Page 40 of More Than a Friend
It’s not like I’m trying to replace my ex. Skylar would just be another grown up to love and support them
Someone to love and supportme.
Besides, Shea is seriously dating someone. He’s known Alisa for less than three months; I’ve known Skylar for thirteen years. The kids have known her since they were born.
The transition from friends to lovers would probably be a bit of a shock for them, but they’re also young enough to not have preconceived notions about romance. All they know is their dad and I used to kiss, but now we don’t. Their dad is kissing someone new, so why shouldn’t I be able to do the same?
Why shouldn’t I be happy? My kids deserve a happy mom, and Skylar’s an amazing person. I can’t think of anyone better for me.
“I can feel you thinking from over here.” Skylar’s voice startles me, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Sorry,” I murmur, finishing the last few sips of my coffee. “Do you want me to help you with the dishes?”
Skylar shakes her head and turns towards me on the barstool, bracketing my legs with hers and taking my hands. “I want you to let me help you work through whatever’s making your shoulders tense.”
I shimmy to loosen my rigid muscles. I didn’t even realize they were so stiff. “I’m fighting an internal battle about what’s best for Gus and Zoe. How to go about this,” I wave a finger between us, “thing between us. Sometimes the homophobic voices are louder than the logical ones.”
Skylar nods, rubbing a soothing path across my knuckles with her thumb. “I get it. And if you don’t want to tell them because it’ll confuse them?—”
“I don’t think it’ll confuse them in the way we think, you know? I think even if I were to date a man, it’d be difficult for them to accept because I’m not with their dad. They’re probably wary of Shea dating Alisa. Iwantto tell them, Sky.”
“Are you worried people will think we’ve been having an affair?”
I shrug. “Well, it hadn’t crossed my mind, but maybe. I mean, we’ve always been close. You were around a lot when Shea was gone for work or hunting. People are going to be judgmental about this no matter what. As long as the kids know and believe we were strictly best friends until after the divorce, I don’t care what anyone else thinks.Weknow the truth.”
The reality that people could think I cheated on my husband doesn’t sting as much as I thought. What worries me are the nasty things they could say about Skylar.
“Aves, I don’t want this to make your life harder. If being with a man or someone else?—”
I put a finger to her lips. “I don’t want to be with a man, Skylar. I don’t want to be with someone else. I wantyou.I’m sure things will be rocky for a little while, so if that’s something you want to avoid, tell me now before we get too far down the road.”
Skylar searches my face for something, probably a sign I’m not as confident as I sound, but she won’t find it.
“I want to be with you—through all of the ups and downs.”
She gives a small disbelieving chuckle. “Honestly, Ava, I’m still reeling from your confession last night. I was sure I’d wake up and find I had dreamed it all. It still feels like I’m dreaming, to be honest.”
I lean forward slowly, until our lips are just a breath apart. “Does this feel like a dream, Sky?”
Then I kiss her, unhurried and delicate. Savoring the little noise of pleasure escaping her.
When I try to pull back, she takes over the kiss, pulling my bottom lip between hers and giving it a nip, which makes me giggle.
“It’s better than a dream, Ava. My dreams pale in comparison to this,” she whispers against my mouth, effectively melting me into a gooey puddle.
We spend the rest of the day lazing about, sharing tender kisses which turn into wandering hands and teasing touches but never goes further than that.
Far sooner than I want, it’s time for me to go, so I begrudgingly untangle myself from her and leave.
My kids won’t be back until tomorrow night, so once I get home, I tidy up my apartment. Then, I sit on the couch and try to talk myself out of calling Sky and asking her to come over. It’s only been a few hours, and I’m already missing her.
I’m exhausted from staying up so late the night before, but when I finally convince myself to go to bed, it takes me forever to fall asleep because all I want is the warmth of my best friend next to me.
Chapter 19
Skylar
Avaand I didn’t have the DTR—define the relationship—talk I wanted to have before she went back home, so I’m not sure how to approach her this morning. But I brought her favorite coffee, just to let her know I’ve been thinking about her. When am Inotthinking about her?
