Chapter 20 – Skylar
SKYLAR
I’m fuming. So tired and over the bullshit of men.
I was before, and then the pregnancy happened, and I mentally slipped.
I have one man who tells me he loves me while he hurts me.
The other married me, said a million perfect things to me, and finally made me come, only to ruin it with his cocky boy crap like that was his agenda all along and I was just there for the ride to help his ego along.
He made me feel connected to him. Beautiful. Desired. All the things he said.
But he didn’t mean any of it.
It was a ruse. A way to dupe me so he could win the challenge.
And I hate him for it. I hate him for making me feel this way after I swore to myself I’d never let a man do that to me again.
I hate that I married him, and if it weren’t for Zoey and what’s yet to come with me, I’d end that shit now.
I suppose the one silver lining to last night is that I know I’m not broken.
I can have an orgasm with a man, and one day when life finally decides to settle down a bit for me and I find a normal, healthy relationship, I’ll have an incredible sex life.
Coming out of the shower, I wrap a towel around myself and stare at my reflection. I didn’t sleep well, and it’s becoming a bad pattern, especially when I’m so exhausted all the time.
A loud bang hits the door. “Skylar? I have to pee!”
A smile curls up my face, and I quickly go over to the door to unlock it. “Hey. Sorry. You’re up early. I tried to finish before you woke up.”
“I had to pee,” she explains, like that should be obvious.
She flies for the toilet, and I go to leave so she can have her privacy, but she stops me as she starts talking even while she pulls down her princess sleep pants and starts to do her business.
“Daddy said he’s going to take me to a movie today. Wanna come with us?”
Um, not really, but only because your dad will be there.
But I’m not sure I can say no. This was the arrangement I made.
“Is your daddy okay with that?”
The toilet flushes, and she goes to wash her hands at the sink, climbing up onto the step stool so she can reach. “Why wouldn’t he be?” she asks in that blunt way kids have.
“I don’t know. I’d love to go, but let me talk to him and see if the timing works out. I have plans this afternoon. Is that okay?” I check.
“Okay. But if you come with us, I’ll share my popcorn with you.”
I smile. “That’s very nice of you. I’ll share my candy with you in return.”
“Reese’s are my favorites.”
“Mine too. Candy besties!”
“My mom liked KitKat.” Her voice drops. “They’re good too.”
My chest pinches. “Maybe we can get a couple of different kinds then. I’m going to get dressed, and after I’ll talk to your daddy more about it.”
She goes for her toothbrush to brush her teeth, and I take that as my moment to flee.
I scoop up my clothes from the small table in here and carry them out since I clearly won’t be getting dressed in here anymore.
I’m a bit old to be sharing a bathroom, but since I moved into the guest room before Aston and Zoey ever moved in, it is what it is.
I step out of the bathroom and plow straight into Aston, who was coming for the bathroom. My clothes drop to the floor as I work to secure my towel.
Our eyes meet before he registers my wet hair and the towel covering me. “Hi,” he says, his voice rushed.
“Hi.” I dive for my clothes on the floor at the same moment he does, and we bump heads. “Ow.” I rub the top of my head as he picks up my clothes.
“You okay? That hurt. Here.” He hands me my clothes one by one.
My sweater, my jeans, my undershirt, my bra that he eyes, and finally my thong that he definitely eyes and runs through his fingers.
Then I remember. He ripped my panties last night.
Does he still have them? I don’t. Or are they hanging out on the kitchen counter like a bad memory?
“I’m fine.” I take my items from him and press them to my chest as I go to move around him, but he parries my dance and intercepts me. “What are you doing?”
“Last night I started thinking—”
“Could have fooled me,” I cut him off.
He grunts, but there’s a curl of his lips. “Yes, well, actually I was thinking you should take Micha’s room and I should take the guest bedroom.”
I hold my clothes tighter, using them as a shield. “Oh?”
“If anyone should be sharing a bathroom with Zoey, it’s me. You’d also have more privacy that way, and I won’t have to keep seeing you in nothing but a towel. How about after breakfast, after I make you breakfast,” he amends, “we switch rooms.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why are you being nice?”
“Who said I am?”
“You’re smiling strangely at me. And you’re talking about making me breakfast and offering me Micha’s room.”
“I’m not smiling strangely at you.”
“You are,” I counter.
That smile twists up even higher, and he rubs the back of his neck beneath his backward ball hat, making his stupid biceps bulge. “This is becoming one of my favorite looks for you, but I don’t think I’m allowed to say that.”
“You’re not.”
