Page 24 of Keeping Skylar
Kind Regards
Diamond Team
Holy shit! Is this really happening?
The lease starts in exactly two weeks from now, which means I need to get my shit in order, fast. I’m bursting with excitement, filled with hope for a new future, one without my lying, cheating bastard of a husband and his whore mistress. At last, things are finally going my way.
I spend the next hour in the car, taking care of all the necessary payments to the agency and the bond authority. There’s no way I’m waiting another second longer. I’ll drain every last bit of my savings if it means I can get out of here sooner.
Once all payments are made, I dial Kirstin’s number to share the exciting news.
It rings and rings, and after the fourth ring, the call finally connects. “Hey, girly.” She chirps.
“Guess what?”
“Kaden and Lucia were found at the bottom of a river?”
I chuckle. “Wishful thinking, my friend. But no, I have even better news.”
“Shoot, baby girl.”
“I’ve been approved for one of the apartments I applied for. I get to move into the apartment in two weeks time,” I announce with bubbling excitement.
She squeals in my ear, so loud, I almost burst an eardrum. “Oh my God, babe! This is fantastic news. I’m so fucking happy for you!”
“I’ve been such a mess for the past week and a half, so it’s refreshing to finally have some good luck come my way.”
“Oh, honey. You deserve this and more. How’s everything going at home anyway?”
For the next ten minutes, I recount every detail of the last forty-eight hours to my best friend. “Well, let’s see. Kaden took me out on a date Saturday night, then dropped the bomb that he wants to start trying for a baby right before wanting to have sex with me. He was practically glued to my side all of Sunday, but at least he didn’t bring up the baby talk again. Then, while I was at work today, he texted to say he wants to plan a weekend getaway for just the two of us. So, yeah. That’s pretty much the gist of it.”
“What the ever-loving fuck! He took you on a date then tried to make a baby with you, and now he wants to guilt trip you into going away with him for the weekend? What is that insignificant butthole up to?” she spits out.
“Right? It’s so strange. I don’t understand where all of this is coming from. My theory is that he and Lucia got into a fight, and so, he’s filling his time by spending it with me. I’m sure once they kiss and make up, he’ll be back to his old deceiving ways.”
“Well, they’re going to need each other soon, because you, my dear friend, have just scored yourself a one-way ticket to freedom.”
We both squeal in excitement.
“Let’s celebrate this Thursday night. It’s my only free evening this week and I need to see you before you up and leave me. Drinks on me,” Kirstin offers.
“Hell yes! Want to meet at Hawkins Bar at eight?”
The line goes quiet for a moment. “Are you sure you want to go back there after what happened last Friday night?”
I shrug. “Meh! I’m riding such a high right now that I really don’t care. Plus, it’sThirsty Thursdaysat the bar, so all drinksare half-price. We’ll invite Mila and share the good news with her.”
“Well, if you’re fine with it, then I’m all in!”
We say our goodbyes and hang up. I release a sigh of relief as I place my phone back in my bag. I’m turning over a new leaf, and everything is finally falling into place. In two weeks, I’ll be starting a new life in a new city, all on my own. I feel both anxious and excited, but I know I need to do this. It’s now or never—I deserve better.
No matter what happens from here onwards, I know I’ll emerge from this as a changed woman—a stronger and more resilient version of me—a Skylar 2.0.
But for now, it’s time to head home and whip up a delicious home-cooked dinner, for three.
CHAPTER 11
Kaden
