“Of course.” Her mother’s brows shot up. “He wouldn’t come to someone else’s house and be rude.”
Hm. Maybe. “And Tony’s not here?”
“Tony went home.”
Relief whooshed from her chest. He’d told her he was going, and she was glad that he was true to his word.
“He didn’t say goodbye?”
“He did. I just wasn’t sure exactly when he was leaving.”
“A few days ago.” Her mother glanced around the yard before she looked back at Sky and lowered her voice. “I think your father’s really coming around to Becket.”
She almost snorted. “Mom—”
“I’m serious, Skylar. He was talking about inviting him over for dinner.”
Well, of course he was. Becket’s mother had invited Sky over a few times now—it would be impolite not to return the favor. “Well, if he does, that will be lovely.”
“I agree.”
“I’m just going to get a drink.” She squeezed her mother’s hand before heading to the drinks table.
“She hates me,” Clara said quietly.
Indie shook her head. “No one hates you.”
“Well, she does.”
Sky filled a glass with soda water.
Clara turned toward her. “Sky, I need your opinion.”
“Of course.”
“I’ve been trying to bond with my newish roommate. She’s an investigative journalist, so I made the effort to read one of her articles on technology’s role in journalism. Then, this morning, I made her some really nice waffles and coffee and when she came into the kitchen, I offered her both and started talking about AI and automation, and their impact on journalism.”
“You sound like the perfect roommate.”
“That’s what I thought,” Clara said. “But she swallowed a mouthful of coffee, grabbed a waffle and flew out of the house with barely a word.”
“She sounds busy,” Indie said.
“Yeah, but she’s quiet and barely around, so I can’t complain.” Clara sipped her drink. “Now, excuse me, I’m going to talk to people who do have time to like me.” She turned—only to walk straight into Holden, the red liquid in her cup splashing all over his white shirt.
Clara gasped. “Oh my God…I’msosorry. Look at your shirt. It’s ruined! And it’s all my fault.”
Holden glanced down at his soaked shirt, the material stuck to his chest, and grinned. “It’s okay, Clara.”
She turned and grabbed some napkins, then started dabbing his chest. “I didn’t see you there. I mean, of course I didn’t, otherwise I wouldn’t have spilled wine all over you. I don’t want you to think I did it on purpose, because I didn’t. That would be crazy. But then, if anyone should have a shirt sticking to their chest, it would be you, because you have a nice chest.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Not that I’m looking at your chest, I—”
“Clara.” He touched her arm and waited until she looked at him. His tone was warm and gentle. “It’s okay.”
Indie scooted next to Sky and sighed. “Ah…that pre-relationship crush goodness. Bet it’s the one thing about being in a relationship with Becket that you’re going to miss.”
Sky scoffed. “We didnotstart out like that. The opposite, actually.”
“It’s usually one way or the other.”
