Page 97

Our usual guests, even those I considered actual friends in attendance at my birthday party, seemed closed off to her bright personality.
And Rhett? He’d shut down the second she’d made an appearance.
I’d thought he and I had a sweet moment together, his affirmation and affection soothing parts of me I’d been ignoring in my attention to Skylar—but then she’d descended the stairs, ending what had filled me with warmth and a sense of hope I hadn’t felt for weeks.
His silent intolerance for her nature continued throughout the next half hour and revealed itself countless times with disapproving glances and thinned lips.
We hadn’t discussed how to introduce Skylar, so I took it upon myself to label her as our girlfriend. No one knew she lived with us outside her sister and parents—and the cleaning ladies who came in weekly, but the term for our angel fit.
Regardless of what words I used to explain her connection with us, Rhett wouldn’t have been pleased, just as he hadn’t been about anything the previous few weeks.
He hadn’t said another word about our ditching condoms and poked nonstop about how I was feeling whenever a grimace lined my face, which was more often than not.
He worried—rightfully so, but I pushed aside his concern and focused on getting him to open up to the happiness Sky offered us.
Fucking her again, having her between us hadn’t accomplished all I’d prayed for. And the exhaustion of fighting against my illness ate at my tunnel vision determination to find a way to make him love her for when I couldn’t.
I smiled. Chatted as though nothing had changed. Clung to Sky’s hand with a grip that bordered on manic desperation.
The caterers brought out a chocolate-frosted cake, the same as Rhett ordered every year, but before he could make his yearly toast toward good health and happiness, Skylar started singing “Happy Birthday” at the top of her lungs with a gorgeous smile on her face.
Skylar swung our clasped hands and continued until others joined in, most hesitant except for Haley, Wyatt, and Garrett who stood off to our right.
Usually, there were just a few quiet toasts and well-wishes.
No one had sung that jingle to me since I’d moved out of my parent’s house, and the fact it was Skylar who had taken the lead warmed my chest.
I couldn’t tear my gaze off her glowing face as she attempted to carry a tune, her luminous eyes like emeralds shining at me. Others might have looked on with disdain, but thankfulness for her realness, her ability to bounce back from that morning’s heartache flooded through me, easing my own sadness over failing to plant a baby in her belly like we both hoped for.
Skylar was lovely inside and out, and if others couldn’t see that, then their loss. I just prayed Rhett got his act together before it was too late.
The song ended to absolute hushed silence over those around us, and I squeezed her hand. “Thank you,” I whispered, my throat tight even as I grinned like a kid.
“Blow them out!” She giggled and wiggled. “Make a wish—for you know what!”
Such hope, such joy…my eyesight hazed.
Internally begging fate to give us the desires of both our hearts, I attempted to do what she’d said to the thirty-six candles atop my cake.
Skylar laughed when I failed and leaned down to help me with the remaining flickering flames.
We prevailed as a team.
Straightening, she threw her arms around me. “Happy birthday, Ashton! I didn’t buy you an actual present, but I’ll make it up to you later! Well, um…maybe without that bow around my body like I’d planned, but my mouth will?” She laughed, her eyes sparkling as she pulled back—the happiness died on her face as she glanced behind me.
Rhett.
I looked over my shoulder to find him scowling, his shoulders rigid. Pink stained his cheeks like he was embarrassed by the silent people around us who’d heard Skylar’s outburst and the lack of filter on her mouth.
“Inappropriate,” he snipped, his eyes hard as granite.
I could feel Skylar shrivel up inside at his chiding, and my own heart squeezed in my chest at the memory of her sister using the exact same word with her that night we’d first met.
While emotional, I’d never experienced the type of anger that brought on red.
I did in that moment. Heat rushed through me, my hands and jaw clenched.
“Hi! I’m Haley.” A sweet voice interrupted the tension.