“But you still owe me. For all the days of heartache. And I can still use that.”
“You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?”
Cian thought about it, then smiled knowingly. “Nope.”
“How long are you going to hold it over my head?”
“Oh, I don’t know, love, the next twenty years or so sound good.”
“That’s not fair,” Skye muttered irritably. Inside, her heart did a happy little dance. Did that mean he was going to stick around for the next twenty years? With her?
“Alright.” Cian rolled on his side so they were lying face to face. “What’s the real reason for your refusal?”
Skye took a deep breath. “Living together’s a big step. And… and… I’m not ready for… for… . you know.” The thought of spending every night with him… . Color crept in her face.
Cian gave her a shrewd look. “I know,” he reassured her gently. “I can wait until you’re ready. Besides you should know one thing, you’re going to marry me one day. If it was up to me, the sooner the better.”
Skye’s eyes went wide as saucer cups. She opened her mouth and tried to say something but nothing would come out.
“Rendered speechless, are we?” Cian noted with a grin. “I’m no longer holding back with you, Skye. Not after almost losing you. Do you want to know my reason for moving in?”
She nodded, awe-struck, still speechless, still wide-eyed.
“I don’t want any more time to go by without spending it with you. Moving in would get you used to us being together so that when I ask you to marry me, you won’t get that panicked look on your face again. The moment I get my ring on your finger, we’re going house-shopping.”
Finding her voice, Skye noted, “You sound awfully confident I’ll say yes.”
“Oh, you will say yes, love,” Cian promised her in a self-satisfied voice, a gleam in his eyes. “I thought about asking you to move in with me but I know how much you love your apartment, how much it means to you to have your own home. So we’ll be sharing the rent. I understand,” he repeated gently. “That’s why I’m asking you to let me move in. Will you?”
“I need to think about it.” Skye saw the resignation in his eyes. She reached out and cupped his face. “This is too important to just decide so quickly.”
“Very well. Take the time to think about it.” He leaned in and fastened his lips to hers in a long possessive kiss. When he pulled away, he gazed into her dazzled eyes. His flashed with determination. “But don’t take too bloody long or I’ll make that decision for you.”
Cian kissed her again, a swift hard kiss this time. When he let her come up for air, his eyes gleamed a warning at her. “I’m a selfish bastard, Skye. I want you and I’m not letting you go again. Not for anyone. Not even for your own sake.”
“HAVE YOU been living on air?” Cian complained later that morning as he raided her fridge. There was barely anything to eat in it.
Skye was sitting at the counter, drinking coffee and watching him. “Make yourself right at home, why don’t you?”
“Thank you, I believe I will,” he said smartly. He snatched her mug and took a sip.
“Hey! Get your own coffee!”
“What’s the fun in that?”
“Smartass,” she muttered.
“What was that?” Merriment danced in his eyes.
She stuck her tongue at him. He grinned at her.
At the knock on the front door, he motioned with her mug for her to go open it.
“Why do I have to go open the damn door?”
“Because it’s your apartment, isn’t it? And your damn door?” Cian gave her a sunny smile. “Now, if I was living here too, I would gladly go open the door.”
Skye scowled at his not-so-subtle hint and trudged to the door. She jerked it open, and stared in amazement at the sight that greeted her.
“What are you guys doing here?”
“We come bearing gifts,” Tasha chirped, holding up the bags she was carrying and shouldered her way in.
“Do come right in,” Skye offered in an exasperated voice.
“I got hot chocolate,” Tyler said with a grin, following in her wake.
“And I have strawberries,” Kiera told her, smiling.
Ash grinned at her. “Even I don’t know what I’m carrying.”
“Ah good, you’re finally here. She was going to starve me to death,” Cian greeted them, a twinkle in his eyes as he hugged Tasha.
Skye closed the door and turned to stare at her friends, who all had broad smiles on their faces.
“I assume this is all your doing?” Skye demanded, with a cross-eyed look for Cian.
Cian gave a bow. “Guilty as charged.”
Tasha laughed merrily. “He texted us and told us everything. And we all collectively decided that a breakfast party was in order.”
Kiera placed her load on the counter and came over to hug her tightly. “You should have told me.”
Skye squeezed her back. “I couldn’t.”
Tyler enfolded her in a bear hug next. “Skywalker, learn to share the load a bit, will you? You don’t always have to carry the whole world on your shoulder all alone.”
“I didn’t. You were here for me,” she assured him.
“As I will always be,” he promised. “Let’s get something to eat before Hunter gobbles everything.”
She chuckled at the image of Cian gobbling everything.
“Hey!” Cian called out to Tyler. “What about the truce?”
“What truce?” Tyler winked at Skye.
When Tasha reached for her, Skye protested, “I’m all hugged-out.”
Undeterred, Tasha chortled and embraced her anyway. “You’ll just have to deal with it.”
Since there weren’t enough seats for everyone, they decided to spread out the goodies on the low table in her small living room and to sit on the carpeted floor around it.
Skye stuffed a small cheese covered pastry in her mouth. “Ooh, that’s really good. Yummy.”
At that moment, there came several knocks on the door. Skye squinted at Cian. “What now?”
