You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(35)

Conrad and Roland were in the corner, laughing loudly. Beatrice was at his side but she was quiet. Roland hadn’t stopped talking about seeing Conrad for the past week. He was excited to the point of insanity. Seeing them together made me smile, which was hard to do. I just felt bad Beatrice was the third wheel.

“Seriously, they act like girls sometimes.” Silke was at my side, wearing a leather jacket.

“This is cute,” I said. “Where did you get it?”

She beamed. “Arsen got it for me.” She eyed him across the room. He was talking to Uncle Ryan, and they were both laughing.

“How did you meet?”

“It’s a long story. But we met about a year ago.”

“You’ve been dating him this whole time?” I asked.

“Yeah, but we didn’t get serious until recently.” She couldn’t stop smiling.

“Well, I’m happy for you.” I thought it was odd she never mentioned him but I wasn’t going to make the situation about myself.

“Thank you.” Her smile faded and sadness came into her eyes. “Are you doing okay?”

I took a deep breath, trying not to cry. Being around my family made me feel better. They showered me with love and support. But they also reminded me of what I was missing. “I’m taking it one day at a time.”

She nodded slightly. “I’m here if you need anything.”

“I know.”

She pulled me in for a hug and held me close. “Together or apart, I love you both.”

I stilled my breath so I wouldn’t cry. “Thank you.”

She pulled away and gave me a smile. “Now, let’s have fun and stop thinking about it.”

“That sounds nice.”

The front door opened and Cayson’s family entered. Clementine was wearing a red dress with black stockings, and she looked beautiful like always. His parents looked the same as they always did. Monnique was beautiful and exotic, and Cortland still reminded me of an old movie star.

But Cayson wasn’t there.

I was relieved but sad at the same time.

Cortland eyed me with a sad expression. Then he came over to me. “It’s nice to see you.” He pulled me in for a hug. “You’re lovely, like always.”

It meant the world to me that he treated me the same even though I wasn’t seeing Cayson anymore. “Thank you. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

Monnique hugged me next. “Your hair looks nice. Did you do something to it?”

“I got a haircut a few days ago.” Actually, Trinity made me. And made me eat and bathe.

“You look like a million bucks.” She kissed my cheek then walked away.

Clementine came up to me, sadness in her eyes. “I’m really bummed you and Cayson couldn’t work it out.”

My eyes bubbled with tears. I couldn’t speak so I just nodded.

She hugged me tightly. “It’ll be okay, Skye.”

I held onto her and stilled my emotions. “Why didn’t he come?”

She pulled away. “He said he had to study and finish his rotations…but we all know why.”

He didn’t come because of me. He didn’t want to see me.

He hated me.





Chapter Eight


Trinity


I left the bathroom and stopped when I reached a wall.

Slade was blocking my way, his height and size acting as a solid shadow.

“Were you listening to me pee?”

“What does it matter?” he asked. “I’ve seen you pee.”

There was no mystery to our relationship after my car accident. He saw everything that I wanted to hide. But it brought us close together. “Why are you lurking outside the bathroom like a weirdo?”

“I wanted to talk in private.”

I knew where this was going. “I’m not having sex with you right now.” Our parents were in the house, laughing and drinking. It would be suicide.

“That’s not what I had in mind, but good to know where you’re at.”

“What do you want?” I leaned against the doorframe.

“I want to ditch this lame party and take you back to my place, have some alone time on Christmas.”

“I don’t think we’ll be able to pull that off.”

“I do,” he said. “Our parents are drunk off their asses. No one will know we’re gone. Besides, I want to give you a present.”

I smiled. “A Christmas present?”

He nodded.

“Oooh…I like the sound of that.”

His arm moved around my waist and he kissed my neck gently. “Is that a yes?”

I closed my eyes and enjoyed his gentle kisses. My hands moved to his shoulders and I gripped him tightly. “If you do this when we get there, yes.”

He moved his lips to my ear. “I know what my baby likes.”

“Well, let’s slip out and hope we aren’t noticed.”

“I’m a master at that.” He took my hand and we snuck out the front door. Then we found his car in the snow and jumped inside. It was freezing cold but the heater kicked in and we were warm in a few minutes.

“Let’s head out.” Slade hit the road and we drove back to New York.