Page 55 of The Third Girl

“We didn’t realize you’d already be here, Skylar, but actually part of this has to do with you, too.” Lucy’s eyes laser-focus on me, her head cocked to the side.

That last bit is a surprise, throwing me off, and I let loose with a startled, “Oh?”

Kennedy’s eyebrows have drawn together as she studies first Matt, then me. Her lip twitches, but she nods. “Yes. Sailor is my flower girl, and it’s going to be super cute… but you know our little lady.”

I smile. “She’s got a mind of her own.”

“Exactly. Um, I was hoping that you wouldn’t mind standing with her at the end of the aisle and helping her if she gets confused.” She bites her lip, glancing at Matt. “Of course, Matt will be with Travis, so hopefully she’ll just go straight to him.”

I draw in a breath. “Um. I don’t see why not. I’ll be there anyway. Um, would you need me at the rehearsal?”

Kennedy’s eyes widen. “Good call. If you wouldn’t mind coming out for it, that’d be great. And stay for the dinner, of course.”

Matt braces his hands on his hips. “Sounds like a plan. Anything else?” I can tell from the troubled look on his face that he’d like them to go before there are more questions.

Before I can ponder that thought anymore, the baby monitor chirps, and Sailor gives a distressed cry. I do wonder now if she’s not feeling well, and sensing from the odd tension in the room that maybe I should be the one to go, I point toward the stairs. “I’ll go check on her.”

Matt’s voice is gruff when he says, “Yeah. That’d be helpful.” He clears his throat and continues their conversation as I walk away. “Not to run you guys off, but we need to finish up because I should get some sleep.”

I head down the hall, but as I hurry up the stairs to get to Sailor, whose rising shrieks fill the air, I catch a small bit of the continuing conversation.

First from Kennedy: “Are you two together? Because you told menoto the plus-one Friday afternoon.”

“Matt, what is Skylar doing here?” Lucy whispers. “Doesn’t she come over right before your shift?”

“She’s helping me with Sailor.” His answer to the question is succinct, right to the point. He doesn’t bother expanding on it.

“It’s not a big deal, Matt,” comes Travis’s gravelly low voice. “We can tell this girl means something to you.”

Matt’s response is quick. “But itwouldbe a big deal. Nothing’s happening.”

My heart sinks, plummeting so far into my stomach that I’m afraid it’ll never come out. I take the last few steps up to the second floor and hurry to Sailor, who’s crying her tiny lungs out. And sadly, I feel like joining her.

* * *

“Come on, sweet baby. Into the car seat for Skylar, okay?” I set Sailor on the back seat of my Trailblazer, allowing her to climb into her rear-facing car seat on her own like she likes to do. Once she’s seated, I fix the straps the way Matt showed me, clicking everything into place and adjusting the chest clip. I breathe out, wondering how I’m going to get through the next few days and worse, a wedding weekend with his family.

It was one thing for Matt to deny that anything has been going on between us to his in-laws. Totally get that. But to his siblings and soon-to-be sister-in-law? My new friends? It hurt fiercely to realize he didn’t want to admit that there’s something going on between us.Nothing’s happening.That’s what he said.

It’s especially awkward because in my mind, it’d been very obvious what we’d been up to when they arrived. So, I’m good enough to fool around with, but not good enough to claim as his, and definitely not good enough to be his date to the wedding.Got it.

I heave out a sigh. That’s Hurt Skylar talking. In the back of my head, I know there’s more to it than that. In fact, I’m almost positive that this has nothing to do with me. I would do anything in my power to unbreak Matt’s heart, to heal the invisible scars his wife’s death has left behind. I would do anything to make his life just a bit better, a little easier. I feel that even more strongly now than I did when I first started caring for Sailor.

And the scariest part is that even though Matt denies to everyone in his life that I mean anything to him, I think I might have already fallen for him. So, that makes everything hurt even worse.

I let out a shaky breath and smile at Sailor’s sweet-cheeked face. “Let’s go see Aunt Lucy, huh?”

She nods and kicks her feet. “An Wucy,” she states solemnly.

I’ve been dreading this since last night. I’d love to say what’s between me and her brother isn’t Lucy’s business, but that’s not how his family works, and I know it. They’ll be looking out for him, like they always have. He’s lucky to have both her and Travis, honestly.

What I wouldn’t give to be able to talk this through with Kevin like I did when I was a freshman in high school and wondering if a boy would ever ask me to the homecoming dance. One of his friends ended up asking me. I’m positive Kevin had arranged it. But man, I still had fun, and it was a great first experience going on a date. All thanks to my brother.Shit.I tear up and have to pull over and take a few deep breaths before I’m able to calm myself down. I miss the hell out of my brother and wish he was here for me now.

When we finally make it to the bakery, I pluck Sailor from her seat and grab the diaper bag, slinging it over my shoulder. Through the glass pane in the door, I feel the weight of Lucy’s gaze from where she stands behind the counter, awaiting our arrival.

I pull the door open, scooting inside, and give Lucy a quick smile as I set Sailor on her feet.

“An Wucy!”

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