Page 34 of Keeping Skylar
Mila chuckles softly and then dabs her cheeks with a paper towel.
“Now, I feel like I’m going to miss out on all the fun.” I pout.
“You’ll be here in spirit, my friend.” Kirstin winks.
We spend the next fifteen minutes finishing our meals and going over everything I need to take care of once I cross the Victorian border. Since it’s a ten-hour drive from Sydney to Melbourne, I decided to book a hotel for the first leg of the trip. I could probably power through the whole drive with a few short breaks in between—but let’s be honest, a girl needs her beauty sleep.
After our meal, we dive straight into tidying up, making sure not a single item in the house is out of place. I’ve cleared out my side of the closet, emptied every drawer, shelf, and the shoe rack. Everything else—I’m leaving behind without another thought.
While vacuuming the bedroom floor, a message alert from my phone on the bedside table quickly catches my attention. Iglance at the screen and see it’s a text from Kaden. I let out a long sigh before picking it up and reading his message.
Kaden:Hi, baby. How are you feeling today?
Me:Like I need a whole year to recover.
Kaden:Lol. That’ll teach you not to drink so much.
Kaden:Just checking in to see if you need me to bring you anything after work?
Me:I wouldn’t mind some wonton soup, if it’s not too much trouble.
Kaden:No trouble at all. From Chan’s Palace?
Me:Actually, I’m kind of craving the one from Little Phoenix.
Kaden:Baby, that’s like a half hour drive, possibly more during peak hour.
And that’s exactly the point, I think with a quiet laugh. Why not make him work for it, one last time, right?
Me:I know. I’m sorry. Their soups just taste better. Pretty please?
Kaden:Fine. But you’re making it up to me tonight. The things I do for you.
Right! How can I forget the shit you’ve done for me.
Me:Thank you!
Kaden:I better get back to work. Call or text me if you need anything else. Love you xo
Me:: )
Kirstin stands before me now, her gaze curious and questioning. “What’s the smirk for?” she asks.
“Just putting Kaden to work, that’s all,” I reply with a mischievous grin.
She shakes her head and chuckles. “Alright, well. Everything looks to be done.”
I examine the room, and sure enough, it looks spotless. I set the vacuum back on its charger and smooth out the bedsheets one last time. “Okay, there’s only one thing left to do,” I tell her. “Do you have them?”
She nods and walks over to her laptop bag resting on top of the dresser. Pulling out a manila folder from the bag, she hands them to me just as Mila walks into the room and approaches us.
I inspect the items in my hands, pleased that everything is there. Grinning widely, I turn to my two best friends. “Okay, now for my final gift to Kaden.”
Kaden
Well, that was a fucking nightmare.
I just spent one and a half hours stuck in traffic because shehadto have wonton soup from Little Phoenix. This soup better be Michelin-star worthy if it’s to make up for the time I wasted battling Sydney’s horrid gridlock!
