Page 47 of Keeping Skylar
“You know exactly what’s going on, Jase. Lucia’s suddenly become this raging hormonal bitch, and my wife is still fucking missing! Everyone refuses to tell me where she is, including you!” I shout, jabbing my finger in his direction.
“Look, I already told you I have no idea where she is. But make no mistake, Kaden, even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you,” he snaps back, his intense glare daring me to argue with him.
“Well, that’s just fucking great. Even my best friend is against me.” I lean back on the stool, arms crossed over my chest, attempting to suppress the anger simmering inside.
“Kaden, I’m not against you. I never have been, and I never will be. Sure, you’ve made some really stupid mistakes and have hurt a lot of people, but I’m still your friend. I’ll be here for you to help you get through this, just as you did throughout my divorce. However, if there’s one thing I can’t help you with, it’s to help find Skylar.”
I breathe out a resigned sigh. “I know, and I’m not mad at you. I’m just feeling really frustrated that, after all this time, I stillhaven’t heard anything from her. It’s really tearing me apart, Jase,” I choke out.
Jason looks at me with complete pity in his eyes. “Look, I get it. It feels worse when things are left unresolved. But can you really blame Sky? She was hurt and betrayed in the worst possible way by two people she loved and trusted. As much as you don’t want to hear this, Kaden, you just need to accept that she’s gone and may not be coming back.”
Hearing those words hit harder than a sharp blow to the gut. I know my wife is gone and that she might never want to see or hear from me again. Yet, my heart clings to her, refusing to let go or move on. Even after moving in with Lucia and continuing my relationship with her, a part of me still feels incomplete, like a missing piece of a puzzle. Sky has always held my heart, and now, she’s taken it along with her.
I down the rest of my whiskey in one swift gulp and turn to face Jason, who’s been quietly watching my every move. “I should head out. Lucy’s probably going to have my head on a wooden pike if I stay out any longer. Thanks for the chat, Jase.”
With that, I slowly rise and throw Jason a two-finger salute. He gives me a small nod in return. I wobble slightly as I hop down from the chair, unsteady on my feet, then stagger outside to wait for an Uber.
As I wait for my ride, I mentally brace myself for yet another potential round of verbal sparring with Lucia the moment I step through the door. It’s the same shit every time I get home from the bar—her standing there with that familiar scowl, locked and loaded with accusations. By now, I should be used to it.
After several minutes, my Uber pulls up to the curb, and I stumble into the backseat, hoping, once again, I don’t fall asleep and get booted out of the car.
I stagger into the house, with all the grace of a baby elephant, and Lucia, standing behind the kitchen counter, immediately clocks my drunken state. The disgust and annoyance radiating from her are impossible to miss—I swear I can almost see steam rising off her skin. With her arms crossed and jaw clenched, I brace myself for the inevitable third degree.
“Hi, baby.” I grin sweetly at her.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes, her body unnaturally tense. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you, Kaden?” she snaps, her voice filled with contempt. “Why bother coming home if you prefer staying at the bar and getting plastered every night?”
I walk towards her, unhurried, slipping off my suit jacket and tossing it onto the barstool as I go. When I reach her, I gently place my hands on her shoulders. She doesn’t pull away, but I can feel her body tense under my touch. “Baby, please...can we just be civil for one night?” I beg.
She steps away from me, and strides over to the oven, pulling out a box of pizza. With a sharp slam, she sets it down on the counter, shooting me a furious scowl. “We were supposed to have a nice night in, like we agreed this morning!” she snaps. “I ordered pizza and waited for you. I texted and called multiple times, and you never answered.” She shakes her head, frustration boiling over. “When all this time you were at the bar, getting hammered again! I amso fuckingangry at you, Kaden!” Her voice rises, sharp and loud, and I’m pretty sure our entire neighbourhood just heard her.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry, baby. The thought slipped my mind. I had a bad day at work and just needed a drink to help me unwind.”
“Then you come home to me, your fucking girlfriend! You don’t need to go to a bar to help you relax. You have me for that, for crying out loud!”
“I know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Here ...” I grab the pizza box and lift the lid. She ordered a supreme. I fucking hatesupreme! “We can still eat and watch a movie. The night is still young,” I reassure her.
Her arms are crossed again as she shakes her head. “No, I’m not in the mood anymore. I’m going to bed.” She snatches her phone from the counter and storms off towards our bedroom. Seconds later, I hear the door slam, and I flop onto the stool, thinking about all the ways I keep messing up with all the women in my life.
After wallowing in self-pity, I take a shower and do my best to pull myself together before heading into the bedroom. As I enter the room, I see Lucia propped up against the bedhead, giggling softly while typing something on her phone. I’ve noticed that she’s been on her phone a little more, often texting someone at unusual hours.
When I asked Lucia who she was chatting with, she said it was the new teacher she’s been working with this year at the school. They apparently hit it off so well that they started hanging out after work, much like she and Skylar used to. The only thing I know about this new friend is that she’s in her mid-thirties, married, and has a school-aged kid.
Lucia’s head snaps up when she hears me entering the room, and releases a frustrated breath. I brush it off and slowly approach the bed.
I remove my shirt and trackpants, leaving only my boxer briefs on, and slip into bed. She plugs in her phone and turns off the lamp. Without a word, Lucia turns onto her side, facing away from me, effectively shutting me out.
Frustrated that we’re going to bed angry yet again, I shift closer to her and gently run my hand along the curve of her waist. She doesn’t flinch or push my hand away, so I press on with my intentions. I press my lips on her bare shoulder and, this time, she flinches and scoots further toward the edge of the bed.
“I’m not in the mood tonight, Kaden.”
I let out an exasperated sigh and roll onto my back.How did I end up here—married to one woman who is currently MIA, while in a relationship with another who seems to resent me more each day?
I foolishly believed that once we were free to be together, our relationship would thrive. I pictured us growing closer, falling deeper for each other, and building an extraordinary life side by side. But in reality, our relationship is unravelling faster than I ever anticipated. Now, as I lie in bed, doubt creeps in, and I can’t help but wonder if I made a grave mistake sacrificing my marriage to be with my mistress.
My mind floods with memories of Sky and me, pulling me back to a time when life felt simple and full of joy—a stark contrast to the pain and emptiness I carry now. I find myself yearning for her, aching to hold my wife in my arms once more.
As my eyes grow heavy with sleep, I make another silent prayer for my sweet, precious Skylar—just as I do every night.
