When I open the door, Skylar looks like she did the day I first met her. Right after Theo got sick.If he got sick.Her hair is frazzled, she’s wearing a stained T-shirt, and it looks like she hasn’t slept in days. Guilt courses through my belly. This is because of me.
“This isn’t because of you,” Skylar states, reading my mind. I wave her in, and she greets Emory, plopping onto the couch next to her. “I mean, it’s partially because of you.”
“Sky, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She brings her knees up, twisting around to get comfortable. “It’s not your fault. Ash told me everything.”
Everything?
“Oh,” I say, walking into the kitchen to grab the ice cream. “What exactly did he say?”
I place the tub on the coffee table, along with three spoons, and kneel beside it for easier access.
“Nothing specific. Just that he was a dick and totally fucked it up between you two.”
Well, that’s a pretty good CliffsNotes version.I dig my spoon into the creamy frozen treat and bring it to my lips.
“Then he told me he was resigning.”
“What?” I snap, swallowing the entire contents of my mouth in one gulp. My throat throbs as the cold liquid gets stuck in it.
“He left the paper,” Skylar says. Emory’s spoon is frozen in mid-air, and I drop mine on the table.
Why would he leave? He knew I was quitting. He didn’t have to face me ever again. It makes no sense.
“Did he say why?” I ask her, but she shakes her head.
“So, I had to step in while trying to find a new editor. Theo still can’t do it. It’s a mess,” she waves her own spoon around as she digs into the ice cream, taking mouthfuls two at a time.
“Hey, I know this is going to sound weird, but did Theo really have a stroke?”
Skylar takes another bite of ice cream before setting her spoon down. She tilts her head to the side. “Um, yeah. Of course he did. I saw him at the hospital. Why?—”
“No reason,” I jump in. “It was something silly, but never mind.”
She doesn’t seem convinced, but lets it go anyway.
“I’m so sorry you have to deal with all this,” I tell her.
“Thanks,” she sighs. “Look, I don’t want you to feel pressure. I totally understand either way, but I was thinking since Ashton doesn’t work atTheLanternanymore, you might consider coming back.”
There are a hundred reasons why I should say yes. Mainly because I need the money now more than ever, but there’s a nagging feeling in my gut telling me it’s the wrong move. A lot has happened in the last seventy-two hours, and I need some time to figure out what I really want.
“I wish I could say yes, Sky, I really do, but I can’t come back. Not right now. But if there’s anything I can do to help as anoutsider, please let me know. I’m here for you.” I put my hand on her shoulder.
“Same,” Emory mumbles through a bite of ice cream.
“Thanks. It is nice just being able to chill with you girls. Even though I should be working well into the wee hours of the morning.”
“You could do that,” I say. “Or we could watch trashy television and eat our weight in ice cream.”
“I vote for option B,” Emory says.
“Alright, since you’re twisting my arm.” Skylar snuggles deeper into the couch. “And Allie?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m no stranger to heartbreak.”
