11. Bones
CHAPTER 11
BONES
M y phone vibrates again as I’m leaving. Sighing deeply, I pull it out.
Skylar: Good morning, beautiful. I had great dreams about you.
Skylar: I love breakfast. What do you eat for it?
There’s a picture of him with a smoothie and pancakes, which makes me roll my eyes.
The texts have been coming since this morning, starting at 5 AM.
Skylar: The sun is just coming up. I’m on my way to the track. I wish you were in my passenger seat. Want me to swing by and get you? What time do your classes start?
Skylar: I’m at the track, text me when you wake up. Want me to order you some breakfast?
I didn’t reply no matter how much I wanted to. It would only encourage this behavior, and if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that if you give Skylar an inch, he’ll take a mile.
Skylar: So mean ignoring me, baby. I miss you already. How’s class?
Ignoring his message again, I open the other one that came through not too long ago.
Anders: Tonight. 7 PM. Sky Bar on Cresset Street. We are having a meal. Be there, no excuses.
Bones: I’m busy.
I’m not, but it can’t be anything good. Alek and I are friends, but not the type to meet up for a meal, so I don’t plan on going.
Anders: Be there or I’ll give Skylar your address.
Fuck.
He will, and then I’ll never get rid of the clingy race boy. I debate which is the lesser of two evils as I walk without looking.
Bones: Fine.
I lower my phone and stumble to a stop as a grinning, brightly dressed Lally pops up in front of me. My eyebrow arches as I look for Evan, since they are joined at the hip, but it’s just her. My brows draw together as I frown.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. Lally is a little like Skylar, always in trouble.
She laughs. “I’m not in trouble, I just came to give you these.” She pulls her hands from behind her back and thrusts a huge bouquet of sunflowers at me. I have no choice but to take them, frowning deeper.
“Uh, why are you giving me flowers?” I ask as she starts to walk backwards. I chase her as she laughs.
“I’m not. They are from Sky. He said you wouldn’t take them from him. I’m late for class. Bye!” She waves as she runs off, knowing I was going to hand them back.
Sighing, I peer down at the flowers before heading to the closest bin to throw them away, but I hesitate. They are really nice flowers. How did he know they are my favorite?
The flowers didn’t do anything wrong . . . .
I put them under my arm instead and stomp to my car to drive home since my classes are done for the day, my bouquet in the passenger seat the entire time.
I tell myself the only reason I’m going is so Skylar doesn’t turn up at my house every day. I know the Sky Bar has a dress code, though, so I slip into one of my many designer suits. I leave the shirt off, adding my own twist, and slick my hair back. I have no idea why Anders wants to meet in a place like that. It’s not his usual scene, not to mention there’s a waitlist.
It bugs me as I grab my wallet and phone and walk through my dark apartment.
My eyes catch on the sunflowers sitting on my dining table, brightening the whole place, as I pass, and I almost smack myself at my own idiocy.
Hurrying out before I decide to ruin their innocence, I grab a taxi since I’ll need to drink to get through this meal with Anders.
The Sky Bar isn’t far. It’s in the heart of downtown Pine Valley on the waterfront, which always has packed bars and restaurants since they are the best. I wander past them, the cool night air wrapping around me. I ignore the looks I get due to my tattoos and intimidating face. Some even move out of my way, but I ignore that as well as I walk through the glass door with a neon sign reading “Sky Bar” above it.
I stride to a bank of elevators and I hit the button. Once I’m inside, I notice there is no button, and we ride it to the very top. The door opens into the reception area, where two men in suits and a woman in a skintight black dress wait behind a wooden podium. There are sofas to the left filled with people waiting, but I move past them.
“I have a reservation. 7 PM, Anders.”
“Of course,” the brown-haired woman replies. “This way, sir. Your party is already here and expecting you.”
I follow her through the double doors, and we are transported into another world. Tables are littered throughout, and we are surrounded by glass, letting us see the night sky. The interior has bright pink and purple flowers spread everywhere, and it’s decorated with dramatic displays to take pictures with. There is even a carousel to the left which people pose in front of.
We head past all that and down some steps leading to the outside courtyard. I weave through tables behind her, my eyes catching on the incredible view. The railings are covered in the same flowers, but they don’t obstruct the skyline. We finally come to a stop, and I’m so distracted I almost run into her.
“Sir.” She nods.
“Thank you.” I offer her a polite nod and turn to face Alek. “What is this—” I freeze.
Alek Anders isn’t sitting in the leather chair of the intimate, two-person table with candles and flowers.
It’s Skylar.
My jaw drops as I gape at him, and his eyes sparkle as he runs his gaze down me. “You look fucking good, beautiful. I like that you dressed up for our date. I did the same. Do you like it?” He stands, opening his arms to show me his outfit.
