Page 43 of Keeping Skylar
Several cocktails later, we can barely see, walk, or even talk properly, so we decide to call it a night. Nate arrives to pick us up a short time later, and Hannah takes a moment to introduce us before heading home.
As soon as I arrive back to the apartment, I collapse onto my bed, without bothering to shower or change into morecomfortable clothes. The moment my head hits the pillow I gradually drift off into a deep sleep.
Once again, I’m dreaming of the same enigmatic figure living across the hall. This time, he’s cladded from head to toe in shining steel armour, observing, and guarding me without uttering a single word.Though he remains silent and motionless, this faceless stranger now carries a name:Heath.
CHAPTER 18
Skylar
It’s Saturday, and that can only mean one thing—laundry day. Back when I was married to Kaden, I found comfort in routine, clinging to predictability as a way to maintain order and control. But now, with too much freedom and time on my hands, the repetition feels mind-numbing—tedious at best. Maybe it’s time I found a hobby, something to break up the monotony.
Some days, I don’t even want to get out of bed—like today. With a brutal hangover and zero motivation to lift a finger, all I want is to stay under the covers and hibernate until the heartache and grief finally fade. But, unfortunately, the apartment isn’t going to clean itself...and I’m dangerously close to running out of clean clothes.
I lie still for several more minutes, willing myself to move. Finally, I muster the strength to get out of bed, dragging my slow and sluggish body to the shower. As the warm spray hits my skin, I make a silent vow to never get drunk again.
Once I’m showered and dressed, I head into the kitchen to make my much needed late-morning coffee, the perfect remedy for this nauseating hangover. While the coffee brews, I toss a load of laundry into the machine, trying to ease into the day one small task at a time.
When I glance at my phone, I’m surprised to see its already past noon.Wow. I can’t believe I slept through the entire morning.
I’m about to reach for my coffee when a text notification from anunknown numberflashes across my screen. Aside from family, friends, and work, no one else should be contacting me on this number. A ripple of unease creeps in—what if Kaden somehow got his hands on it?Fuck!
I anxiously tap on the notification to open the message, then start to read.
Unknown:Hey! I hope you’re not mad, but once I got your number, I had to reach out straight away—just in case you’d changed your mind about me. Any chance you’re free to talk sometime today?
Uh, what the fuck? What makes him think I’d ever want to talk to him again? And how the hell did he get my new number?
After twenty minutes of debating whether to keep ignoring him or finally respond, I decide to reply to his message just to see what he knows.
Me:How did you get this number?
The three dots instantly pop up, appearing and disappearing as if he’s carefully selecting his words. A moment later, he finally responds.
Unknown:Oh, I’m such a moron! I probably should’ve started with my name first. This is Heath, Hannah’s brother. She gave me your number because she mentioned you were looking for a roommate. Can I assume that’s still true?
Oh, thank fuck! What a relief!
Wait...what? Heath? As inHannah’stwin brother, Heath?Oh, crap!I got so drunk last night that I must’ve forgotten the conversation I had with Hannah about getting a roommate, and not only that, I agreed to give her brother a chance and apparently my number too.
Me:Oh, hey Heath! Wow, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. Hannah and I had only discussed it yesterday.
Heath:Yeah. She called me last night to tell me. Though she could barely put a sentence together, and though it took me three times longer to guess what she was saying, I managed to get the gist of it. Anyway, I hope you don’t mind me contacting you? I couldn’t resist reaching out before some other lucky chum took away my chance.
I can’t help but smile. His honesty and sense of humour are refreshing. We’re definitely on a good start.
Me:Well, it’s a good thing for you that you’re my one and only candidate so far.
Heath:Is that so? Then I should probably start thinking of more creative ways to impress you.
Oh, and he’s charming too.
Me:LOL. You don’t need to do that. Just be honest and a decent person, and we’ll get along just fine.
Now I sound like I’m interviewing for a potential lover.Come on, Skylar!His reply is instant.
Heath:Did I tell you that honesty and integrity are my best qualities?
Me:No, you didn’t. And way to sell yourself there, bud.
