Page 21

21

SKYE

Drumming my fingers against the wooden tabletop, I sit in the coffee shop, waiting patiently for Jules to appear.

Inhaling the scent of comforting coffee reminds me of coming here with my mom when I was younger. With fall now firmly taking hold, the dark nights are drawing in. As if someone flicked a switch, it’s dark by six o’clock.

I shiver, imagining the impending snow that’s on its way in a few months.

“Hey.” A male voice appears at my table.

I find myself looking up at a portly-looking gentleman. Wild curly brown hair, with eyes to match. He looks nervous as he stands, staring at me.

“Hi,” I reply, hoping this stranger leaves me alone.

“I’m Jules. From the local art group.”

I snap my head back to look at him.

Oh, what a fool I’ve been; I thought Jules was a girl, not a man.

I’m too stunned to say anything as he takes a seat on the opposite side of the table. “And you must be Skye?” He pushes his hand out for me to shake. “I recognize you from your video channel.”

I stare at him.

“Annddd you look like you’re not expecting me.” His face falls.

I wiggle in my seat uncomfortably. “Sorry. I was—well—” I stutter.

“Expecting a woman?” He smiles. “I get that a lot.”

“Yeah.” I shake my head. “Gosh, sorry, forgive my terrible manners. Let’s start again.” I hold my hand out for him to take this time. “Pleased to finally meet you, Jules. I’m Skye.” Getting over my initial shock, I try to be polite.

“Pleased to meet you too, Skye.” His hand feels clammy.

“What would you like to drink?” I start to push my chair back, but Jules stops me, informing me he’ll get his own.

While he waits in the queue, I sit scrolling through my emails to see if there was any indication whatsoever that Jules was a man.

But there’s nothing.

I pull up my video channel and check some of the comments from his username—Crazy4Blue.

You look so pretty today.

I am obsessed with your work.

I am your biggest fan!

I naturally assumed Jules was a woman. Then I invited him for coffee.

What a fool you are, Skye.

My only saving grace is that we are in a public place and he seems okay. Nervous. But okay.

Placing my phone back on the table, I try to shake the feeling of unease gnawing at me.

“I got you a bun,” Jules says as he reappears and lifts the plated sweet treat off the tray and passes me it, then places his hot tea and cake down.

“I am starving.” I lick my lips. “Thank you so much.”

He waddles over to the service area, disposes of the tray, and sits himself back down at our table.

“So…” I wait a couple of seconds, not really knowing what to say.

I tug my skirt down, suddenly aware I’m sitting opposite a strange man. “So you would like me to talk at your creative arts group? Can you tell me more about it?” I start.

Jules dives straight into enthusiastic mode when he explains more.

He seems nice enough, although, on closer inspection, he could do with scrubbing under his filthy fingernails. Clearly, he’s been painting today. His crumpled shirt is missing a couple of buttons, too.

Jules is a little eccentric, to say the least, with his clashing-colored clothing, paisley patterned bow tie, and unbrushed nest of hair.

He looks like a typical fine artist, choosing to buy tubes of paint over clothes. I know what one of them looks like; I spent enough time with them at art college.

Alerting me to a notification, my smart watch vibrates on my wrist.

Jacob

Who’s the dude?

Subtly twisting my head to the side, there he is, five tables over, watching me like a hungry lion waiting to pounce on his prey.

I lift my phone from the table, nodding and smiling at Jules as he continues to chatter away.

He pauses for a moment, watching me as I look at my phone. “I’m just going to check my schedule to see when I’m available for the group,” I lie, pulling up my text message app instead.

Me

It’s Jules.

He takes no time to reply. Three texts fly in back to back.

Jacob

I thought he was a she????!!!!! WTF, Skye?

Jacob

Do you feel safe?

I almost burst out laughing at his texting meltdown.

Me

Calm down, big guy. He’s okay.

Jacob

And he’s Crazy4Blue?

Me

How do you know that?

The reply dots bounce on my screen.

Jacob

I knew you had a channel. I’ve been watching you since you started.

Me

See, I told you… Stalker!

Jacob

Pervert… remember?! *winking face*

Announcing the arrival of another customer, the doorbell of the coffee shop dings. A beautiful white-blonde-haired woman steps through the door, bringing with her an unwelcomed bracing gust of wind as she snicks the door closed again.

I follow her path, and my tummy swirls with a sudden pang of jealousy when Jacob rises to greet her.

Bleurgh. That must be Verity. Seeing them together again, I’m reminded just how similar her hair color is to mine. I try not to think back to that Saturday in the office because the thought of Jacob inside her makes me want to vomit.

Unable to watch the two of them, I go back to pretending to check my schedule.

“What date works for you then?” Jules, who I’d completely forgotten about, pipes up.

I shake my head. “Sorry. Yeah, so. What about next Wednesday? Would that work?”

“Perfect.” He firmly taps the tabletop as if sealing the deal.

I make a quick note on my phone and excuse myself. “I’ll be right back.”

Strutting across the coffee shop, quicker than normal, I try hard not to look Jacob’s way, but I fail, discovering the two of them laughing like old friends… or familiar lovers.

My hand finds my stomach. I feel sick.

Sick with envy.

I quickly enter the bathroom, pee, then leave the bathroom stall.

Not wanting to exit the restrooms and have to see them again, I take my time to wash my hands.

The door swings open, and Jacob’s broad frame fills the doorway.

Oh great.

“Hey,” I mumble. Not looking at him, I walk over to the hand towels and grab a couple to dry my hands.

“Hi.” He eats up the space between us and is by my side in a heartbeat. “I’m here to break up with her. Well, not break up ’cause we aren’t together,” he explains. “You know what I mean. Call it a day. Even though we haven’t been together for weeks, but to stop our Saturday night…”

“Fucking sessions,” I finish his sentence.

