“Sugar baby? No. Not anymore.”
“Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?” I asked, a kernel of rage flaring in my guts. “I swear, if?—”
Sky held up his beautifully manicured hand. “No. Nothing like that.” He titled his head back, staring at the ceiling. After a few seconds, he carefully wiped the stray tears, keeping his pretty makeup intact, then took a deep breath and put on a smile. “I . . . he left. And then promised me to one of his buddies.”
Jesus.
“That fucking?—”
He held up his hand again. “Don’t give yourself an aneurysm, now. I needed to see the reality of things so I could give myself better options. I sold the Porsche and the diamonds and pretty much everything he’d ever given me in a fit, and now I’m figuring out next steps.”
I hated seeing him like this. Unsure. Uncertain about where he was going in life.
“Where are you living? You know I own several properties. I can?—”
He shook his head. “Thank you. Truly. I think I need to be around friends, you know?”
Was I not a friend?
“Of course.”
He let out a sigh. “I might actually see if Woody’ll let me stay in the cabin, since no one’s there right now.”
I opened my mouth to protest—every single one of my properties had nicer accommodations than that scrubby old cabin on Woody’s preserve—but Skylar’s expression made me clamp my lips back together.
“It’s a good starting point, I suppose.”
“I, uh . . .” His fingers went to his pretty, highlighted quiff again. “I might reach out to you about the idea you had? The one about the home visits?”
Anticipation flared in my chest. Business was something I knew a lot about, and I could think of no one else I’d rather help more. “Of course. Why don’t you get settled, then come by? We can work out a business plan and maybe help you avoid some common pitfalls.”
Relief flooded Sky’s face, and his shoulders relaxed. “Really?”
“Of course. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Ah. There was his pretty smile again. He bumped his hip against mine. “We are.” He hesitated, then wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my neck. “Thanks, Kit. I appreciate it.”
I pulled him closer and kissed his temple. “Of course, Sky. Call me when you’re ready,” I said, knowing there was no way in hell I was going to wait for him to call me first.
He stepped out of the hug and delicately wiped a few more tears from his eyes, his laugh light. “Sorry for crying all over you. I’m so ridiculous.”
“Nah,” I said, squeezing his arm. “You’re just figuring out the next phase of life after a rude awakening. Trust me, you’ll appreciate this part once you’ve got the next part figured out.”
He nodded, then made his way back to the party while I finally stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. Staring into the mirror, my hand shot to my face, where a perfect lip print marked my cheek. Something about that particular shade of red sent a bolt of need to my groin, and I couldn’t explain why it made my heart race like it did.
Cynthia always laughed at me because I was, at my core, a simple man. I loved a woman in red lipstick and heels. I loved delicate lingerie and perfume and long nails. It was strange to realize I appreciated those things in Skylar. Maybe it wasbecause he seemed to enjoy it, whereas Cyn had only ever done it because she knew it’d make me happy.
After scrubbing the lipstick from my cheek, I rejoined the party. They’d already cut into the jackalope-shaped red velvet cake, and the result was rather gruesome. Skylar’s eyes flashed as he made fun of the massacred cake, laughing so free, like he’d never had a bad day in his entire life.
My favorite people had always been the kind to light up a room—basically the opposite of me. That some jackass sugar daddy had even temporarily dimmed his shine made me grit my teeth. Sky deserved to sparkle, and right then and there, I determined I would be the one to make sure he did.
As a friend, of course.
6
SKYLAR
“Doyou think Woody would let me stay at the cabin for a few months while I figure my shit out?” I asked, staring at my feet.
