Page 45 of More Than a Friend
But Skylar’s seen me in nothing but an oversized shirt and an adult diaper, my unwashed greasy hair in a haphazard bun, and bags under my eyes.
If she still wants me after seeing me with breast milk stains on my shirt and baby barf on my pants, then she’s probably not concerned about what I’m wearing.
I decide on comfort over sex appeal and slip on a pair of gray joggers with a hole in the knee and an oversized Harvard sweatshirt I stole from Shea. I have no idea why he had a Harvard sweatshirt when he went to Utah Valley University, but it’s perfectly worn in, so I refused to leave it when I moved out.
Gus and Zoe are trying to lay out blankets so they can be comfortable.Moana 2is queued up on the TV, and we’re waiting for Skylar to show up with the pizzas.
To the kids, this is just a fun night of Auntie Skylar coming over and hanging out.
To me, this is the first time my official girlfriend is meeting my kids.
I have a girlfriend.
Skylaris my girlfriend.
The thought makes me want to giggle and kick my feet or jump up and down and clap my hands.
I settle for smiling so wide it almost feels unnatural.
I can’t remember the last time I had a smile this big. Probably when Zoe took her first steps, which was years ago at this point.
Sure, I’ve been happy, but the last two years have felt like an uphill battle. I don’t regret leaving my marriage or the religion I grew up in, but it hasn’t been easy. Learning a new routine and uprooting our lives was harder than I ever imagined it would be, and we’re still trying to work out the kinks.
Now, though—things are looking up. I have a stable home environment for my kids, a good job I enjoy, and an incredible partner. The future won’t be without challenges, obviously, but I know with Skylar, I won’t have to battle things alone.
As long as she still wants me.
The doorbell rings, and I scurry out of my room to answer it. Seeing Skylar wrapped in sweats and a hoodie with her hair up in a messy ponytail, holding boxes of pizza and bags of candy for my kids, makes my heart nearly beat out of my chest.
“God, I missed you,” she says on a breathy whisper, like she didn’t mean to, but the words forced their way out.
“You saw me today at the office,” I tease, but I’m a hypocrite because I missed her, too.
Sky rolls her eyes. “Iknow.But it’s not the same.”
I look back and see the kids are distracted, so I lean around the pizza boxes and place a quick kiss on her lips. “I know. I’m glad you’re here. Come in before the food gets cold.”
I move out of the way and grab a few boxes from Skylar to take into the kitchen.
Gus and Zoe leap from their places on the floor, run over, and wrap their arms around Skylar’s legs.
“Hey, munchkins! I’ve missed you guys.”
“Did you get cheese pizza?” Zoe asks, ignoring Skylar’s greeting.
“Zoe,” I chide. “Say ‘hi’ to Auntie Skylar before you start asking about food, please. Maybe thank her for bringing pizza.”
Zoe huffs with the attitude of a teenager instead of a four-year-old. “Hi, Auntie Skylar. Thank you for the pizza. Did you bring cheese?”
Skylar laughs and picks Zoe up to open the box on the top of the stack. “Of course I brought cheese. And,” she holds out a bag of Skittles gummies, “I brought your favorite sweet treat.”
Zoe squeals and wraps her arms around Sky’s neck in a death grip. “You’re the bestest, Auntie Sky!”
Still holding Zoe, Skylar grabs the bag of sour gummy worms and turns to Gus. “I got you your fav, too, bud. And I got the cheesy breadsticks I know you like.”
Gus gives Skylar a smile I haven’t seen from him in the last week and whispers quietly, “Thanks, Auntie Skylar.”
“Anything for my favorite people.”