“That’s just Nick. Get the door, will you, love?”
Skye started to complain again about having to open the door but remembering his earlier retort, she settled for sending Cian a withering look.
“What was that about?” She heard Tasha ask Cian.
“Oh, just a little spat over who’s supposed to open the door,” Cian explained.
“I understood that but why?”
Skye groaned as she heard Cian answer, “I just asked her to let me move in, that’s all.”
Her friends burst out laughing. Skye rolled her eyes at their clowning as she opened the door.
Nick stood on the doorstep, his face guarded. “Hello, Skye.”
Skye stared at him. He’d never blamed her for breaking up with Cian and he’d lost everything because of her. Sorrow filled her heart that he was hurting because of her now. “Nick, I’m so sorry for everything.”
“As you should be,” he stated firmly. He bit back a smile when her face paled at his reply. “Can I come in?”
“Y—Yes, of course,” she stammered, standing aside to let him in.
He waited until she closed the door and turned around. “You should be sorry for that deal you made with Mr. Chan. Do you think it makes me happy to know you gave up your relationship with Cian for me?”
“N—No.” Skye felt wretched. He’d never spoken to her like this before. “I’m really—”
“Be quiet,” Nick told her in a brisk tone that shut up her apology. “Do you think it makes me happy to have you protect me and Thea like that?”
When she stayed silent, he said, “Do you?”
“N—No.”
“Are you done being the
martyr?”
Skye grimaced at the word. “I was not—”
He cut her off sharply. “Are you done?”
Skye gulped. “Yes.”
“Are you going to do it again?”
“No.”
Nick wondered if he’d made Skye feel sufficiently guilty. Seemed like it. She looked like she’d just been put on death row. “You swear?”
She nodded. “I swear.”
“Alright then. Let’s eat.” He started towards the others.
Skye caught his arm and held him back. “I’m sorry about you and Thea.”
“It’s not your fault.” When she looked unconvinced, Nick reiterated, “It’s not. I get why you did what you did for Thea and me. But you have to understand this is something I had to do. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Skye sighed. “Let’s go eat.”
“She’s hoarding the strawberries again,” Tasha complained.
They were sitting around the low wooden table, the girls lounging on the couch and the guys on the floor. The table was laden with several kinds of food; strawberries, sliced bananas and apples, red berries, croissants, cream puffs, the little pastries with the cheese cream Skye had tried earlier, cheese and mushroom patties. Nick had brought his mother’s homemade apple pie. Her friends had gone all out. There was coffee, orange juice, hot chocolate.
“I’m not.” Skye shared an amused look with Kiera. They both knew she’d secreted away a good portion of the strawberries.
“What is it with you and strawberries anyway?” Cian asked, stuffing a patty in his mouth. God, he was hungry for the first time since his and Skye’s breakup. He watched Skye carefully to make sure she was eating. He needn’t have worried, he thought wryly. She was putting away food like there was no tomorrow.
“Nothing. I just like them,” Skye told him in a mutter. She took a sip of hot chocolate.
Tyler laughed. “You should see her with chocolate donuts.”
“Been there, seen that, learned the lesson,” Nick replied around a mouthful of croissant.
“And what lesson would that be?” Ash asked him, intrigued. He sipped his coffee and chose a cream puff.
“Oh, just that better have another box of donuts handy,” Nick replied with a wink at Cian, who grinned.
“You guys are a hoot, you know that?” Skye retorted, taking a bite out of her croissant.
“Oh, we know,” Tyler agreed, sharing a grin with the guys.
“Some help please?” Skye directed that question at Tasha.
“You’re on your own, strawberry thief,” Tasha snapped dramatically.
“Cute,” Skye shot back, glowering at them as they hooted with laughter.
The knocks on the door cut their laughter short.
“Oh, for cryin’ out loud, who is it now?” Skye turned to Cian and in a sugary tone, said, “Oh, please, don’t get up. I’ll get that.”
“Oh, I wasn’t going to,” he fielded back with a smirk.
“Shove it,” Skye told him as she got up and headed for the door. She flipped the lock and swung it open only to stare at the newcomers in surprise.
“Mr. Chan! Thea… what are you doing here?”
“May we come in?” Mr. Chan asked.
Skye stared back at her friends who were watching curiously except for Cian and Nick. Cian had a cold look on his face and Nick just stared at them blankly.
“I—”
“Please. It won’t take long,” Thea said softly, staring at Nick.
“Come in.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Chan turned to her friends. “I apologize for the intrusion.”
“It’s alright,” Skye reassured him.
“No, it’s not,” Cian disagreed coldly, getting to his feet and coming to stand by Skye’s side.
“Skye, if you want, we can give you some privacy,” Kiera ventured, getting up too. Tyler started to protest but Tasha shushed him.
“No, that won’t be necessary,” Mr. Chan told her. “But thank you.” He turned to Skye and Cian. “Miss Fletcher, I owe both you and Cian an apology. I am truly very sorry for all the pain I have caused to both of you. I know an apology does not make up for all of it but I hope one day you will be able to forgive me.”
“You can sh—”
“Cian.” Skye caught his hand, stopping his words. “I understand why you did it, Mr. Chan.”
