“Really? Clark?” Mom replied, and I gritted my teeth. More and more I was realizing how much of my life I’d been going through the motions, never caring enough to make any waves. “I’m not sure that’s something he’s inter—”
“How would you know?” I said, cutting her off. When my father gave me a warning look, I composed myself because it was unprofessional to hash out family stuff at work. I glanced at Mr. Whitney as I began gathering my things. “Thank you for thinking of me. I’ll…think on it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to finish by the end of the day.”
Afterward, I got lost in paperwork and client calls at my desk before finally getting in my car and heading home. My plan was to make stir-fry and maybe even bake some cookies because I really enjoyed cooking for Skylar. It was better than doing it for only myself, and while I still had the time, why not?
I waved to Eddie as I passed through the lobby to the elevator.
“Have a good evening,” he said, and I smiled as the doors closed. I certainly was going to try.
The first thing I noticed when I swept through the door was a box of Sky’s things in the entryway. He didn’t have much here, and I hadn’t expected him to pack three days early.
Sky was sitting on the couch, his nose in his phone, his feet propped on the coffee table. I eyed him for a moment before saying, “Hi.”
He looked up and grinned that special grin that immediately settled my stomach.
“What’s going on?” I asked, motioning toward the box.
“Oh…” he replied, his voice faltering. “I got word from the super that my apartment is ready.”
“Huh.” I tried sounding as calm as possible, though it felt like a boulder had lodged in my throat. “So…you plan on leaving now? Can I help with anything?”
“No, unless you plan on kicking me out.” He stood up and headed toward me, wariness in his gaze. “I thought maybe we could still have dinner together and hang out tonight. I can leave in the morning.”
I blew out a breath, and without thinking it through, pulled him into my arms. I hugged him as if he’d just given me the best news, even if it was laced with melancholy.
“Sky… I…” I didn’t exactly know what I was going to say—or how—but suddenly Skylar’s mouth was on mine and we were kissing like our lives depended on it. It wasn’t so much a sexy kiss as one born of desperation and deep affection.
“Yeah, me too,” he said, pulling away and avoiding my eyes. “Now let’s make some food and enjoy our evening.”
He helped me chop vegetables and set the table, then sat on a stool at the island and watched as I added the oil and chicken to the pan.
“That smells so good,” he said. He got two glasses, opened a bottle of wine, and poured. “Who’s gonna feed me when I leave?”
“Can’t you still come for dinner? Or maybe I can stop by with food?” I suggested. “Why do we have to stop this just because you’re moving back to your place?” I looked away because doing that bravery thing again didn’t make me less afraid—okay, terrified—of his answer. I stirred in the veggies as I waited and freaked out inside.
“True. We don’t have to…” His voice was soft, hesitant. “I’m having fun with you. I don’t want this to end.”
Fuck. I blew out a breath. “Awesome.”
As I shut off the burner, I noticed that his nose was buried in his phone again, and I figured it must’ve been something important.
“What’s up?” I asked as I retrieved plates from the cupboard. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” He set his phone down. “It’s stupid.”
“I bet it’s not.” I placed a steaming plate in front of him. There was a vulnerability in his eyes I now recognized as him being unsure of himself. “Tell me.”
He waited for me to be seated with my own food before he lifted his fork and motioned to his cell. “There’s this job at a local theater. They’re looking for someone to sew costumes, but…I don’t know. I don’t even have any experience.”
“Yes, you do,” I replied emphatically. “You have experience sewing costumes for dancers at the Playground. It’s all about perspective.”
His eyes lit up as he considered that, then quickly dimmed as doubt set in again.
“What do you have to lose?” I playfully knocked our shoulders together. “All they can do is say no. You’ll always wonder if you don’t try.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He took a sip of his wine.
That settled, we dug into our food as we talked and drank wine and laughed about stupid stuff. Once we cleaned up and snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie, a heaviness settled in my chest that our time was coming to an end. But I pushed it aside and tried to enjoy the rest of the evening.
When we finally climbed into bed, I was positively aching for him—literally and figuratively—and I pressed on my chest to relieve the pressure.
“Clark?”
“Yeah?”
I wasn’t sure who moved first as we entangled our bodies and made out like a couple of teenagers. Sky lay on top of me, our lips never parting as I took both our cocks in hand. We came nearly in unison, then settled beneath the sheets, wrapped in each other’s arms, warm and sated.
“It’ll be quiet around here without you,” I murmured into his hair, that ache back in my chest.
“I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a compliment,” he replied, and the bed shook with our laughter.
Fuck, I was going to miss him.
But at least this time I knew with solid certainty that we’d always have our friendship. No one could take that away from us, not this time.
31
Skylar
Getting ready to move out of Clark’s place the next day was unnerving. He offered to help, so we loaded up both our vehicles. We were somber, as if someone had died or something. I’d always been dramatic, but this was taking it to the next level. We lived in the same town, we were friends, and we’d decided to continue the whole benefits thing, so I didn’t know why I was sulking.
“That’s it,” Clark said, putting the last box in his car.
“My hero!” I joked, trying not to show him how unsettled I was feeling. I kept thinking about last night, and what it meant that we were going to keep doing this, and what I wanted it to mean.
“You’re such a dork.” He playfully pushed me.
“I know you are, but what am I?” I said, and when he grinned that stupid, sexy grin, my stomach did flip-flops. “Okay! Let’s go,” I urged, trying to distract myself.
We jumped into our cars and made the drive back to my place. Home. It was weird that Clark’s place felt like home now.
It didn’t take us long to get everything unloaded, and then we were standing in my living room—which didn’t feel like mine anymore—staring at each other.
“Is this strange?” I asked.
“Oh my God, yes. I’m glad it’s not just me.”
“I feel like this is the moment in a romance movie where something big is about to happen…or, I don’t know, like I’m at a funeral.”