He gives a slow nod, then shrugs as if he doesn’t care. “See. Definitely a good idea for you to take Micha’s room. I’ll let you get dressed. Eggs, french toast, or both?”
I snort. “Both. Obviously.”
“Bacon?”
I roll my eyes. “Is that actually a question?”
Now I get a full set of pearly white teeth. It’s annoying how good-looking he is. How the way he looks at me isn’t real. It’s just who he is and what he does. I was a pawn to him.
I move around him when he stops me again just as I reach my door. “About last night—”
“No,” I sharply cut him off and face him so he sees how serious I am about this.
“No. We’re not doing that. We’re not talking about it or giving excuses or gloating or anything.
You got your wedding present, and Micha’s bedroom is mine, and that’s it.
We’re not friends or friendly, and I seriously don’t like you.
In fact, the less we talk to each other, the better. ”
His eyes search mine, and all traces of his smile are gone. He’s not frowning, but he’s not happy either. Tough shit. That makes two of us. He opens his mouth, closes it, and walks into the bathroom where Zoey is.
As for me, I lock the bedroom door and get myself dressed and ready.
Then I pull down the two suitcases I have in here and put the things from the dresser in them.
My hanging stuff, shoes, and purses I can carry down the hall.
It’ll take about eighty trips, but whatever.
I’m glad to have Micha’s bedroom and bathroom to myself.
I didn’t take his bedroom when I moved in because it was still his bedroom with things in it, and it felt weird, but now I’m grateful Aston is giving it to me.
I finish getting ready and even blow out my hair, which I don’t normally do, but it’s cold out today and I’m killing time.
I’ll go down and eat with them, but I don’t want to hang around the kitchen with him.
One look at that counter and I’ll either orgasm again or strangle him.
Neither of which I want to do in front of Zoey.
“Sky, breakfast is ready!” Zoey calls up to me, and I laugh lightly.
He had Zoey come and tell me. He’s either respecting my wishes or is a total coward.
The smell of bacon and cinnamon hits me, and my stomach churns a little.
Not enough that I won’t eat, but I won’t be sad when this morning sickness ends. Thankfully, no throw-ups today.
I hit the bottom step, when the doorbell rings. I throw a glance over at Aston, but he looks just as confused as I am. For a moment, a flash of uneasiness hits me. What if Josh is making good on his threats to start showing up here?
“Who is it?” I ask through the door since I left my phone upstairs with the camera app on it.
“It’s me. Open up. It’s freezing out here,” my mother replies, and I laugh. And sigh. Of course my mother is here.
When I open the door, I discover it’s not just my mother, but Aston’s mother too. “Surprise!” Halle sings out, racing in to give me a giant hug because that’s Halle. “We were going to brunch and then thought it would be fun if everyone came.”
“Grandma!” Zoey cries and races over to Halle, who scoops her up into a big hug.
“My girl.” Halle drops kisses on her head. “Are you feeling better after last night?”
Zoey nods, and I wonder what happened last night that she wasn’t feeling well. She seems fine now.
“Good. It smells like Daddy is already making you breakfast.”
“I was,” Aston confirms.
“But you can join us,” my mom states, talking to me. “I’m positive there’s a mimosa with your name on it.”
Ohhh. Yeah, that’s a toughie.
I twist my fingers. “Uh. Well.”
“What is that on your hand?” Halle puts Zoey down and yanks my left hand up to her face.
“Skylar Fritz Davenport, why do you have a massive diamond on your hand along with a wedding band?” my mother practically shrieks.
Oh shit. I forgot I was wearing them. I throw a panicked look at Aston, who calmly turns off the stove, makes Zoey a plate of food, sets it on the table, and walks over to us.
This was not how my mom, or even his mom, was supposed to find out.
I was planning a sit-down over dinner, and after they’d already had copious amounts of wine or maybe a martini or six, then I’d tell them.
Aston comes straight to Zoey. “Your breakfast is ready for you. Go eat while I talk to Grandma and Aunt Rina.”
“Can I watch on my iPad?”
“Yes. But only for a little.”
“Why are Grandma and Aunt Rina so upset?”
“Because they like to over grown-up sometimes.” He scrunches his nose and ruffles the top of her head. “Don’t let your food get cold, kiddo.”
Zoey simply shrugs in an adult problems way and scampers over to the table to eat.
“Why do you have a gigantic diamond on your hand?” my mother yells again.
“Shhh,” I hush her and nod toward Zoey, who’s now in the kitchen eating and watching on her iPad.
“Don’t shush me. Tell me.”