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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Skylar

This is the dream team.

Well, dream might be a stretch, but it’s the best we have.

Everest, Max, Butch, and I are sitting in one of the booths at the club. They’re examining the carefully crafted lists and plans I’ve created to make the shelter prom the best it can be. Everest volunteered after Rhys told him what we were doing, Max just wanted an excuse to hang out, and Butch… Well, I’m not too sure what he’s doing here.

“This is…” Everest trails off, gesturing at the list. “It’s thorough.”

“The kid is being nice. It’s a lot, Skylar,” Butch grunts as he shakes his head. “You want a fog machine and an ice sculpture of a panther?”

“Don’t forget the chocolate fountain,” Max points out, reaching over Butch to point at the list, which has the big guy scowling. “Personally, I’m most excited for the flamenco dancers.”

I pout. “Sue me for wanting to make this night memorable for the kids.”

Everest shakes his head. “It can still be memorable and not so…”

“Extra. The kid wants to say extra,” Butch deadpans.

Max’s eyes widen as he catches something on the list. “We get to meet baby alligators!”

“Wait,” Butch drawls, leaning forward on his elbows as he narrows his eyes at me. “Exactly how much money did Davis give you?”

I gulp.

Okaaayyyy , now I can kind of see what they’re getting at. I just had so many ideas that I couldn’t narrow down. I want everything for these kids. If this is the only way I can help, I want it to be special.

But I guess maybe we can keep the gators in the swamp.

“Fine,” I relent with a groan, snatching the list from Max. “What can we take off?”

“I would keep the fog machine and the chocolate fountain,” Everest suggests. “Since Cass is going to DJ for free, and the club is already set up with lights, I think we should focus the money on decorations and food.”

“So no flamenco dancers?”

“No flamenco dancers.”

Welp. I cross that off the list. That sucks.

We continue like this for a solid hour. At one point, Butch and Max argue about the color scheme we should pick. Apparently, Butch is very passionate about sky blue, while Max thinks red is the better choice. When they ask Everest, he shrinks in his seat and suggests silver instead. That argument aside, we accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. We decide on the food vendor, the color scheme—thank God—and the theme.

“I’m beat,” I tell them after we’ve secured the floral arrangements. “Anyone want something to eat?”

Butch shakes his head as he glances at his watch. “Can’t. Got to get back to the boss.”

“Ooo, can I come with you?” Max asks, eyes brightening.

Butch curls his upper lip. “Why…?”

“Um, I have pie?”

Everest and I share a look but say nothing as Butch gets up, with Max diligently following. Now that it’s just the baby and me, I prop my chin on my hand and wag my eyebrows at him. “So, how’s the engaged life treating you?”

He blushes but beams at me. “It’s great. We’ve started planning the wedding, but Rhys is insistent on paying for it himself.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” I say, understanding where he’s coming from.

“I don’t even want anything big or fancy,” he explains with an easy shrug. “I just want to be married to him.”

Well, if that’s not the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.

“How about you?” he asks. “Are you okay after what happened the other night?”

I gulp at that. Yeah, Cassius losing his shit wasn’t the best, but I’ve forgiven him. Sure, I was upset in the moment, but it’s kind of hot. He’s just so protective over me, it’s so endearing and flattering. Even though it definitely brought me back to the past I’d rather forget, I understand why he did it. He was just looking out for me. “Things are fine.”

He nods, not quite believing me, but changes the subject. “How’s the list coming along?”

“ Amazing ,” I squeal, reaching into my purse to show it to him. “Cass and I have really added a ton of stuff that I think will be really helpful in the future.”

“So, I guess I’m a bit confused. You two go on dates and stuff?”

I nod. “Yes! Like, just last night, he took me to this all-you-can-eat sushi place.”

“And you live together.”

“Yeah.”

“And I’m guessing you two…”

“Fuck like rabbits?” I finish with a chuckle. I barely resist the urge to lean forward and pinch his pink cheeks. “Yeah.”

He raises an eyebrow at me and throws me a knowing look. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be interpreting from that, but sometimes Everest has a problem speaking his mind. It’s something that’s gotten better with therapy, but old habits die hard.

“You’re dating.”

We both turn to see Max bounding down the stairs toward us. He skids to a stop and falls into the chair with all the drama on the planet.

I wrinkle my nose. “No, we’re not.”

“Uh, yeah, you are.” He turns to Everest and raises his fist for a bump. “That’s what you were going to say, right, bro?”

Everest gives a small shrug. “Kind of sounds like it.”

I snort at their ridiculousness. “No. You’re reading too much into it. He’s just helping me.”

Max blinks at me. Once, twice, before scoffing. “That’s the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard.”

I gasp. “Maximilian!”

“Oh, come on .” He raises five fingers in the air, ticking each off as he speaks. “You’re living together, you constantly have his tongue down your throat, you’re going on dates, you fuck, you…”

“You’re each other’s favorite person,” Everest says, filling in his blank.

Max snaps his fingers. “Exactly. So, I know I’m not a genius, but can you explain to me how that’s not dating?”

I open my mouth to respond, but I’m stumped. The thing is, we’re not dating, but I can see how everyone thinks that. But they just don’t understand. Cassius and I are so much more than friends… Just not like that. He and I are everything. Something that no one can deny. We’re special in a different way.

I don’t like the idea of tainting that with labels. Of putting pressure on something that has worked so perfectly. We’re us, and I don’t see anything wrong with that. Not just that, but the idea of us dating is laughable. There’s nothing wrong with Cassius—he’d be a perfect boyfriend—just not for me.

I mean, come on. Look at me. I’m a trainwreck, at best. A sexy, confident, sparkly trainwreck, but one nonetheless. He already has to put up with so much when it comes to me, and I can’t add to that. Cassius is a god, and I’m just a roach at his holy feet. He deserves someone better, someone who isn’t… I don’t know.

Weak.

Pathetic.

Worthless.

Cassius and I will never be together like that, because he’s worth so much more than me.

“Did you give Davis his pie?” I blurt out, diverting the attention back to Max.

This works perfectly, because his eyes widen as he stutters for a response. “I— Um— He was busy. He’ll get pie later.”

Everest’s brow furrows at that, but who can tell with Max? That’s either code for dirty stuff or he really is giving Davis pies.

Luckily, we don’t circle back to the subject of Cassius and me. Instead, we just dick around and joke about random stuff until it’s time to open the club. Everest sets up shop at the bar top like he normally does so he can be close to Rhys. I try to talk Max through yet another demonstration of how to use the soda machine.

It’s perfectly normal. Just your average night. Exactly the way things are meant to be.

Even though, when I spot Cassius on the stage, looking like everything I want and smiling at me like I could be what he wants, my heart skips in a way it never has before.