39. Bones
CHAPTER 39
BONES
T he only real date I have ever been on was with Skylar. He seems to like that, and he also seems to enjoy spoiling me, so when he surprises me on Saturday with a day off from practice, I can’t help but grin. Mackie is resting after his recent scare, so Noah let them have time off. His big race is coming up, but he doesn’t seem nervous.
I have no idea where we are going, but I don’t really care because we’re together. We drive out of the city and to the next one over, where there’s a beach and an amusement park. He parks, and I groan, letting him take my hand as I stare at it.
“An amusement park?” I scoff.
“I’m assuming you’ve never been or enjoyed one, right?” He backs me into his car, wiggling his eyebrows. “I’m giving you all the firsts you haven’t had.”
I laugh, and he kisses me. I lose myself in it until someone clears their throat. I try to pull away, but Sky lingers, kissing me before moving back slightly to let me see Alek and Evan.
“Are we interrupting?” Alek asks.
“Yes.” Sky grins. “But I’m glad you made it.”
He winks at me. “I thought we could do a double date. You need some time with friends who care about you.”
I melt, and he interlaces our fingers together. I lean in and kiss him. Evan squeals while Alek claps. Rolling my eyes, I flip them off.
“Fuck off. You’re just jealous.”
“Do I need to make a big sign online to let them know the infamous Skylar Warren is taken?” Alek jokes.
“Good idea.” Sky pulls his phone out, snaps a picture of our joined hands, and before I can react, he posts something.
“What did you do?” I hiss, yanking my phone out of my pocket. I see the notification and I click it.
The picture loads on his Instagram, and I’m tagged in the caption.
Official announcement: Skylar Warren is now an honest and taken man by an incredible angel who is @BonesBoii.
“Skylar!” I slap his chest, but I bite back my smile, and he kisses my cheek and steps back.
“Now, let’s ride some rides, eat too much food, and have a good day!” he declares, and Alek and Evan head toward the park. I let Sky pull me after them, but nerves fill my stomach.
“Sky.” I tug him back to a stop. “My father?—”
“No, not today. Today is about us and fun. That’s all. Nothing more. Today we are just Sky and Bones, no one else.”
“Okay,” I agree, knowing he’s right. I can’t live my life in fear of my father. Sky smiles approvingly, takes my hand, and tugs me after Alek and Evan, who are waiting impatiently.
Skylar pays for me and Alek pays for Evan, even though we both fight them. He’s right. I’ve never been to an amusement park before. My father didn’t allow it. Screams fill the air, and the noise of games and rides is overwhelming in a good way. My nose twitches with the scents of fried food and sweets, and I can’t deny I’m excited.
Evan bounces on his toes, pointing at the closest ride. “Let’s go.”
“Baby.” Alek sighs, but he lets Evan pout and pull him all the way there.
Once in line, Skylar stands behind me, wrapping his arms around me while resting his head on my shoulder as we shuffle forward. I chat with Evan and Alek, and I know Sky was right. I needed this. I feel the weight lifting off me until I’m just happy.
We hit as many rides as we can. Sky, Evan, and I scream and laugh, loving the adrenaline. Alek looks sick every time, but he goes without protest, happy to see Evan enjoying it.
“No more,” Alek begs, looking nauseous after a particularly intense ride.
“But . . .” Evan pouts, and I see Alek’s resolve cracking. Chuckling, I grab Evan’s arm before Alek has a heart attack.
“I’ll go. You both stay here and compare engines or something.” I wave at them and let Evan tug me over to the ride.
Evan and I eventually take Alek and Skylar on the teacups after Alek admits he can’t handle any more. Evan takes more pictures than I can count, his camera always on his neck. Alek complains each time, but he always lets him while Sky poses.
We find ourselves at the stalls with the games next. Sky picks a shooting game, while Alek and Evan wander off to hook a duck. Sky hands over some bills and checks his gun.
He aims, fires, and knocks all the moving targets down except one. “Damn,” he mutters, but he points at an angry-looking bear. When the guy hands it over, he grins and passes it to me. “It looks like you, angel.”
“Asshole.” I pass over another wad of bills and grab the gun. “Let me show you how it’s done.”
I fire quickly, knocking down every target, and with a wink at Skylar, I point out my prize and wait.
“I’m so turned on right now,” Sky says.
Snorting, I take the teddy the bored attendant hands over and shove it at Sky. “Here, now we match. This one looks like you.” His is a goofy teddy, but as he looks at it, his eyes sparkle and he seems so happy, I have to turn away.
He takes my hand, and we wander around before I stop him and grab my phone. I press my lips to his cheek, our plushies held up, and snap a picture, then I run off before he can say anything.
“Not fair. Get back here. Let me kiss you!” he yells after me, and I can’t help but laugh.
He chases me down, and I laugh as he catches me, flings me over his shoulder, and heads back to Evan and Alek.
“You good?” Alek asks.
“I’m fine.”
“I mean Sky,” Alek scoffs. “Is he being a brat?”
