Page 77 of Skye's Fall
“I’m not sure how she knew where we were, but as soon as you and Linc headed to the bar, she moved in. She told me she was going to tell Lincoln the whole truth, basically the whole world. I knew it would hurt a lot of people. Which it did. I knew it would put a damper on the career Memphis had built for himself and I knew that Linc would be crushed. I wanted to keep my secret a little longer. And for her to tell the whole world, that would have been horrible and embarrassing. I basically said I would go, I would leave the show. I think she thought Linc would follow her instead of fighting for me. She was talking a lot of nonsense. But I gave in because it was my secret to tell, not hers. I talked to Sal that night and told him everything. He’s the only one who knew what happened and he didn’t want to put me in that predicament. I didn’t know that me telling everything would happen on TV anyways.” I made a mess of things that day. I just hope the fallout doesn’t hurt Memphis or Linc in a public way.
“And Mallory? What did she do?” Mckenna prods.
“She didn’t say anything. She sat there. I knew something was up, but it wasn’t confirmed until she apologized,” I tell the group.
“Glad that everything is over,” Mason says as others nod.
“Amen to that,” Linc takes my hand and kisses it.
“Let’s party,” Memphis jumps up and starts dancing.
“Does he know he can’t dance?” Linc snorts.
“Don’t tell him that, he thinks he could be on a dance show and win,” Ever giggles.
“Maybe in his dreams,” London replies.
“He should stick to his day job,” Dayton chuckles.
We all watch Memphis for a moment and laugh before joining in.
The party is full on as everyone comes to congratulate us. After a few dances, I head back to the table as my mom joins me, bringing me much needed food. I’m starving, but I am eating for two.
“You did well,” my mom says as she hands me another plate of food and sits down with me.
“Thank you,” I tell her with tears in my eyes.
“None of those,” she wipes my tears with her thumb. “I’m proud of you and I will be a great grandma.”
“I think you will, too, but I’m biased,” I say as Beau grabs me and twirls me around.
“I’m going to be an uncle,” he laughs.
“Hey, hands off my future wife,” Linc snorts.
“Yeah, put me down you Neanderthal,” I laugh. It feels good to laugh.
“Never,” he laughs as Linc lunges for him. Boys will be boys.
“I think we will have a beautiful life,” I tell Linc as he pulls me into a hug, kissing my forehead.
“It will be perfect,” he says, “I’ll make sure of it.” I know he will give me the world, but I’ve learned that I don’t need the world, I just need him for my life to be beautiful. This right here is what it’s all about. Friends, family, and love.
Everyone talks, laughs, and dances the whole night. Not a care in the world. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lincoln
“Stop fidgeting,” I tell Skye.
“Do I look okay?” She’s pulling on her shirt. She’s asked me the same question about fifty times and every time I roll my eyes, which earns me a glare.
“He could care less what you look like.”
“He’s your dad and I want him to like me.”
I love this side of her, the vulnerable side. We spent a few nights in Atlanta after her proposal, reacquainting ourselves and talking and laughing. I’ve never been happier. I love that she’s smiling again. And that her smile is only for me.
