Chapter 28
Skye
The rest of the week was insane. With new designs coming in, Tess and I didn’t know our asses from our elbows most days.
When we weren’t packing online orders, we were attending to customers in the store.
We started our days early, and by the time evening rolled in, we barely had enough energy to go home.
At least Mom’s eyesight had improved considerably.
On Thursday, the doctor gave her the all-clear.
The infection was gone. Mom declared she didn’t need babysitting anymore.
On Friday, my body began to show signs of overworking. While I was arranging a new display, crouched to put on fluffy slippers on our mannequin, ass in the air, head down, my vision faded at the corners. I leaned against the window display for support, straightening up.
“What’s wrong?” Tess asked, instantly at my side, helping me up.
“Just… balance issues. My vision went dark for a bit.”
“Did you eat today?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe you didn’t have enough water. Go sit down, I’ll finish up here.”
I did as she said, massaging my temples.
I only needed a few minutes to recover, then decided to drink a big glass of water, just to be on the safe side.
The last thing Tess and I needed was one of us to be sick.
We’d fall so far behind on our to-do list that I shuddered just thinking about it.
I felt as good as new after yet another glass of water, and just as I was preparing to get back to work, Rob called.
And just like that, the corners of my mouth lifted in a grin. Ah, I should have him call me more often if this was how my body reacted. My heartbeat accelerated. Oh yeah. There was the dose of energy I needed for the rest of the day.
“Hey, you!” I greeted.
“Hey. How is your day going?”
“Bah! It’s a good thing you’ll be gone this week.”
“Why?”
“I have so much to do that you wouldn’t even get laid.”
His laugh brightened my spirits; I totally loved this man. “I can always make that a priority.”
“Aha!”
“Don’t tempt me. I can make that happen even from LA.”
God, I missed him. “And how would you do that exactly?” I teased.
“Flying in, surprising you in the night.”
Hmmm… that was a thought. Suddenly, the urge to see him hit me hard. To stroke that chiseled jaw and jump his bones.
“Where are you now?” he asked.
“In the back, stuffing boxes for some online orders. Well, cheating, actually, and just looking in a mirror at my hair.”
“Imagine I’m there with you.”
His voice was so sensual and rich that I had no problem doing just that. It was as if he was just behind me, whispering in my ear.
“Rob…,” I whispered, half admonishing him, half urging him to go on.
“Skye,” he answered playfully. How he could pack so much sensuality in one syllable, I had no idea, but he did it in spades. “Imagine I’m kissing the back of your neck.”
The hair at the nape of my neck stood on end. Goose bumps formed on my shoulders. I let out a quick breath.
If he was here, he’d raise his gaze, looking at me in the mirror. I could practically see the wolfish glint in his eyes… and shuddered.
“What else?” I asked.
“I’d boss you into taking some time off to relax.”
I laughed, because I could imagine him doing just that.
“I miss you,” I said. My stomach immediately rolled.
“I miss you too. But it looks like I’ll have to be here another week.”
“Oh?” I just wanted to cry. My emotions were just going every which way these days.
“The person I’d been hoping to promote doesn’t actually want the job. We’re sorting through other applicants now.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Anyway, have to go. Next applicant’s here. Just wanted to hear your voice for a bit. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I sighed deeply, pressing my palm against my sternum. I felt as if something heavy was suddenly pressing me. I couldn’t believe I was so emotional just because he’d come back a few days later than planned. This was very unlike me. Was it just the stress and exhaustion of the week catching up to me?
I had no idea what to make of it but hoped customers wouldn’t notice.
Tess did the second I returned to the front though. She gave me a speculative glance while tending to a customer, but the second the woman was out the door, Tess pointed at me, a crease between her eyebrows.
“What’s with the mopey face?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m emotional but don’t get why.”
Tess closed the distance to me, placing her forearms on my shoulders.
“I think we’re both tired. You know what helps with that?”
“Ice cream?” I suggested.
Tess laughed. “Great minds think alike. I’ll go get us some. You want your usual?”
“Hmmm, actually no. I’m in the mood for some blueberry and lemon.”
“You’re exchanging caramel for lemon? Who are you and what have you done to my sister?”
“Hey, I feel like being adventurous today.”
“You still have time to change your mind. Just send me a message,” she said before leaving the store.
Eating ice cream with my sister was one of the finer pleasures in life. I was already rubbing my stomach while watching Tess cross the road.
We both devoured it like we were competing in a who-eats-faster show. We hadn’t turned the sign to Closed, so we were just keeping our fingers crossed that no customers came in.
“Sneaky ice cream tastes even better,” I said.
“I agree. How’s the lemon?”
I grinned. “Lemon-y. Reminds me of dishwasher soap, but I like it.” I yawned, suddenly feeling not only relaxed but also sleepy.
“I’m all over the place today.”
“Maybe it’s PMS,” she said.
“I don’t have PMS though.” I’d never had mood swings, cravings, pain, extra tiredness, or any symptoms.
In a conspiratorial whisper, she said, “Things change as you get older, just saying.”
“Hey, I’m not old. You’re old.” I pinched her arm. She giggled, pinching me right back. I’d always teased her for being older. When we were teenagers, my favorite tactic to annoy her was to point out imaginary wrinkles. But maybe she was right. Come to think of it, I was a few days late.
“I’ve always had a regulated cycle since being on the pill,” I said out loud.
Tess cocked a brow. “I think you forgot half the sentence. What do you mean?”
“That I’m a few days late.”
Tess grimaced. “Damn, I think the stress is really catching up to you. Don’t come in on the weekend.”
“We’ll be swamped.” Even though our sales associates were handling most weekends, we had a sale this Saturday and Sunday and needed all hands on deck. “I’ll call upon the Winchester forces.”
“What if they already have plans?”
