Page 71 of Keeping Skylar
Before I can react, he leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek. I freeze, stunned, my breath caught in my throat. He pulls back slowly, that irritating smirk back on his face, as if he knows exactly what he’s doing. “See you around, my sweet, darling wife.” He winks, then turns and strolls out of the café with even more swagger than he walked in with. The jerk didn’t even bother buying a coffee like he said he was going to.
I shake off the unease the conversation stirred in me and try to recenter myself, determined not to let it throw off the rest of my day. As I glance around the café, my eyes land on Hannah by the register, coffee in hand, her expression caught somewhere between concern and quiet accusation.
When did she come in? Or more importantly, how much did she see and hear? I smile and wave her over, but instead of smiling back, she takes a deep breath before making her way to my table. The moment she reaches me, she doesn’t pull me in for a hug like she usually does, or even take a seat. A faint pang of nervousness settles in my stomach, as if I’ve just been caught doing something I shouldn’t.
“Hey, why were you standing in the corner there? Why didn’t you come over straight away?” I ask her gently.
“Skylar, what’s going on with you and your husband?” No greeting—she just dives right in. “Because from what I just saw, if you’re even thinking about going back to him, then whatever’s happening with you and my brother needs to end. Now. Before you break his heart.” Her voice is steady but edged with steel, a warning I’d be foolish to ignore.
It’s most likely she saw the whole exchange between Kaden and I, and the kiss on the cheek.Fuck!No wonder she’s mad, and I can’t even blame her.
I reach out and gently squeeze her hand. She doesn’t pull away, but I can tell she’s still a little cautious, her eyes narrowing slightly. There’s only one way to ease her worry. “Hannah, I swear on my life, I have no intention of ever going back to my ex-husband. Not now, not ever. He knows I’m firm in my decision to go through with the divorce, and there’s nothing he can say or do that will change my mind. If he wants to waste his time trying, that’s his choice. But I’ve already moved on, and sooner or later, he’ll have to accept that too.”
Hannah’s expression softens, just slightly. “I’m sorry, I had to ask. I really like you, Skylar. You’re a good person, and you’ve got a kind heart. But please understand, I’m only looking out for Heath. He’s been through a lot too, and the last thing I want is to see him hurt if things don’t work out.”
“I understand completely. I would never hurt Heath; you have my word. He’s become so important to me, and honestly, the connection I feel with him is deeper and stronger than anything I’ve ever experienced. I’d be an idiot to ruin what we have,” I assure her.
Hannah’s lips slowly curve into a genuine smile, and the next thing I know, she’s pulling me into a hug. I hold on a little tighter this time, grateful to have someone in my corner who’s both fiercely protective and endlessly understanding.
“I love how protective you are over your brother. I really admire that about you,” I whisper into her ear, and she gives me one last squeeze before pulling away. There’s no need for more words. Hannah’s the kind of person who’d take a bullet for the people she loves—loyal, trustworthy, and utterly dependable. Exactly my kind of person.
“Ready to go?” I ask her with a warm smile.
She nods, and we link arms as we step out of the café and onto the street, the morning sunshine offering a small reprieve from the tension still knotted in my chest after my encounter with Kaden.
As we make our way towards the school, I fill her in on my weekend with Heath, skipping over the parts where he absolutely ravished me and turned me into a complete sex addict. As expected, Hannah is over the moon for us. At least that’s one positive thing I can take from this otherwise torturous start to my day.
Now, let’s just hope there won’t be any more spontaneous run-ins with my ex-husband any time soon. God knows, I’ve had enough surprises to last me a lifetime.
CHAPTER 31
Heath
I glance up at the clock on the wall, again, watching the hands inch ever so slowly towards freedom. Just an hour and a half to go. The kitchen pulses around me, alive with the clattering of pans, barking orders, and the sizzling of food meeting hot oil. Most nights, I live for this—the rhythm, the noise, the relentless energy. But not tonight. Tonight, my thoughts are miles away, drawn instead to the one person who’s starting to feel a lot like home.
The bell rings with a sharp ding, signalling the next round of plates that’s ready to go. The waitstaff swoop in like clockwork, whisking the dishes off to their respective tables. Once the last dish is sent out, I untie my apron and sling it over a hook, wiping my hands on a nearby towel. “Aye, Jimmy!” I call out, raising my voice above the chaos. “I’m stepping out for fifteen, make sure you take a break too!”
He acknowledges me with a quick nod, already focused on the next wave of orders.
“Yes chef. Will do,” he replies, tossing me a two-finger salute. I head towards the back of the restaurant for a moment of peace and quiet. As soon as I push open the door, a rush of crisp night air greets me. I inhale deeply, letting the cold fill my lungs and chase out the lingering fumes of oil and smoke that have clung to me all evening.
With the kitchen constantly swamped with non-stop orders, catching a break feels almost like a luxury. Even with therestaurant’s strict reservation-only policy, walk-ins pour in every night without fail. It’s overwhelming for the staff—but, I guess, good for the business.
I try to slip away for small breaks whenever I can, tonight more so than ever, since I promised Skylar I’d text her the moment I stepped out of the kitchen. We’ve been messaging each other constantly whenever we’re apart, but with her ex-husband in town, I’ve found myself checking in almost every hour. I don’t know why, but I’ve just got this uneasy feeling he’s up to something shady, desperate to get back at her for leaving him high and dry.
Earlier this week, she messaged me at work to tell me she’d run into Kaden again, this time at the café across from her school. A knot tightened in my stomach at the thought of her being alone with him, cornered and pushed into a conversation she never asked for.
She assured me she was fine, that Kaden hadn’t been threatening, just desperate to rehash the same tired plea he made on her birthday, most of which she’d managed to tune out. But when she mentioned that he wanted to fix their broken marriage, a surge of possessiveness and sharp, jealous anger flared through me before I could stop it.
My grip tightened around the phone so hard I half expected it to crack in my hand. The thought of Kaden trying to worm his way back into Skylar’s life filled me with dread. They’re still technically married, and with a decade of shared memories, all it would take is him dredging up the good times to start pulling at her heartstrings. I fucking hate that.
That guy’s a narcissistic dickwad who never deserved such an amazing woman, let alone the privilege of being her husband. It burns me up knowing he had her first, my sweet, beautiful Skylar. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting him waltz back intoher life and unravel everything I’ve worked so damn hard to build with her. Not a bloody chance.
Feeling the anger bubbling just beneath the surface, I force myself to take a few steady breaths, trying to push down the storm brewing inside me. Once I manage to calm myself down again, I pull out my phone and type out a message to my girl.
Me:Hi, beautiful. How’s your evening going?
She responds instantly.
