“You have cold feet. Ana said it’s normal. She said you’ll come around.”
Ana was my mother. Her real name was Anastasia. She liked the longer version for business and social purposes. Being as Skylar had known her since he was born, to him, she was Ana.
“My feet are fine. I hope you’ll reconsider theright thingwhen it comes to Beth. You’re also correct; you screwed up. Now it’s time to man up. I’m staying in Ashland. I’ve accepted a job.”
Skylar stood.
I lifted my chin, keeping our eye contact.
Through the years, I’d seen most of my ex-fiancé’s moods. If I were to predict, his steady, reassuring, and slightly self-deprecating position was about to give way to a more forceful demand. Skylar was a lot of things, but violent wasn’t one of them. My reasoning for not inviting him to my hotel room wasn’t because I feared him or because I was concerned he’d make inappropriate moves; he’d had reason for the first over time and never gone that way. As for the second, he’d had ample opportunity and failed.
My reasoning was simple.
I was done with this relationship.
“You can’t be serious,” he said. “You already have a job at Wade.”
“I need time to let the dust settle. You do too. Take it. Our engagement is off. The wedding is canceled. I want you to leave.”
He pulled a twenty and a ten from his money clip and laid them on the table. Lifting the glass with his whiskey, he downed the two fingers. “This could devastate Wade. Do you even care about your family business?”
Skylar was prepared to give me every guilt trip possible. The problem was that I wasn’t guilty. He was. “Do I want my life to be a contract to keep control of my family’s dream?” As I spoke the question, I realized the answer applied to more than Skylar and me but also to Van’s proposal. “No. I do care. I just won’t live my life regretting that decision.”
I lifted my coat and began to walk away but turned back. “Drive safely, Skylar. As far as I’m concerned, your employment at Wade is secure. I suppose that isn’t up to me right now, but I don’t wish you ill. I simply have never been in love with you and am relieved I learned that sooner rather than later.”
He came closer, reaching for my arm and pulling me toward him. His arm surrounded my waist as his lips took mine.
It took less than a second for the ice-cold connection to fuel my protest.
Using both hands, I pushed against Skylar’s chest until he stepped back, tripping over one of the chairs. From the corner of my eye, I saw the bartender watching. No longer did I care what was overheard. “If you ever touch me like that again, I will personally see to it that you and your family are out of Wade. For the final time, we’re done. Goodbye, Skylar.”
With that, I turned, keeping my head high as I went to the elevator and hit theupbutton. When the doors opened, I stepped inside. As the doors closed, I made no effort to look beyond my own space. I didn’t know if Skylar Butler had left the bar, was in the lobby, or had exited the hotel.
I didn’t care.
As I gathered my things in the room, I decided to call down to the bar.
“Hello, this is Julia McGrath in room 426. Can you tell me if the man with whom I was sharing a drink has left?”
“He’s gone. I asked him to leave.”
I let out a long sigh. “Thank you.”
“Lady, are you in for the night?”
“I’m checking out.”
“Before you head out to your car, stick your head in here and I’ll send one of the busboys out with you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your assistance.”
Julia
Itook comfort in the darkening sky and even in the new covering of snow that melted against my windshield and accumulated on the twisty lane as I drove back toward Van’s home. After the run-in with Skylar, it truly felt liberating. This was a new world, and I had no doubt that I’d made the right decision.
The rental car was once again filled with my luggage, everything I’d brought with me from Chicago. I didn’t have many changes of clothes, but that didn’t even tempt me to return either alone or with Skylar to Chicago. Seeing Skylar was awkward enough; the thought of facing my parents or his caused my stomach to twist and turn.
I knew that I shouldn’t feel that way. I wasn’t the one who cheated on Skylar.