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“I thought you were talking in hypotheticals.”
“Not so much.”
She laughed.
“I know you said you’re focused on your career right now, and I do respect that, but I’d really like to get to know you better.”
Ivy stepped closer and leaned in to leave a soft kiss on his cheek. “I’d like to get to know you better too.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a little smile. “How about Saturday night?” he asked.
Ivy smiled. “Saturday’s perfect.”
Once they’d said their goodnights and parted ways, his mind turned to Skylar as it so often did. His feelings for her weren’t going away, but she didn’t feel the same, and he knew it was better for everyone if he kept the lines of friendship firmly in place and tried to move on. And perhaps Ivy would be the one he moved on with.
NINETEEN
Though festive songs filled the banquet room of Schultz Chocolate for the annual Christmas party, Skylar was in no mood to celebrate. An hour had passed since the party began. An hour she’d spent waiting for Franky to show up like he said he would. The excitement she’d had when she walked through the door had dissipated a little more with each minute that ticked by.
He’d been texting her often since they returned from Traverse City, and she knew it was because he was afraid he’d damaged their friendship irreparably. Honestly, she hadn’t been responding to his messages because the rejection still stung. He’d texted her earlier in the week, asking her to meet him for a drink after a really bad day in court, and she should’ve responded, at least to tell him she couldn’t make it, but she hadn’t. Then the past few days, his messages had stopped.
Was him not showing up tonight because he was upset she hadn’t replied? Maybe he’d forgotten. He’d agreed to come with her to this party before all that happened at her birthday. But they’d had enough conversations about it that she didn’t think he needed a reminder, and he wasn’t one to skip out on obligations, which was why she was pretty sure she’d been stood up.
She went back and forth over whether to text him or not, and just as she was about to compose a message, her phone rang.
“Gus!” Skylar was ecstatic to hear from her brother, who had been mostly silent since he left for California in October. “I’m so glad you called. How are you?”
“I’m okay,” he replied.
“Are you still at Adelia’s?”
“Yeah.” He paused. “Where are you?”
She hesitated. “Schultz Chocolate Christmas party.”
“Oh.” His simple reply spoke volumes.
She felt bad that he wasn’t there. “I’m sorry, Gus. Should I not have mentioned it?”
“It’s fine.”
“When are you getting in?” She was excited to finally see him again and have the whole family together for the holidays.
“I’m … not coming home for Christmas.”
Her mood fell even further. “What? Why?”
“You know why.”
“Gus, this is ridiculous. You missed Thanksgiving. You missed my thirtieth birthday party.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Did you get my flowers?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t the same as having you here.”
He was silent.
“Did you tell Bash you aren’t coming?”