of them.
Love is about sacrifice. It’s about letting go of someone you deeply care for, so they can be free to find true happiness and love with someone else. I just hope, in the end, that the woman I choose to keep...will be the right choice for me.
It’s just past noon when I walk into the house, having spent the morning at the gym café, lost in thought, reflecting on everything that’s become of my life. The close call on Friday night and Jason’s final words at the gym have given me plenty to think about.
I’ve spent the past six months consumed by my affair with Lucia, not even realising how much I’ve neglected my marriage and my wife in the process.
Lately, my messages and calls to Sky have become sporadic, and I can’t even recall the last time we had a proper date. I’ve attempted to keep our sex life active to avoid suspicion, but it’s been two weeks since I’ve been intimate with my wife. I plan to change that tonight.
Deciding to surprise her tonight with a dinner to her favourite restaurant, I sit and wait for her to come home. I just know she’s going to be excited.
Since dropping Lucia off after the bar last night, I’ve been slowly pulling away from her, needing some space to think without distractions. I even left my burner phone in the compartment of my motorbike on purpose, to avoid the temptation of reaching out to her. So far, it’s worked—I’ve been able to think with a little more clarity.
I’m scrolling through my phone when Sky walks through the front door. She startles as soon as she sees me sitting on the couch alone, but quickly regains her composure.
“Hey, baby. How was your morning?” I ask, giving her my most warm, affectionate smile.
She hovers by the door, her posture stiff, a puzzled look on her face. She probably wasn’t expecting me to be home. “It was good. Mila and I took Mum out for breakfast. She wanted to check out that new café near her place.”
