“Well, of course I like him.”
Shaking her head, Laylee clarified, “I mean,like-like him.” To further explain, she added, “He’s not like Clyde.”
“Not in any way.”
“Well, other than being big and gorgeous.” Laylee bobbed her eyebrows. “Both men are fine eye candy.”
Ford wasn’t quite as big as Clyde, but what he lacked in bulk he made up for with confidence. Since neither of them were watching the movie, Skye paused it, then stood to put away their ice cream bowls.
“I’ll get them,” Laylee said, surprising her. “It’s the least I can do after crashing in on you.”
“You know I don’t mind.”
“Because you’re always too good to me.”
Her sister’s mood gave Skye pause. She allowed Laylee to take the dishes, but followed her into the kitchen. Usually if her sister dropped in, it meant something was wrong. “Laylee. . .”
“I’m sorry.”
Those blurted words further confused her. “For?”
While rinsing the dishes, Laylee heaved a deep sigh. After sticking the bowls and spoons in the dishwasher, she leaned back on the counter and met Skye’s gaze. “For a lot of things, I guess. First, I was mean.”
Taken aback, Skye pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. “When?”
Huffing a laugh, Laylee joined her at the table. “Guess I’m mean so often, you need specifics.”
Skye reached across the table for her hand. “You’re never mean.” She was just herself, bold and fearless, charismatic and yes, a little spoiled.
“I was hitting on your neighbor.” Laylee squeezed Skye’s hand. “Not that he noticed, and I’m not even sure why I did it.”
Skye knew why. Laylee wasn’t used to being ignored, and she definitely wasn’t used to a man giving more attention to Skye. None of that was important right now. “What’s wrong?” WhenLaylee started to pull away, Skye held on. “Fess up, sis. I can tell something is bothering you.”
Dramatically deflating, Laylee let her head thump onto the table. “I got dumped, and for a woman who hates me.”
Drawing back in surprise, Skye stared. She hadn’t known Laylee cared about a particular guy. “What do you mean, a woman who hates you?”
“She was a friend.” Peeking up, Laylee said, “Or at least, I thought she was. Turns out she just wanted my guy.”
“Your guy?”
Sitting up again, Laylee waved off the question. “No one important, except that he told me he was done because I wasn’t a nice person. Worse, he said I’m malicious, all because I stated the truth—that my so-called friend was jealous, a user, and a man stealer.”
Uh-oh. Skye scooted her chair around to sit closer to her sister. Gently, she asked, “Where were you two when you told her that?”
“At a party.”
Skye winced. “So in front of people?”
Shrugging, Laylee made it clear that wasn’t important. “Not like everyone didn’t know when I caught the two of them making out at the party.”
Worse and worse. “Making out?”
“Kissing, hugging, whatever. The party was mostly in the backyard, but she went in to get us more drinks, then he went in for something, and when he didn’t return right away,Iwent in to see what was going on, and yes, there was a lot going on.” Showing she was still pained by the betrayal, Laylee closed her eyes. “They were in the hall, all pressed together, and I just lost it.”
“I’m sorry.” Skye couldn’t imagine her proud, beautiful sister suffering that kind of humiliation. “I wish you had just called me.”
“Should have. It would have been better than blasting them both, because that drew attention, and pretty soon everyone knew, and then,bam, all of a sudden I was the bad guy.”
