Fucking fantastic.
“Get your hands off of me.”
He pulled his hands up immediately and stepped back. “I’ve been calling your name.”
“Why? I’ve blocked you everywhere. What makes you think I’d wanna talk to you?” I said, surprised by the viciousness of my words. I had never once talked to Rich that way and the shock showed on his face.
“What happened to you, baby boy?” he said, probably going for sweet when all he sounded was condescending.
“Nothing. I’m just having a bad day.”
“Is that why you look so tired?”
That drew me up short. I’d spent extra time on my makeup this morning, knowing I was going to see Kit. “You think I look tired?”
I cursed at myself again. This was just Rich trying to make me feel bad so he could put me under his control again.
Bastard.
I knew his tricks and still walked right into that one. Before he could weasel his way in with another negging comment, I held up my hand.
“Rich, I have nothing to say to you. Please get the fuck out of here.”
“You’re clearly in crisis, Skylar. Don’t push me away.”
19
KIT
I limpedfrom the doctor’s office, feeling like I’d just wasted everyone’s time. To be honest, the MRI wasn’t that bad. But the results . . . Maybe I was foolish to think they wouldn’t find anything. Knowing I needed the surgery—and it didn’t matter how many pretty words the doctor used to describe it, it wassurgery—felt like a failure. Or a betrayal, like this knee had it in for me.
Worse, I was sure if they looked at the other knee, they’d have seen the beginnings of whatever was getting me right now.
I didn’t know why I’d gotten so mad when Sky and Dr. Kleinfeld were just trying to help me. I owed Sky yet another apology, and it felt like I’d been apologizing to that man ever since I first kissed him.
The sun burned bright, so I put on my hat and shoved my hands into my pockets. I needed to text Sky and let him know I was done with Dr. Kleinfeld, but I also needed a few minutes to settle my soul.
I started off in a random direction and was practically up on top of him before I recognized what was happening. There was Skylar, looking all kinds of unhappy as he was being talked at by an older man. This ugly fuck then put his hands on him, and Skysaid something to make him take a step back. Didn’t take long for me to guess that this was his last sugar daddy; I’d bet my ranch on it.
As I neared, the man’s words set a hard stone in my chest.
You’re clearly in crisis, Skylar. Don’t push me away.
The words did something to Sky’s face I never wanted to see again. I’d fucked up in the office, and, feeling like I had to make up for it, I walked up to them and put my arm around Skylar’s waist.
“Hey, darlin’. Who’s your friend here?” I asked, sliding into the drawl that made city folks sit up and pay attention.
Skylar stiffened against me, his eyes darting to mine.I’m sorry, I mouthed. He blinked, then melted against me like he had that day in the cabin.
“Oh, hey baby,” he said, putting on his brightest smile. “This is an old friend of mine. Rich? Meet Kit. Kit, Rich.”
This shitty, obviously wealthy man drew himself up as tall as he could to physically intimidate me. Hilariously, he was still a couple of inches shy, and I was not intimidated. “Who is this?” he blustered, giving me a red-faced glare. “Your newest sugar daddy? What? You’ve gone country and now you’re ignoring me?”
“Skylar doesn’t need a sugar daddy,” I answered, my voice level and even. “He’s a businessman, and a damned good one.”
The man scoffed. “He never looked this tired when he was with me. Do you not know how to take care of your man?”
“Starting a new venture is hard work,” I explained patiently, willing myself not to break this motherfucker’s jaw, “but I make sure he’s cared for in all the important ways.”