“Hookups.”

I don’t know why I am mad or jealous. We aren’t even dating.

“Look at me,” he demands.

Head bowed, I look up to meet his concerned gaze.

“Skye, I made you a promise. I am ending things with Verity. Next stop is talking to Owen as soon as he’s back from Barcelona.”

I lean against the vanity unit and let out a long breath. “I don’t think I’m coping very well with how quickly things are moving between us, but so slow all at the same time.” I stare down at the floor. “And I know it would be so easy to fall in love with you,” I almost whisper. “I’m already feeling things for you that I never felt for Owen.” I scrunch my nose.

He places a knuckle under my chin to tilt it up.

“Easy to fall in love with, huh?”

“I mean it.” It’s the truth. “I don’t like Verity,” I blurt, not meaning to. “I’m jealous of the fact that she’s been with you in ways I can only dream of,” I sigh.

He runs the back of his knuckles along my jaw. “She means nothing to me because I am so fucking in love with you, Skye McNairn, and I would never do anything to fuck up this chance I have with you. Finally, I feel like this could be it. Us. Together. I met her here because I knew you’d be here. I saw your calendar. I have nothing to hide and I wanted to show you that with every inch of my heart, I am all yours. You’re all I want. All I see.” He spreads his arms wide as if to say, take me . “The things we’ve done together. I haven’t even touched you yet, but it’s better than any sex I have ever had with anyone. You are it for me.”

His words register in my brain. “Where have you been all of my life?”

“Waiting for you.”

“I want to kiss you.”

“I am not having our first kiss in a bathroom.”

“Our second,” I remind him, making him smile.

“I’ve waited all this time. I can wait a little longer. I would wait a lifetime for you, Skye. I know the perfect time is coming.”

“How do you know?” My eyes search his for answers.

“I feel it, way down deep in my soul. I just know.”

I grab his tie, pulling him closer to me. His head bows slightly and for a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t.

“You’re sweet when you want to be.”

“Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold.”

Lips inches away from each other, I can feel his breath against my skin as we smile together.

Suddenly, a customer flies through the bathroom door, laughing her head off. Immediately, Jacob steps back, his tie slipping from my fingers, breaking our connection.

“Oh, sorry.” She makes her way into one of the bathroom stalls.

Through the opened wedge of the door, I see Jules, standing on the other side of the corridor. For a moment, he scowls and his entire face changes as if he is mad. He clenches his jaw tight, making his cheek twitch, then, as if with the flick of a switch, he throws me a smile that almost looks forced. Then he disappears back down the corridor to our seats.

“I need to go. Verity is still out there waiting for me.”

“I’m sorry for being a buffoon,” I murmur.

“I like you being jealous. It tells me you care.” He straightens his tie. “And you are not a buffoon. You’re a beautiful butterfly. Text me when you get home, yeah?”

I nod in agreement.

I point to the door, urging him to leave before me.

He winks knowingly and slips out.

Waiting a few minutes, I head back into the coffee shop to find Jules sitting, waiting patiently for me.

I plonk myself down on the chair and try to avoid staring at Jacob anymore. “Sorry, I bumped into my boss. He wanted to talk about a project.”

“No worries. You haven’t eaten your bun.” He points to it.

“How could I forget about that?” I dig into it, finishing every crumb, while Jules continues to distract me with his endless chitchat.

I lick my fingertips. “That was yummy. Just what I needed.”

“Finish the last of your coffee and I’ll walk you to your car,” Jules suggests as he finishes his cup of tea.

Jules and I finish up and make our way to the exit.

I glance to my left and Jacob gives me a quick wink.

My watch vibrates again.

Jacob

Text me when you get home, please. xoxo

I reply with a thumbs up emoji.

As soon as the cold air hits me, I suddenly feel a little woozy.

“Woah.” I sway on my feet.

“Are you okay?” Jules looks at me, his sweaty forehead wrinkled with concern.

“Yeah.” I rub my temples. “Must be going from hot then into the cold.”

“Let’s find your car. The sooner you’re home, the better.”

“It must have been the bun. I feel sick.” I stagger, almost tripping. “Oh God, I don’t feel so good.” My voice sounds strange as if I’m listening to it from outside of my body.

“Here, pass me your backpack.” Jules holds his hand out to take it from me.

Walking another thirty steps or so, my stomach lurches.

I’ve never taken drugs, but I’m sure this must be what it feels like. My body feels like it’s made out of rubber.

“You can’t drive like that, Skye. C’mon, I’ll take you home.”

“I feel so silly. You don’t have to do that. My boss is back there.” Stumbling, I try turning around, but Jules ushers me up the unlit alleyway past the coffee shop.

“I’ll take you home,” he says more firmly.

“I can’t see straight,” I cry in horror as the edges of my vision blur.

A hand lands on my arm to help steady me. From my side, I hear Jules’ distorted voice. “I’ve got you. My car is just here.”

Jules loops his arms around me to keep me upright because I can barely put one foot in front of the other.

“Here we are.”

I squint my eyes, trying to see the car, but all I can see are the faint outlines of random objects. Nothing makes sense.

I want to scream for Jacob, but my mouth refuses to form his name. In fact, I can’t say a word.

The click of a door is the next thing I hear, and then I feel myself being bundled into what must be Jules’ car.

“Let’s strap you in the back seat to keep you safe. We don’t want anything happening to you now, do we? No, we do not,” he chuckles. His voice sends a strange cold shiver in my soul.

The last thing I remember is Jules’ faint words. “You’re safe with me now, my beautiful Skye…”

Jacob, help me.