Page 75 of Keeping Skylar
“I’m so glad you made it, Skylar. Sorry I haven’t had a chance to talk much, but from what I can see, you’re in perfect company.” She smiles as she looks around the table at all her loved ones.
“Don’t be silly. It’s your big day. I know how it is. But Hannah, I just want to say how incredibly beautiful you look. Hands down the most stunning bride I’ve seen.”
“Oh stop. After those speeches, I’m sure I look like a drowned rat.” She chuckles, swiping the dried tears from under her eyes.
“It was beautiful and I have to admit, I was crying like a baby too.”
We both laugh, and then Hannah leans in, her voice low so only I can hear. “Just so you know, I could feel my brother seething every time he saw you and Liam chatting and laughing. His jealousy is impossible to ignore.”
It’s as if we summoned him out of thin air—Heath suddenly materialises at the table. “Oh, sweetheart, that was such a lovely speech you gave! A little heads-up would have been nice, though. My makeup is ruined now because of you!” Carol playfully smacks him on the arm before pulling him into a tender embrace.
“Ruined make-up or not, you always look beautiful, Ma.” Heath winks and kisses her on the cheek. He shifts around the table greeting each guest either with a hug or a handshake, and my anxiety builds the closer he gets.
I’m in the midst of a conversation with Nate and Liam when I feel a warm hand gently press down on my shoulder. I flinch at the unexpected touch and look up to see Heath, who is facing Liam with his hand out for him to shake. “Good to see you, Liam. It’s been a while,” he says, his deep voice slicing through the air.
“Welcome home, cousin! It’s great to see you too.” Liam’s eyes zoom in on Heath’s hand resting on my shoulder in a possessive way. “I’ve actually been getting to know your roommate here. You’ve been living with this gorgeous woman all this time, and I’m only just finding out. We used to share everything,” he adds with a smug smirk.
Heath’s hand tightens on my shoulder, not painfully, but it’s enough to make me look up at him again. “You know how it is. There are just some things I’d rather keep all to myself.” He glances down at me and winks. I swallow hard at the subtle double meaning of his words.
“Good thing Skylar and I crossed paths tonight, or I’d have never known she existed. A friend of Heath’s is a friend of mine,” Liam says, flashing me a flirtatious smirk that doesn’t go unnoticed. I catch the subtle clench of Heath’s jaw, his teeth gritting ever so slightly.
What on earth is going on between these two?
Suddenly overwhelmed by the surge of testosterone at the table, I push back my chair and excuse myself to the restroom. I need a moment to breathe and some distance from Heath before my simmering frustration boils over, and I do something I might regret.
Locking myself in the bathroom, I stare at my reflection, trying to rein in the tangle of emotions brewing inside me. My hands grip the edge of the sink as my anger rises. How could he keep something as significant as cheating on an ex from me, especially knowing what I’ve been through? I know we’re not in a serious relationship, but still ... he knows how I feel about lying and cheating. And yet, here I am, blindsided all over again.
I smooth down my lavender off-the-shoulder dress and run my fingers through my loose curls, inhaling a few steadying breaths as I gather myself. With one final glance in the mirror and a practiced smile in place, I push open the door and exit the room.
The moment I step out, I instantly walk straight into a hard, solid chest. I gasp, my eyes snapping up to meet a set of familiar blue ones. Before I can utter a single word, I’m being pushed back gently but firmly into the restroom. Heath locks the door behind us and turns to face me. He advances slowly, like a predator closing in on its prey, making me retreat deeper into the room. My heart races as I struggle to breathe, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his gaze and close proximity.
“Are you crazy, Heath! What on earth are you doing in here?”
“Why are you avoiding me, Skylar?”
“What are you talking about? I’m not avoiding you. We’ve hardly had a chance to talk.”
“And you took off at the first opportunity. Now, tell me the truth, what’s really going on?” he asks with a calm demeanour, though his eyes remain tense and unyielding.
When I remain silent, Heath steps closer until he’s standing directly in front of me, our bodies almost touching.
He gently lifts my chin, compelling me to meet his eyes. “Have I done something wrong, beautiful? You haven’t looked at me once since I got here,” he says, a trace of hurt flickering behind his eyes.
My own eyes flutter shut, relishing the warmth of his touch. When I open them again, he’s glancing down at me with a look of worry on his face.
“Skylar?”
“Heath, have you ever cheated on anyone?” I blurt out, tearing off the Band-Aid and laying it all bear in one breath.
My question throws him off. His hand drops, and he instinctively takes a step back. “What? Wait—is this why you’ve been ignoring me?” he asks, a tinge of nervousness creeping into his voice. “Look, I don’t know where this is coming from, but if you really need to know, then yeah, I cheated. Once. It was a long time ago, and ... there’s more to the story than you think.”
“So, it’s really true. You cheated on someone—someone who was practically in love with you.”
“Who told you this? Liam?”
“Does it matter who told me?!” I snap. “What matters, Heath, is that you cheated on someone who cared about you!” I jab my finger into his chest as tears begin to fall. “You had me convinced you were someone I could trust, that you’d never stoop so low as to lie and deceive someone. I don’t care that it happened a long time ago; you knew coming into this, how much I despise cheaters!”
Heath releases a sharp breath, his fingers anxiously combing through his hair. “If you’ll give me a moment to explain, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. I was young, stupid, and hurting ...”
