Page 74 of Keeping Skylar
“How are you enjoying the wedding so far, dear?” Carol asks in her motherly tone.
“It’s been such a beautiful day. I’ve never seen Hannah and Nate so happy. How are you two feeling?”
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact my little girl married that idiot. But thankfully, we love that idiot, so we can’t complain.” Howard shrugs then gives me a playful wink.
I chuckle, feeling a sense of ease settle over me. They’re nothing like Kaden’s parents, far from overbearing or judgemental.
“Now that our Heath is home for good, hopefully, he’ll meet someone he can settle down with too,” Carol says with a smile. “We’ve been hoping and praying for a nice girl to come along and tame him,” she adds, completely unaware that their wish might come true sooner than they think.
“All he does these days is work and travel.” Howard sighs, shaking his head. “Doesn’t he realise he can still do all that and have a partner by his side? It would be nice to see him happy with someone for a change.”
Carol nods in agreement. “When he dated Natasha, we thought she might’ve been the one, you know? They seemed so in love. It was really sad when we found out they broke up.”
My stomach instantly drops. Heath dated Natasha? Why didn’t he mention it before? I guess that explains the ease between them, the way they interact like they’ve known each other forever.
“How long were they together?” I ask, trying not to sound too curious.
“They dated briefly in high school, just before Heath left for the cadets. Then they picked up where they left off a few years later and were together for almost a year, give or take.”
“Why did they decide to end things?”
Carol and Howard exchange a look, their expressions tightening as if they’re not entirely comfortable discussing the reason behind the breakup.
“He cheated on her,” Carol admits, her voice tinged with disappointment. “That poor girl was so smitten with him. It was a real shame. Honestly, I’m surprised they’ve been so civil with each other all day. Who knows? Maybe the third time’s thecharm.” She offers a small, hopeful smile, but it only deepens the ache settling in my chest.
Shocked and hurt by this revelation, I force myself to look away, my heart sinking as I fight to keep the tears from spilling. Heath, the man I opened up to, the one I believed was different, has cheated before. And suddenly, all those doubts I pushed aside come rushing back. What’s that saying? Once a cheater, always a cheater?
Just when I thought I’d finally found something real, something worth holding onto, it feels like I’ve been knocked down once again, all hope fading away. How could I have been so naïve, so ready to believe that this time would be different, when all I’m doing is trading one heartache for another? I knew this was too good to be true.
As if on cue, the MC announces the arrival of the bride and groom. They step into the venue, hand-in-hand, beaming with the brightest smiles. Right behind them, like a picture-perfect couple, are Heath and Natasha—arms still linked, laughing and smiling at each other, radiating their own golden glow.
‘He cheated on her. That poor girl seemed so smitten with him too.’Carol’s words echo in my mind as I fight to suppress the bile rising in my throat.
After the bridal party take their seats at the front, facing the guests, I deliberately avoid meeting Heath’s gaze, though I can feel the weight of his eyes on me the entire time.
For the next hour, we enjoy a lavish three-course meal, and to my surprise, I find myself genuinely enjoying the company at the table. Seated beside Hannah and Heath’s parents are their Aunt Louise and Uncle Henry from their father’s side, along with their adult son, Liam. He appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties, tall and lean, with sandy blond hair, very attractive. He also shares the same striking blue eyes that seem to runin the Bedford family, proving that their good looks are deeply embedded in the genes.
“So, Skylar, how long have you known my cousins?” Liam asks, sipping his champagne. On closer inspection, he kind of resembles a younger Travis Fimmel from his Calvin Klein days, though with shorter hair.
“Well, I’ve known Hannah for about five months since I started teaching at the school, and I’ve known Heath for a little over three,” I reply with a tight smile. “What about you? Are you close with them?”
“Not as close as we used to be when we were younger,” Liam admits, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “To be fair, though, we don’t exactly live in the same city anymore. I’m based in Perth now. Heath was always away working on a cruise ship and my own job required a lot of travelling as well. So, it was tough trying to find the right time to catch up.”
“What is it that you do for work, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I’m in acquisitions, for a hotel chain. I travel a lot between states so it’s hard to find any free time. I miss hanging out with them, especially Heath. May I ask how you and Heath know each other?”
I take a sip of my champagne, offering Liam a polite smile as I feel Heath’s eyes on me from across the room. I resist the urge to glance his way and focus on his cousin instead. “We’re roommates.”
Liam’s eyebrows shoot up, his eyes widening in surprise. “Well, good for him. I always knew he’d choose a beautiful woman to live with.” He grins, his gaze lingering on my chest just long enough for me to notice.
My cheeks instantly warm, and I silently pray he doesn’t notice the blush creeping up my neck. The men in this family sure know how to charm. Liam carries himself with a natural confidence,slightly arrogant, but mostly self-assured. I can’t help but appreciate how effortlessly he keeps the conversation flowing.
However, our conversation is cut short when the MC announces it’s time for the toasts which are delivered by the father of the bride, best man and maid of honour. One by one we listen to their speeches. A perfect mix of humour and sentiment. Jokes are passed between the groom and his best man, and even I can’t help but join in on the laughter. But overall, they are sincere and heartfelt and there isn’t a single dry eye in the room.
Once the speeches are done, the bride and groom begin making their way around the room to greet each table and express their gratitude. Hannah is the first to rush over to our table, with Nate following closely behind.
They hug and chat briefly with everyone, and when they finally reach me, Hannah wraps me in a tight hug. I can feel her excitement and joy emanating from her, contagious and uplifting.
