Page 55 of Whiskey Sour
“Sounds great,” Knox grumbles as Elton and Skylar gather the rest of the crew. He shakes his head at me in annoyance and looks at Everest. “Man, can you take me home?”
Everest looks between the two of us with suspicion but ultimately nods. “Sure. Meet me outside?”
“Knox,” I say before he can follow the rest of our friends out of the rink. “Can we talk?”
He snorts. “Don’t think so.”
“I just need to apologize?—”
“For taking your shit out on me?” he asks as he scoffs. “I’m not Everest or Skylar, man. What about me makes you think I forgive or forget easily?” He opens his mouth to say more, butshakes his head instead. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighs. “Leave me alone, Cassius.”
Completely bummed, I watch him follow the crew out. I know I was an asshole, but he’s not even giving me a chance to explain myself. With a curse, I run a hand through my shaggy hair and leave the rink. Everyone’s taking off their skates, so I do the same, my fingers fumbling with a mix of annoyance at myself and frustration at him.
“Is everything okay, Cassy?”
I lift my head to see Skylar pouting down at me. Smiling, I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Of course, sunshine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You just seem off.” He shrugs, twiddling his thumbs as he waits for my response. When he gets none, he pushes. “So, you’re okay?”
A part of me wants to tell him about what’s going on between Knox and me, but I can’t. It would just lead to him asking certain questions I don’t want to answer. It’s not just that. I’m the strong one. I’m the anchor. I don’t get upset or worried or anxious. Skylar needs a hero and heroes don’t fail.
Once my skates are off, I stand to my full height and drag him toward me. Sealing my lips over his, I breathe reassurance into his mouth, my kiss promising that I’m just as steady as I’ve always been. I pull back and rest my forehead against his. “I’m perfect.”
He raises a questioning eyebrow, but when I kiss him again, all his curiosity fades. “Okay.”
“Oy!” Elton shouts from the exit. “We gotta go, Skylar!”
He looks hesitant, so I give him a little nudge. “Go. I’ll come get you when your shift is over.”
Nodding slowly, he hollers at Elton to wait a second before going on the tips of his toes to give me a languid kiss. “I love you, Cassius.”
“I love you too,” I whisper back, but my smile is anything but genuine.
The whole crew leaves, but I plop my ass back down onto the bench, dropping my head between my legs as I try to breathe. I’m not too sure what’s happening to me, but this shit has got to stop. I have a man to woo and a life to build, and I don’t have time for whatever the fuck this is.
I stand on shaky legs and let out a deep breath.
I just have to try harder.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Skylar
I don’t knowwhat I expected when I woke up, but it certainly wasn’t this.
“Cassius?” I breathe, looking around what used to be our living room. “What is all of this?”
Cassius stands in the center of our living room, surrounded by what I can only call a spa. There’s a foot bath, chocolate-covered strawberries, and champagne. In his hand are fuzzy slippers and an even fuzzier pink robe.
“Good morning, sunshine,” he says, stepping forward to peck my forehead. “Since we’re both off today, I thought we could do something special.”
I shake my head even as I accept the robe. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“Yeah, I did. Let’s get these clothes off,” he insists, helping me strip down to nothing so I can put on the robe. “A perfect boyfriend should spoil you every now and then. Consider this an example of what a real partner should do when you’re stressed.”
I huff as he guides my feet into the slippers. “I’m not stressed.”
“You’ve been talking in your sleep,” he deadpans, leading me to the foot bath. “You’ve been picking up extra shifts, and it’s getting to you. Don’t think I don’t know why.”
