“Skylar, are you trying to fucking kill me right now?” Micha growls, scrubbing a hand across his face, and I can’t help my laugh, especially when she throws me a wink.
She shrugs unrepentantly. “You’re my brother. That’s my job. But yes, we’re in love and happy.”
He whistles through his teeth and takes a sip. “And you’re together even though she’s pregnant with Josh’s baby?”
“Yes,” both Skylar and I say together.
“How long has this been going on?”
Skylar glances up at me. “About six or so weeks, right? Something like that.”
“But it started a while back. At least for me.”
Micha’s lips twitch with an amusement I don’t understand. “You mean following whatever happened between the two of you at the Valentine’s Day party?”
“What?” both Skylar and I spew out. “How did you know?” I finish.
Micha drains his second glass and sets the empty down on the counter, where he rolls it between his hands. “I saw you. I saw both of you, actually.” He points at Skylar. “I saw you leavethe bedroom with Braelyn, the two of you whispering, and I heard you say the word ‘kiss’ to her. Then I saw you”—he points to me—“walking out of the bedroom looking insanely guilty, but there was something else to you. A sadness maybe or an anger and an awakening all at once. I can’t describe it beyond that. I just know you, and you looked different, and I put it together pretty quickly. But neither of you spoke about it again. Except I know you, and you never really got together or hooked up with anyone after that. Was it because of her?”
I glance down at my hands pressing into the stone. “Partially, I guess. I wasn’t looking for her, and then I kissed her, and it turned out it was Skylar. After that, it was always Skylar, no matter how sometimes I wished it weren’t.” I look up at him. “You knew all this time?” Guilt battles with relief inside me.
Now he’s grinning like a Cheshire cat. “I knew, and I also didn’t forget that Skylar was living here when I offered you and Zoey my place.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Skylar barks out, her voice a dance of incredulous laughter.
“Are you serious?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Yep. I didn’t want Skylar living alone after what Josh had done to her, and I also wanted you to find a life again, man. It had been years, and you were a fucking mess with everything. Plus, I knew Sky and Zoey would hit it off. I thought maybe if you kissed her once, it could lead to something else between the two of you, and lo and behold, I was right.” I go to speak when he holds up his hand. “But I wish you had told me from the start, and I wish you had told me after it began.”
And just like that, a fresh wave of guilt hits me. “I get that, and I’m sorry. I wanted to do it in person. I was serious about her, and that wasn’t the kind of thing to mention over text.”
“Wait.” Skylar holds her hand up like a six-year-old in school. “Hold the phone here, Cupid. Are you telling me you orchestrated all of this?”
“Of course I did. I never liked Josh, and Aston’s my best friend.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
He grins at her. “You’re welcome.”
“Oh my god! I could hug you and strangle you. Who does something like that, Micha?”
“Who marries a man only to end up dating him, Skylar?” he throws back at her.
“Fair. That’s fair.” She shakes her head. “So, you’re not mad?”
“No. I’m not mad. I’m annoyed I had to fly home in the middle of the night to find out, but I’m the opposite of mad. Aston is the best guy I know, and he’ll take care of you. And your heart is the biggest one on the planet, and I know you’ll take care of him and Zoey in return.”
“I will,” I promise him.
“Same,” Skylar says.
“Good. Then we can go to bed now because I’ve been up for a very long time. Evidently since Jesus was an infant.” His lips bounce. “In the morning you can fill me in on everything else I missed.”
I walk over to him and give my best friend a hug. Because the bastard set me up, and I’m not the least bit upset about it. If anything, I owe him one. I just hope I get to one day return the favor. Until then we have a lot ahead of us. And I can’t wait for any of it.
EPILOGUE
SKYLAR
