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Skylar lifted her face enough to see Ivy standing in her doorway. “Thanks.”
Ivy didn’t move to leave as Skylar hoped she would, and Skylar turned to look at her, knowing she was revealing red eyes and blotchy tear-stained cheeks.
Ivy’s expression turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. Is there anything I can do?”
Skylar shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
“Do you want me to get Franky for you?”
“No!” Her reply came out louder and more hastily than she wanted.
Ivy’s eyes narrowed a smidge. “All right. I’ll leave you alone then.”
Skylar was thankful when the door closed. She rolled onto her side and snuggled her pillow into her neck, staring out the window at the snowy mountains. She knew it was going to be hard, seeing them together, but did she really have to see that? Knowing they were sleeping in the next room over was bad enough, but to see him lying there in the bed, wishing she was the one in his arms instead of Ivy, was excruciating. And after the dream she’d had … seeing him like that in the hot tub …
She took a deep breath in and let it out, then repeated that several times until she felt calm enough to get up and ready for the day.
The bathroom was empty when she entered, which was a relief. She hated that Ivy had witnessed her crying, and Skylar wondered if she would tell Franky what she’d seen.
As she stared into the mirror, applying some Merritt Cosmetics concealer to get rid of the blotches and dark circles under her eyes, she reminded herself why she was in Montana in the first place. Her focus had been on Franky and Ivy since they’d arrived, but this week was supposed to be about Sebastian and Genevieve’s wedding. She needed to set aside her feelings about Franky and put on a happy face for her brother, and that’s what she resolved to do.
TWENTY-SIX
During breakfast, a car carrying Adelia pulled up in front of the house. Skylar couldn’t express in words how happy she was to finally have her friend there. She knew Adelia would give her the best advice. She always did. But girl talk would have to wait until later. This day was all about decorating the horse barn for the wedding.
The wedding coordinator doled out instructions, and everyone worked throughout the day, hanging hundreds of twinkly lights from the rafters, constructing a small stage for the ceremony, lining up chairs, and decorating the long dinner table that ran the length of the horse stable.
The day wasn’t all work and no play, though. Delicious BBQ was catered in for dinner, which everyone enjoyed, except Skylar, who didn’t have much of an appetite. Her earlier resolve hadn’t lasted a day, but she couldn’t help it. Seeing Franky and Ivy together was painful. She tried to ignore them and stay busy, but they were constantly in her peripheral. And witnessing them kissing left her with an upset stomach that she was certain would become an ulcer. Plus, Ivy kept staring at her all day, which was weird. Probably because she’d seen her crying. She wished she could hide out in her room until the wedding.
Someone turned on the sound system that was set up for the big day, and country music poured out of the speakers. Genevieve and her sister, Rhonda, took to the dance floor and started up a little line dancing lesson. They looked as if they were having fun, and Skylar figured this was a good way to distract herself, so she joined them, dragging Merritt onto the floor with her. She stomped, kicked, clapped, and twirled, letting herself enjoy every minute of it, and it did cheer her up. That is until the music slowed and everyone coupled up.
Skylar moved to the side of the dance floor. Alone.
I will not cry. I will not cry.
“May I have this dance?” Dad held his hand out to her.
Skylar smiled and moved into her father’s arms. “Thanks, Dad.”
“I haven’t seen much of that beautiful smile this week. Is everything okay?”
The tears were close to the surface, as they had been all day, but she fought them back with all her might. If she replied to his question, she feared she would lose the fight.
“That Franky sure is a special guy, isn’t he?”
She looked at her dad, who was watching Franky and Ivy, then his gaze turned back to her.
“I’m sorry if you’re sad about them.”
Her mouth fell open a little. “How did you know?”
“Whenever he’s around, you have the same look on your face your mom had when she first fell in love with me.”
“Oh.” Dad had always been good at reading people, especially her.
“But I haven’t seen that look as much lately.”
A tear drifted down her cheek, and Dad brushed it away and drew her close. She buried her face in his chest and let some of the tears fall.