3. Skylar #2
By the time Allie and Ash share their first kiss as a married couple—that nearly becomes X-rated before the officiant coughs and breaks the spell—I feel physically itchy. I need to get out of here.
I watch as Emory signs her name on the paperwork and then step forward at the same time as Declan.
The old man looks at us, wholly unamused. “We only need two witness signatures,” he says in an irritated tone.
“I—”
Before I can finish my thought, Declan steps back and gestures for me to go ahead, so I do, signing my name and turning to Emory to fake some sort of illness. That’s when he finally speaks, uttering the first words I’ve heard him say since the ones that broke me in half.
“I’m going to head out. Congratulations, man.
” His voice is smooth and deep with a slight rasp to it.
Like honey that’s been raked over hot coals.
He claps Ashton on the back, nodding his chin toward Emory before turning to Allie.
“I would tell you not to break his heart, but I’d like my balls to stay where they are. ”
“Smart.” Her lips tip up into a half-smirk.
He nods, and with that, the man who obliterated my heart without a second thought is gone.
Half an hour later, Ashton glares at me from behind Allie’s back as she unlocks the door to her restaurant.
“Thanks,” I whisper.
“Of course. We wouldn’t want you to be without your lip gloss for an entire night,” Ash deadpans.
Allie gives me a once-over, clearly onto the whole ruse.
Rolling her eyes, she sighs and pushes open the door.
It’s dark and quiet inside, but slight movement off to the right catches my eye.
Allie flips on the light switch and a chorus of “Surprise!” echoes throughout the room.
Ashton nearly jumps out of his skin, while Allie doesn’t even attempt to act amused.
I step off to the side as their friends and family crowd around them. Emory comes forward, and Allie shoots her a murderous glare, to which she just shrugs and settles into Luke’s side, kissing the baby strapped to his chest.
I slip off before Ashton can say anything to me. While everyone is preoccupied with congratulating the newlyweds, I take it as my chance to escape in case Declan decides to show up. Or at least, most are. Ashton’s sister, Cassie, smacks him upside the head.
“I can’t believe you got married without me, Ashtray,” she yells.
“Jesus, Cassiebear, I’m sorry.” He covers his eyes, bracing for another hit, but she wraps her arms around him instead.
“I love you, you idiot.” She pulls back, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m so happy for you both.” As she releases Ash and takes Allie in her arms, I notice the tall man positioned protectively behind her.
He has a beer in one hand and the other travels down until it lands on the small of her back.
Must be her new boyfriend. I’m not super close with Cassie, but I did run into her recently, and she told me all about her new guy.
However, she failed to mention he’s six and a half feet of muscled Daddy energy.
Not that he’s my type. He’s too put together. Too clean-cut. No visible tattoos or piercings…God, I’m a mess. I make my way back to the front door and am almost in the clear, but no sooner does my hand brush the handle than I hear a throat clearing.
“Going somewhere?”
When I turn around, Allie is standing there, arms crossed over her chest, hip popped, lips pulled back in a scowl.
“I was—”
“Nope.” She somehow switches places with me before I even know what’s happening, so now she’s positioned in front of the door. “Whatever it is, save it. You lured us here under false pretenses. Now you are going to stay and endure the festivities right along with us.”
My face falls as I inhale a frustrated breath.
I was so close.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
Allie flips a wavy brown lock over her shoulder.
“Of course I knew. My staff was being extra skittish this morning before I closed up. Not to mention Emory’s nervous lip-biting throughout the entire ceremony.
” She places a gentle hand on my arm, leading me further into the restaurant.
“And lip gloss? Really? We all know your idea of getting gussied up is using the clear watermelon flavor of lip balm instead of the mint. It’s still clear even if the cap is pink. ”
Dammit. How does she know me so well?
She turns back for a split second as if she just remembered something. “Hey, Sky. I wasn’t saying that to be rude. You’re naturally, infuriatingly gorgeous. You know that, right?”
Blood rushes to my cheeks, heating them before I turn away. It’s what I always do when someone gives me a compliment. I’ve never known how to take them.
Ignoring my blush, Allie pushes me through a door, and I realize she’s led me to the kitchen.
She bypasses a server who’s carrying out a tray of mini crab cakes and grabs my uninjured wrist, leading me past her staff busily chopping and arranging appetizers on platters.
Her sous chef, Julian, looks up from where he’s delicately placing microgreens on a plate of what looks like tuna tartare.
“Where’s the fire, chef?” he asks as we whiz by, and Allie just throws up her middle finger.
I hear his throaty chuckle as Allie opens the giant walk-in fridge and pulls me in.
She slams the door, pushes aside a container of carrots on a bottom shelf, and pulls a small bottle of brown liquid from a cardboard box.
It’s not until she turns it towards me that I realize it’s Fireball.
“You tell anyone I drink this shit, and I’ll tell Ash you’re feeling overwhelmed at work,” she says, unscrewing the red metallic top before taking a swig.
I nod my head, and she hands me the bottle. The cinnamon-flavored liquor burns as it slides down my throat, but I welcome it. Of course, she knows exactly how to threaten me. The last thing I need is Ashton thinking I’m overwhelmed. He’ll swoop in and baby me more than he already does.
Allie Montgomery is nothing if not ruthless. It’s honestly what I love about her. She dishes out tough love, and sometimes that’s exactly what I need. There have only ever been two other people in my life who have done the same. One’s dead, and the other might as well be.
“You know, I used to be jealous of you.” Allie’s soft words cut through the silence, and I almost choke on the sip I just took.
“You? Jealous of me?” I squeak, handing her back the bottle.