I thought I couldn’t be more shocked, but I am. He’s in a full suit, even wearing a waistcoat, in a deep gray silk that makes his dark eyes stand out. His hair is styled in a half bun with strands falling down, and his piercings sparkle in the light.
“I’ll take the silence as shock over my sexiness.” He grins. “I’ve heard the food here is good, but we can always go somewhere else.”
“Where is Alek?” I ask, even though I know the answer.
“Oops.” He winks. “No Alek, just me.”
That bastard is dead.
He set me up, and his friend made him.
Turning, I start to stomp away. There’s no way I’m staying with Skylar?—
“If you leave, Alek will give me your address,” he calls. “Your choice.”
Grinding my teeth, I hesitate before turning and storming to the table, poking my finger into his chest. “You have one hour. Understood?”
“Understood.” He grins. “Sit down, beautiful.”
Snarling, I reach for my chair back to sit, wanting to get this over with.
Skylar hurries to my chair and pulls it out for me. I sit and jerk it out of his hands. He doesn’t care, grabbing my napkin from the table and unfolding it. He lays it across my lap as his mouth brushes my ear.
“You look good enough to eat.” He dances out of the way of my elbow and slides into his own seat, his hand playing with his napkin as he watches me with that annoyingly bright smile.
“How did you bribe him to betray me?” I snap as Skylar leans back, looking far too smug and handsome in his own right.
“I knew something he didn’t want Evan to know.” I narrow my gaze, and he holds his hands up. “Nothing bad, trust me. It’s good, but he wants it to be a surprise. Otherwise, he would never betray you, but when it comes to Evan . . .”
“He would do anything.” I sigh, leaning back. “So what do you want?”
“To see you, of course. You didn’t reply, so I had to find a way.” He smirks. “Did you like the flowers?”
“I put them in the trash,” I lie.
“Ouch.” He covers his chest like he’s wounded, but he’s still smiling at me when our waiter appears.
He looks between us. “Are you ready to order?”
“We’ll have two of your best steaks, medium for me, rare for my boyfriend. The works on the side. What do you want to drink, baby?” He arches a brow, daring me to argue.
My nostrils flare, annoyance filling me as I glance at the waiter. “Whiskey.”
The waiter nods and rushes away, no doubt feeling the tension.
“Don’t ever order for me?—”
“Do you not like steak?” Skylar asks.
I grind my jaw. “Yes, it’s my favorite. How did you know I take it rare?”
He grins at me as he leans closer, like he’s sharing a secret. “I’ve made it my mission to know everything about you, baby. You should know that.”
Ignoring his response, I glance at his glass of water. “Aren’t you drinking?”
“Not tonight.” He leans back, smiling mysteriously. “I don’t need it when I’m with you.”
Rolling my eyes, I lean back in my chair and check my watch. “You’re down to fifty minutes.”
“That’s long enough.” He grins. “You can do a lot in that time.”
“Really? I thought you would be a quick draw,” I quip, and he laughs, his head thrown back. Despite my annoyance at his blatant manipulation, I find myself staring at him. He really is beautiful, but he knows it, and when he catches me looking, I glance away.
I’ll never admit that I like it or that no one, not even my ex, ever ordered for me. They didn’t know me well enough, but somehow, this asshole does, and I don’t know what to feel about it.
“This has to be the best date I have ever been on.” He grins, propping his chin on his hand and watching me.
“It isn’t a date,” I snap.
He just smiles, and I find myself shuffling under his attention before I realize it and stop my movements. I refuse to show any weakness because Skylar would pounce on it.
“What do you want from me, Skylar?” I ask. “To be friends?”
“Baby, I don’t want to be your friend. I want to be your everything. I want to be your lover, your boyfriend, and your forever. I want to be the one you turn to when life is hard and the one you trust with all those secrets. I want the story behind every tattoo covering your delicious body. No, Bones, I don’t want to be your friend. I want to be yours.”
I search his eyes, vulnerability coursing through me for a moment. “Why?” My voice is soft and tentative. “I’m rude to everyone, I hate everything, and I push everyone away. I?—”
“Because you’re worth it,” he interrupts. “No matter what you think, you’re worth the effort, and no matter what front you put on for everyone else, I see you . . . I know you.”
“No, you don’t?—”
“I do,” he interrupts again, reaching over and covering my hand. “I saw the real you that night, the man willing to do anything to keep his friends safe—a strong, confident fighter with a fragile side. I see you, Bones, the real you that you try to hide, and I want him. Be mean to me and push me away, but it won’t stop me. I’m not giving up.” He leans back, taking the warmth of his hand with him, and I tuck my hand under the table, covering it with my other one. Picking up his glass, he takes a sip of his water and swallows. “So how was your day and your classes?”
“You’re unbelievable,” I say, but it doesn’t sound like an insult anymore.