“Always, but I love it.” He carries me away, and we head to a carousel. Sky puts me on my feet and helps me onto a white horse, while he climbs onto a black one next to me. I shake my head as he grabs my hand as we slowly circle. I can’t help but laugh loudly as he sings off-key with the music.
I don’t think I have ever been so happy.
We wander the rest of the morning until Evan hands me his camera before the edge of the water at the pier. “Just press this, okay?” he instructs before hurrying over to Alek. They grin widely at each other, and I snap. When they glance back, I snap another, and when they kiss, I snap even more.
I can’t help but smile at the happiness pouring from them, and when he returns, looking them over, I can’t resist asking, “Can you take one of Sky and me?”
Evan gives me the widest grin, and before I know it, I’m being posed as a million pictures are taken. Lesson learned—never ask a photographer for a picture. Over an hour later, my eyes are blurry and he’s grinning, leaning over his camera with Sky.
“Damn, look at this one. Bones looks like a model. Oh, this is the cutest picture I’ve ever taken.”
“Look, angel.” Sky shows me one, and my jaw drops at the image.
I look happy.
Our arms are wrapped around one another, and we are grinning at each other. I remember he just said something funny, but the way my eyes sparkle captures my attention before I see him.
God, his eyes.
“Is this how everyone else sees you looking at me?” I murmur.
“Like you are his air?” Evan jokes. “Absolutely. Honestly, the way you two eye each other makes me feel like we should leave you in private. I’ve never seen someone look at another the way he looks at you.”
“Yes you have, baby,” Alek corrects. “I look at you the same way.”
“We should take one together,” I whisper, but my eyes are still on the one of Sky and me.
Do I really mean that much to him? As I raise my eyes, I know the answer.
Yes, I do.
My phone is blowing up, and the comments on Sky’s post are insane. He tagged me, so my follower count had skyrocketed. It seems nearly the entirety of Pine Valley’s population is now shipping us.
Shaking my head, I put it away and walk next to Skylar, with Evan and Alek behind us, splitting cotton candy. I’m tired but happy. Today has been amazing.
“I’m glad you two are finally together,” Evan comments around a mouthful. “I knew you’d give in, though I’ll admit I didn’t expect Skylar to officially date anyone.”
“I don’t date men,” he replies seriously, and I arch a brow at him. He grins at me. “I marry them.”
“Oh God.” I try to leave, but he laughs and pulls me back just as an older woman stops before us, glaring.
“Can I help you?” I ask as she eyes us distastefully. My hackles rise, and anger courses through me at the sneer on her lips as she looks us over.
“You shouldn’t be doing this in public,” she chides, gesturing at us.
“Doing what? Walking? Would you prefer I run?” I smirk.
“No! Flaunting this . . . this sin. The devil will come for you, you know?” She looks so righteous, so sure of herself. Evan appears annoyed, and Alek is furious—I feel the same way. I expect Sky’s anger, but he leans into me and smiles at the lady.
“Do you have his number? I heard he ’s . . . hot,” Sky teases. “I bet we’d get along, two bad bitches and all.”
“The devil is in you,” she hisses.
Sky gasps and places his hand on his heart dramatically. “Really? I didn’t notice.” He glances at me. “Did you?”
“I don’t know about the devil, but I had you in me,” I say, and she looks horrified.
“You are disgusting, you vagrant?—”
“Enough,” Alek snaps. “You can take your outdated opinions elsewhere. We aren’t hurting anyone. You’re the one causing the scene.”
“But you—you—” She glances between us.
“Is there a problem here?” A security guy approaches us, a big, burly, older man with a handlebar mustache.
“Yes!” she cries, putting on the tears, and we all sigh. “These kids are rude and disgusting.”
“That wasn’t what I heard. I heard you being cruel to them.” He glances at us. “Are you okay?”
“We’re fine,” I murmur in shock as I glance at her. “Just to let you know, I’m a lawyer. I could press charges, but I won’t.”
“You . . . You . . .” She looks between us and the security officer.
“Let’s go.” He nods.
“Yes, take them away. Get them out of here. It’s disgusting. There are children here!” she yells, still not understanding.
“I mean you.” He frowns at her. “We don’t tolerate abuse here. Everyone is free to be who they want. Love is love, ma’am. Maybe you need to realize that because you could clearly use some love yourself. It might change your mood.” He steers her away and nods at us. “I apologize. Please ignore her. I will escort her out. Enjoy your day.”
We watch her go, and Alek whistles. “Well, damn, maybe the whole world isn’t fucked.”
“Not the world, but I certainly was last night—” I elbow Skylar, cutting off his words, and he chuckles even as he wheezes.
I walk away, but my smile is wide, and when he catches up, so do Evan and Alek.
“What now?” Evan asks.
“Let’s have fun.” I shrug. “Let’s just go with it. Today is about us, no one else.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Alek nods. “The awesome foursome—wait, that sounded wrong.”
We all groan, but it’s laced with amusement before Sky and Alek dive into name ideas.
As I watch them bicker, I can’t help but be grateful they came into my life and fought to be a part of it, because I couldn’t imagine my world without them.
I was so alone before, but now, I’ll never be alone again.