Mr. Chan shook his head. “I had no right. I just hope you will not hold my behavior against Thea.”
“Thea has her own deeds to answer for,” Cian said coolly.
“Yes, I do,” Thea said, stepping up.
Her face was pale and her eyes had dark shadows under them. Skye didn’t know if she and Thea would ever have the same easy friendship as before but she was sorry to see her looking so miserable.
“Skye, I’m so sorry for the things I said to you—the horrible way I treated you.”
“It’s not your fault. You had no way of knowing.”
“No, but I should have been a better friend to you. And for that, I’m very sorry,” Thea said with a shamed look.
Skye felt bad for her. “It’s okay, Thea. Really.”
“Cian?” Thea’s voice sounded so small.
Skye stared pointedly at Cian. He let out a sigh, then gave Thea a hug. “It’s okay. We’re good.”
Thea gave him a look of relief. “Thanks, Cian.”
Mr. Chan walked to where Nick was standing. “Nick, I have made a lot of mistakes lately. Please don’t hold them against my daughter. I truly understand now that I could never find someone who will love Thea as much as you do. I hope you can forgive my past transgressions. I give my daughter’s hand to you freely. Will you accept her?”
Nick stared at Thea from across the room, a maze of emotions running across his face. Then his eyes shifted to Skye who gave him an encouraging smile. She gave Thea a small push towards Nick.
“So what do you say, Finnegan?” Tyler called out.
Skye and Cian smiled at his rowdiness.
Nick turned to Mr. Chan. A wondering smile lit his face. “I say yes.” He turned and walked up to Thea. “If you’ll have me,” he offered softly.
Thea’s eyes filled with tears. “Always.”
Nick held out his arms to her. With a sob, she went into his embrace and buried her face in his shoulder.
“Kiss the girl already, will ya?” Tyler shot out. Tasha gave him an exasperated look. “What?” he asked her. “I’m just trying to help.” She shook her head at him, unable to keep from smiling.
Skye, Cian and Ash flat-out burst out laughing while Kiera muffled her laughter with her hand. Mr. Chan smiled.
Thea gave a hiccupping laugh. Nick grinned, then pressed a gentle kiss on Thea’s lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Thea whispered back.
“Alright, party-time!” Tyler hooted.
“Ty, really.” Skye rolled her eyes at him.
“What?” he gave her an innocent look.
“I’ll take my leave,” Mr. Chan said, heading towards the door.
Skye stopped him. “You’re welcome to stay. Um, if you want to.”
“Thank you, my dear, but I’ll leave you young people to enjoy yourselves.”
After he was gone, Tyler turned to her. “Seriously? You had to invite him?”
“What? I was being considerate,” Skye said defensively, moving to the couch.
“Dude, really? You were gonna blow our party.”
“Jeez, be a little considerate and you get chewed out.”
Cian shared an amused glance with the others at their bickering. He took the middle spot on the couch next to Skye, Kiera taking the other.
Tyler tugged Tasha to sit next to him on the floor, over her nitpicking about having to sit on the floor, even though i
t was carpeted and muttering something about why the hell Skye couldn’t buy some chairs. Skye gave her a sunny smile at that. Ash sat on the arm of the couch beside Kiera. Thea and Nick sprawled down on the floor, holding hands.
“Thea,” Kiera called out softly.
Thea looked up questioningly.
“You ever speak to Skye like you did that day on the phone ever again and I’ll reach out across the damn thing and pull your tongue out,” she said sweetly. “Are we clear?”
They all stared at Kiera in amazement, except for Skye, who casually reached out for a cheese patty and said to Cian, “I told you she went easy on you at your diner date.”
“So you did,” Cian replied wryly.
Thea swallowed. “Yes—yes, we are clear.”
“Wowza girl, where you been hiding that side of yourself?” Tyler asked.
“Yes where?” Tasha’s eyes were twinkling.
Kiera smiled. “We are BFFs,” she said simply as if that explained everything.
Skye grinned back at her, feeling a wave of love for her at her defense. Kiera’d been the first real friend she’d ever had and she’d been the one who had taught her the meaning of friendship. Tyler, Crystal and Tasha had come after her, giving her the family she’d never had.
Skye stared at her circle of friends, at Kiera and Ash smiling at each other as she handed him a cream puff, at Tasha daintily eating her croissant and Tyler stuffing patties in his mouth, at Nick and Thea who looked like nothing short of an earthquake could tear them apart. Probably not even that. They hadn’t let go of each other’s hand, preferring to eat with one hand rather than letting go.
Her friends. Her family. The only one missing was Crystal. But one day she would go visit her in Atlanta. Maybe Cian would come with her.
Joy washed over Skye. All her life she’d never expected to ever feel this contentment, to be as lucky to have such wonderful friends, to have someone like Cian love her. He loved her! Her stomach fluttered every time that thought crossed her mind.
She knew that life was unpredictable, the future uncertain. But right now, at this moment, she was just fine. She finally belonged. With him. Cian.
Cian had taught her the meaning of love.
“Hey, you’re not eating anything,” the object of her thoughts said.
Holding Out For Skye Page 33
