Listen to Your Heart(49)

“Thanks, Jess.”

“No problem.” He turns his attention back to the man. “Jill giving you shit again?”

Jill?

The man snorts. “When isn’t she giving me shit? Now she’s threatening to ask the judge for full custody because I’m apparently not spending enough time with my kid. What am I supposed to do? I have to work, right?”

I glance at the man by my side. He doesn’t resemble Skye at all, but he does look like my favorite ten-year-old guitarist.

“Are you Nick Douglas?”

He glances at me skeptically. “Yeah. Who’s asking?”

I offer him my hand. “My name’s Caleb Lynch. I’m Eli’s guitar teacher.”

And Skye’s boyfriend. But I don’t mention that.

He slaps me on the back. “Hey, it’s good to meet you! Eli talks about you all the time. Good job on that B7 chord, man. I can’t believe his little fingers can do it.”

“He’s really talented.”

“I’m proud of him. So, I guess you know my sister?”

“I do.”

“I couldn’t do this without her.”

“She’s amazing.”

Nick grins. “You know, she’s single. I could hook you up.”

Jesse fakes a cough to cover his laugh. Just then, I get a text, and the words on the screen nearly cause my heart to stop beating.

I’m naked and drunk. Come home to me.

“I may take you up on that, Nick.” With a smile, I reach into my wallet and toss some cash onto the bar. “The burger’s on me. Nice to meet you.”

“Thanks, man. Appreciate that.”

Jesse’s still laughing as I make my way out the door.



My imagination conjures many visual fantasies on the drive to Skye’s apartment, but nothing prepares me for what greets me at the door.

“You and I need to have a serious conversation,” Lynsey says.

I glance around as she pulls me toward the couch. “Where’s Skye?”

“She’s changing, but that’s not important.”

I disagree. A naked Skye is very important. My gaze lingers longingly down the hallway.

Lynsey’s impatient fingers snap in front of my face. “Focus! Why are you still going through with this wedding?”

“You think this is my idea?”

“I don’t know what to think! Skye’s drunk, which never, ever happens. Or, at least, not before she met you. I think she’s having panic attacks, and it’s all because of your stupid wedding! I like you, Caleb, I really do, but this is killing her. It has to stop.”

“Wait. She’s having panic attacks?”

“I think so. She won’t talk about it, of course, but she’s had to excuse herself from several meetings lately. You haven’t noticed anything? Trembling hands? Shortness of breath?”

“No, she’s fine when we’re together.”

“Well, she’s not fine when you’re apart! She’s okay if we’re dealing with scheduling, but if I ask her anything about dresses or flowers or vows, she starts to shake and has to leave the room. When she comes back, she blames it on low blood sugar, but I know better. My best friend is seriously stressed out, and it’s all your fault.”

I collapse against the couch and bury my head in my hands.

“Lynsey, I’ve begged her. I don’t want this, but ever since Luisa fainted, Skye is determined to see this through.”

“That’s another thing I want to talk to you about.” She sits down next to me on the couch. “I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a bitch, but . . . don’t you find it strange that Mrs. Martinez could remember the name of the caterer we picked months ago but she couldn’t remember a conversation she had that same afternoon?”

I shrug. “Not really. The doctor said that wasn’t uncommon when dealing with memory lapses. She might not recall what she had for dinner the night before but she could remember the exact time Juliana was born. He said there’s no rhyme or reason to it.”

“I think she’s faking.”

“Who’s faking?”

“Mrs. Martinez.”

“You think she’s faking a brain tumor? Seriously?”

“Of course not, but I think she remembers more than we realize.”

I shake my head. That doesn’t make any sense.

“Why would she do that?”

“How much does she want this wedding, Caleb?”

“Not so much that she’d lie. She wouldn’t do that.”

“Why not? You did.”

I consider that. She’s right. We lied for months. We’re still lying. But would Luisa seriously stoop this low? I can’t imagine it.

“Lynsey, I don’t think Luisa would lie about this. I really don’t. That would be unbelievably cruel.”

“Skye doesn’t believe me, either.”

“Is that why the two of you’ve been arguing?”

“Yeah. Tonight was fun, though. At least, it was until we watched some sappy chick flick. Next thing I know she’s drunk. Like I said, that never happens. Skye’s strong, but even she has a breaking point. And I think she’s reached it.” Lynsey glances down at her phone. “I need to get home. We have a wedding tomorrow at the Presbyterian church on Sixth Street. Will you please take care of her?”