Page 79 of Stronghold

The money isn't important to me anymore, but I know it gives Sky and me a good safety net. Maybe we can get his pipelines installed before next winter so he'll be able to increase his production for the next tapping season.

I'm surprised to see light coming from the living room window as I approach the cabin. My body almost vibrates with the anticipation of finding Sky awake. Maybe we can have a shower together before we cuddle in bed.

My cock hardens at the thought, and I feel happy that this is my life now.

I don't even bother unloading my stuff from the car. I can do that in the morning.

Everything is quiet when I walk in. I find Sky in the living room.

There's an empty glass on the coffee table and a half-empty bottle of scotch.

"Sky, baby. What happened?"

He looks up slowly as if he's surprised to see me.

"What are you doing here?"

"Baby, I live here. You asked me to move in. Have you been drinking?"

He snorts. "I'm drinking because I can. That's what adults do. We can make decisions for ourselves. At least whenImake a decision, I stick to it."

"Sky, I don't understand what you're trying to tell me. Come on, let's get you in the shower." I get closer, but he moves to the other side of the couch.

"Shouldn't you be at the airport? Flying to Paris to go back to your little boyfriend that speaks two languages and probably wears branded fancy clothes? Now that you have what you want, there's nothing holding you back."

What the hell?

"Sky, I don't know how you found out that Pierre was at the bar, but it's not what you're thinking."

"Did he ask you to go back to Paris?"

"Yes."

"Did he talk about expanding your business?"

"Yes, but—"

He raises his hand to interrupt me, but I don't stop.

"No, Sky. Don't tell me to shut up. You're asking me what he wanted, but you're not giving me a chance to tell you my answers. Do you even want to know what I told him?"

"It doesn't matter. You should go to Paris anyway because there's nothing here for you."

What?

"Sky…what are you saying?" I feel like he's sticking a knife through my gut, about to twist it for good measure before leaving me to bleed to death.

"I can't open Maple Sky. I'm going to work at the farm and help out Miles when he comes back."

"Why?"

"Because my dad fucked up my life again, and I have no choice. I have no fucking choice." He's shouting, but I know he's not shouting at me. We’ve talked about his dad's addiction before, and I know how much he tries not to resent his dad.

"Sky, I can help. Pierre—"

"Go home, Jud. Leave and go somewhere you can follow your dreams and do something with your life. There's nothing in Vermont but disappointment and shackles tied to fucking heavy rocks."

"Sky, please. Let's talk this through. We can solve this together."