“By sheer probability, someone will have time. You have to rest and relax.”
“You sound like Rob.”
“I knew I liked that man. When’s he coming back?”
“Not sure. He said he has to stay a few more days, maybe even a week.”
“Damn, so I can’t count on him to ambush you into relaxing….” It sounded as if she was about to say “but….” She remained silent instead, but her eyes were a little narrowed as she finished her ice cream. I knew that expression. She was getting… ideas.
I didn’t have time to investigate though, because the front door opened and three customers walked in.
The next morning, I did get an inkling of what she’d been up to when I opened the door to a guy delivering food at lunch.
“Hi,” I said, feeling a little flustered and a lot tired. I’d slept in right until five minutes ago.
“Hi, ma’am. I have a special delivery.”
Even through my sleepy haze, my heart fluttered. Special indeed, because I knew I hadn’t ordered anything.
“Thank you so much.” I tipped him generously, then took the basket with goodies inside the house. Ah, I didn’t even need to see the logo of Dumont’s on the napkins to know who’d sent this over.
Clapping my hands, I rose from my heels to my toes before rocking back on my heels.
Hmmm… what to do first? Dig into all of these goodies or call Rob and thank him? It was too soon after waking up for such difficult decisions, so I decided to do both at the same time.
Grabbing my phone and a plate, I put cheese and bread on the latter before sinking into my comfy swing.
I dialed Rob first.
“Hello, charming boyfriend,” I greeted.
“Hi. Was just about to text the delivery guy and check on him.”
“No need. I can confirm that all the goodies are right in front of my nose. Did you talk to my sister?”
“Hey, you’re the one who said using Tess as a source of information is fair play.”
“True that.” Grinning, I shoved a bit of cheese in my mouth, dangling my legs in the air. “Mmmm… this is delicious.”
“Skye, fuck.”
Ah, what an atomic combination of words. Stifling a giggle, I moaned again, eating yet another piece of cheese.
“You want to kill me?” His voice was hoarse. My lady parts tingled with heat.
“Nah, just trying to sell you on jumping on a plane.”
“I’m of a mind to ditch the rest of my plans anyway.”
“Yeah, do that. Come over to the dark side.”
He laughed. “Can’t, unfortunately.”
“Hmm… must improve my phone-moaning skills.”
“Please don’t.”
Pouting, I said, “Tell me about the rest of your day.”
“Three interviews at the office, and another two during lunch and dinner, then I’ll drop dead in my bed.”
“See, if you were in my bed, that would be so much more fun,” I teased.
“I know.”
We spoke a while longer, right until he had to go into his first meeting, and then I devoured a granola bar and a delicious yogurt with chia seeds and strawberry jam.
I felt more than a little guilty about staying home, but Tess was right. I needed to rest before I went from tired to sick.
Skye: I feel guilty for not being there.
In response Tess sent me a photo. Josie was there, along with Ryker, Hunter, and Cole.
Holy shit!
Tess: We’re crazy busy. Josie’s with me in the front, the boys are packing up the online orders.
Cole insists he’s the reason we’re swamped.
First we teased him that he’s actually trying to charm his way out of packing boxes buuuut…
customers tend to stay 30 percent longer in the store when he’s in the front (and buy more).
Skye: Maybe we should include him in the marketing strategy. “Come on in and our brother might charm you into going on a date with him.”
I snickered, yearning to have fun with all of them, but truthfully, I felt exhausted despite sleeping in and drinking coffee, so I went back to bed.
Sunday was just as relaxing. I slept in, and it was marvelous.
On Monday morning, I was still feeling as if I could sleep the whole day but forced myself to go into the city. I wasn’t showing any signs of even a cold, so I couldn’t justify staying home.
As per my usual routine, I first stopped into Joe’s coffee shop.
I was so hungry that aside from my to-go order, I also bought a vanilla custard puff.
My mouth watered as Joe put it on a plate in front of me.
Next to me, a preschooler was looking at me with envy.
She received a healthy sandwich. I pushed my unhealthy, extra-sugary treat out of her sight.
Way to go, Skye . Being a bad influence starting at eight o’clock in the morning wasn’t my usual MO, but today I felt rebellious.
After the first bite, I grimaced. Something about the cream was off. It wasn’t sour or anything, it just tasted different. I didn’t like it.
“Everything okay, Skye?” Joe asked.
“I usually love vanilla puffs,” I muttered. “My taste buds are all over the place lately.”
The lady next to me chuckled. “When I was pregnant with my first one, I couldn’t even look at tomatoes, and I love tomatoes.”
I froze, looking between Joe and the customer. “I’m not pregnant,” I said. My stomach bottomed out at the same time as a knot formed in my throat.
“Oh, it’s the only thing that occurred to me. Taste bud change happens a lot during pregnancy.” She shrugged, heading back out on the street.
“I’ll bring you another one, Skye. Maybe something’s not right with this one.”
“No, that’s okay. Just a sign that I should start my morning with healthy snacks.” Grabbing the rest of my order, I left the bakery.
I couldn’t get that lady’s words out of my head as Tess and I set our breakfast on the counter as usual. My heart was still in my throat. It was impossible to swallow anything. This wasn’t possible. I took the pill religiously at the same hour every evening, as the instructions said.
Just to double-check, I got out the container. There were exactly as many pills as there should have been. I hadn’t missed any… but I still hadn’t gotten my period.
“Skye?” Tess asked. “You okay?”
“I’m still late,” I said, biting my lower lip. “And I’m worried that….”
I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.
Tess straightened up, running a hand through her hair. “Think you might be pregnant?”
Ah, of course Tess would ask me straight up, no punches pulled.
“I can’t be though.” My voice was strangled. “Just looked at the pill container. All gone. I didn’t miss any.”