Page 139 of Hate You Up Close

“Well, good!”she beams before turning her attention back to Elliot. “Your dad is out back cooking burgers on the grill,” she adds, jabbing her thumb towards the back door. “Make sure to stop by and introduce him to Roxy.”

“Will do,” Elliot nods.

“Great,” she says, clasping her hands together. “I need to go check in with Kara and see if she needs help finishing up the dessert table. It’s been a whirlwind of a day.”

“I’m sure it has,” Elliot agrees. “It looks awesome in here, Mom.”

“Thanks, son,” she smiles softly before leaning up on her tiptoes to place a kiss to his cheek.

Her gaze flicks back to me.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” she states genuinely, her eyes lighting up with glee. “We’ll talk more later, okay?”

“Sounds great,” I nod as a genuine smile tilts the corner of my lips.

The second Claire spins around to leave, a high-pitched voice calls out my name.

“Roxy!Is that you?”

My eyes widen as Skylar rushes over to me, looking beautiful as ever.

She’s in a white mini dress, holding a glass of champagne with her ring finger on display. Her chestnut hair is pulled back in an elegant ponytail, showcasing her flawlessface.

God, she really is unbelievably beautiful…The natural kind of beauty that makes an entire room light up. Just knowing that Elliot once fell for her has jealousy simmering in my gut. I know it’s silly to feel that way, but the thought of anyone besides me being intimate with Elliot makes my stomach twist.

My eyes shift to her right to see a tall man with a trimmed beard standing beside her. A man who resembles Elliot, just more burly and rugged. He has an arm around her waist, his fingers mindlessly caressing her hip.

And I know with one hundred percent certainty that this is Everett.

They look so good together. So irrevocably in love.

“Hi,” I smile, awkwardly lifting a hand in the air.

“Oh my God!” she squeals before wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me. “I had no idea you were coming.”

When she pulls away, her brows furrow as silence fills the air.

“Wait…” she trails off, her eyes darting between me and Elliot. “Are you…Is this…Is this a thing?” She waggles her pointer finger between us.

My skin pales at her question.

“I uh…” I stammer, my mouth opening and closing as I look up to Elliot for support. He meets my worried gaze, turning back to Skylar before he cuts in.

“Depends,” he exhales. “Are you going to go allHRon us if we are?”

Skylar rolls her eyes.

“You know my one rule when it comes to work,” she deadpans, lifting her hands in the air. “What happens outside of the office, stays out of the office.”

“You sure about that?” Elliot asks, arching a brow.

Skylar places a hand on her hip.

“Are you serious, Elliot?” she scoffs. “I could have had you fired years ago with all the shit I know. And of all things, you think I would turn you in for dating Roxy? Plus, I hired her. I loved her the second I met her.” Her eyes flick to me before she tosses me a wink.

I love her.How can you not love Skylar?

“Wait,” Everett says in a deep, baritone voice. “This is Roxy? The Roxy you were telling me about?”