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“Yeah.”
“In the meantime, be the best friend to him that you can be and show him what an amazing person you are. But also, don’t put your life on hold to wait around for him. Go out and meet people. Maybe you’ll meet someone else. You never know.”
Skylar groaned. “The idea of putting myself out there and trying to date sounds like a lot of work to me.”
“You don’t have to go out looking for guys or go on a dating app or anything, but just get out and have fun. Show Franky that you have a life outside of your friendship with him. Because you are a beautiful, strong woman, Sky. Any man would be lucky to be with you.”
“Keep talking.” Skylar smiled.
Merritt laughed.
“Thank you, Merritt.”
“You’re welcome.”
Skylar hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy to have you as my sister.”
“Me too.” Merritt’s heart ached because she meant it, and she hated the thought of losing Sky when all of this came to an end.
The snow fell softly from the dark sky outside as Merritt followed her new sisters across the deck toward the hot tub. Nervous flutters bombarded her stomach at the sight of Gus, who still hadn’t said more than a few polite words to her since her blunder that morning.
Merritt took off her terry cloth robe, shivering as she tossed it over the railing, and climbed the steps behind Genevieve. Sinking into the steamy water was heavenly, and she took a seat across the hot tub from Gus, even though Genevieve went straight for Sebastian, and Skylar sat next to Franky.
“Where’s Ivy?” Skylar asked Franky.
“She has a thing about bacteria in hot tubs and pools.” He shrugged his shoulders.
Merritt could see how pleased Skylar was to have Franky all to herself.
“How come you didn’t bring a date?” Franky bumped his shoulder against hers playfully.
“Well, my best friend was supposed to come with me, but he cancelled, so …” She gave him a tight-lipped smile, and his expression turned sad.
“Sky, I’m so sorry. You should’ve said something.”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Look at that,” Genevieve interrupted. Her eyes were focused on the sky as the heavy snow-filled clouds slid away, and everything around them became light and shadow as the bright moon revealed its face. “I see stars.” She gazed over and smiled at Sebastian, who hadn’t been looking at anything but her.
Merritt glanced over at Gus through the steam rising from the water. He was staring at the water bubbling in front of him, and she extended her leg across the space and tapped his leg with her toes.
He looked up at her, but his stare was completely devoid of emotion.
The others chatted for a while, and Skylar kept glancing between Merritt and Gus. “What’s wrong?” she mouthed to Merritt.
Merritt shrugged her shoulders.
“I have a great idea,” Genevieve said. “Who wants some hot chocolate? Made with Schultz Chocolate, of course.”
“Me!” Skylar said with a grin.
Merritt raised her hand out of the water.
“Can I help, babe?” Sebastian asked.
Genevieve nodded, and the two of them climbed out of the hot tub together. Sebastian sweetly wrapped a towel around her before he took one for himself, and they headed into the house.
“We’ll help too, won’t we, Franky?” Skylar smiled sweetly at him.