Page 62 of Keeping Skylar
She’s been spending a lot more time out with her co-worker friend lately, often coming home just before midnight. Our fights have become more frequent, and when we fuck, it’s usually after a heated argument. There’s something undeniably hot and intense about angry sex, but the emotional toll of the arguments beforehand is starting to wear me down.
Maybe some distance and time apart will be exactly what we need to get our relationship back on track. It might give us thespace to miss each other—to reignite the spark that seems to dim a little more with each day.
Yes! That sounds like the perfect plan!
“Alright, I’m on board. When do I start?” I ask.
Rick nods, clearly pleased with my decision. “I want to get you over there as soon as possible. Can you make it to Melbourne in a couple of days?”
I nod. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Okay, great! I’ll have my assistant, Joanna, book your flight, and set up your accommodation. Scott will pick you up at the airport with your company car,” he confirms.
I thank Rick for the opportunity, and we move on with the rest of the meeting. But as the discussion shifts to next month’s budgets, my mind stays fixed on the upcoming trip to Melbourne—and how the hell I’m going to break the news to my girlfriend.
Lucia and I are sprawled on the couch, slurping down Vietnamese noodles while a cooking show plays in the background. I’ve been trying to find the perfect way to drop the Melbourne bomb for the past hour—but so far, all I’ve managed to drop is extra soy sauce on my shirt.
As soon as the show wraps up, she gets up to use the bathroom. While I wait for her to come back, I pop open a bottle of Prosecco I brought home after work—figuring a little alcohol might help soften the blow.
While pouring the wine into our glasses, Lucia’s phone lights up on the coffee table. I glance over and catch a glimpse of a text from her colleague, Addie—the message partially visible in the notification preview on the locked screen.
Addie:Thanks for today, babe. You’re amazing! Can’t wait to see you ...
Huh.Just how close are these two? It’s strange how I still haven’t met this Addie chick, despite how much time Lucia spends with her. That unsettled feeling creeps in again, subtle but persistent. I’ll make it a point to meet her when I get back.
Just then, the bathroom door clicks open. I quickly switch off the screen and sink back into the couch, trying to look like I hadn’t just been snooping on her phone.
Moments later, Lucia walks into the room and sits beside me, her eyes immediately landing on the bottle of wine and the two glasses on the coffee table. “What’s that for?’ she asks.
I smile, holding her gaze. “I have some news to share.”
Her eyebrows knit together in curiosity. “Okay. What is it?”
“Rick is sending me on a business trip for a few weeks to train our newest Operations Manager. He said I’m the only one who can get the job done efficiently,” I casually inform her, bracing myself for her reaction.
“A few weeks? Where are you going?” she asks, her voice surprisingly calm.
“Melbourne.”
She remains quiet, her gaze lingering on mine with an unreadable expression. I can’t tell what she’s thinking—her face is revealing nothing, and the silence stretches uncomfortably between us.
After a minute’s pause, she reaches for the wine glasses, handing mine to me. As I take it, she raises her own with a small, almost gentle smile. “Congratulations, babe,” she says, her tone light but her eyes holding something I can’t quite read.“I have no doubt you’ll excel in the task. You’re a determined worker.” She clinks her glass against mine before taking a hearty sip.
Well, goddamn! That’s the last reaction I expected from her. Normally, she’d explode with anger and frustration, throwing every insult at me, but I guess I was wrong. “So, you’re actually okay with me going?”
She shrugs, as if it’s not a big deal. “If you have to go, then you have to go,” she says. “I can’t stop you from doing your job.”
Okay, who is this person, and what has she done with the Lucia I know? I was preparing myself for an explosive confrontation tonight, yet here she is, actually being supportive for once. I’m completely at a loss for how to process all of this.
“When do you leave?” she asks.
“In two days.”
She nods, and takes another sip of her wine. “Okay. Well, let me know if you need help with packing.”
Well, shite! This is definitely not at all how I expected the night to unfold. Not only is Lucia okay with me leaving for a few weeks, but she’s being surprisingly nice about it.
I’m going to take this for what it is and leave it at that. It’s been a while since we’ve been civil with each other, and it would be foolish to ruin the moment.
