You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(46)

“Well…see you later.” She drifted away, her shoulders looking heavy.

I felt like a jerk for turning her down, but I didn’t know what else to do. I decided to head home and barricade myself in my room. Like a bat, I preferred the silence and solitude.

***

I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Whenever I tried to study, Skye came into my mind. My phone was full of pictures of her, but I hadn’t deleted any of them. It was too hard.

But I couldn’t stop staring at them either.

Whenever I looked through them, I saw her smiling. My arm was around her and we were sharing an ice cream cone. Was she really happy? Or was it a front? Why did she have to tell me she loved me if she didn’t?

There were even a few dirty pictures of her. She sent them to me when we couldn’t be together. As ashamed as I was, I still looked at them. I couldn’t imagine being with another woman, even in my fantasies. As unhealthy as it was, I thought of Skye when I touched myself. It only made me feel worse when I was done.

Mitchell knocked on the door. “Yo. You got company.”

I stirred at the sound. “Who is it?” Who the hell would be visiting me? I didn’t have friends. Whenever someone came to the door, my heart always hoped it would be Skye. Hoped she came to apologize and fight for me. But it was usually one of Mitchell’s friends or a girl he was seeing. I gave up on my wishful thinking months ago.

“Slade.”

Slade? Why was he here? I got out of bed then headed down the hallway.

Slade was sitting on the couch watching the game. “Damn, did you see that play?”

“Seahawks are going to be in the super bowl. I’m telling you,” Mitchell said.

“You wanna bet?” Slade challenged. “My money is on the Broncos.”

“You’re on.” Mitchell extended his hand.

Slade shook it.

“What are we betting?” Mitchell asked.

“A dime.”

“A dime, it is.”

I came closer to Slade. Seeing him made me feel better. I could be myself around him, and he was the only person who could cheer me up.

“Hey, man.” Slade stood up. “You’re looking…better.”

Without thinking, I hugged him. We hardly ever embraced each other but I missed him. I missed home. I missed my old life. I missed my life with Skye.

Slade returned the embrace and didn’t tease me. “I missed you too, man.”

I pulled away and tried to act normal. “What brings you here?”

“I miss my best pal,” Slade said. “I was starting to go crazy.”

“Well, thanks for flying all the way out to see me. I appreciate it.”

“Sure.” He fist-bumped me. “Have you eaten?”

No. But I wasn’t hungry. “I’m starving.”

“Let’s get some Chinese food. My flight attendant was Asian and I’ve been craving it ever since.”

I laughed. “That’s not racist.”

He shrugged. “Well, it’s true.”

“Mitchell, you want to come?” I asked.

“No, you girls have some alone time,” Mitchell said with a smile. “Cayson needs some cheering up.”

“Cool,” Slade said. “Let’s head out.”

***

“This is the best Mexican food I’ve ever had.” His plate was wiped clean, and the chip bowl was empty with the exception of a few crumbs. “They don’t make it like this on the east coast.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty good.” Food wasn’t that enjoyable when I was depressed. Most of the time, I forgot to eat entirely.

“Shit, I’m going to move here just so I can eat that every day.”

“But there’s no Mega Shake.”

“Hmm…that’s a toughie.”

I smiled for the first time in months. “How’s Trinity?”

“You know, sexy like usual.” He downed his beer then rested his elbows on the table.

“So everything is good between you?”

He shrugged. “For the most part. She’s still annoying and stuff.”

I smirked. “You don’t have to downplay your happiness because of me…”

His eyes filled with sadness. “She’s everything to me.” His voice was serious.

“That’s better.” Living without Skye was hard, but I didn’t want people to walk on eggshells around me. That wasn’t fair. I wanted to ask about Skye, to see how she was doing, but I refused to. No good would come from it. She was probably dating other guys. She was the leader of the Preston Empire, running it like a pro. She was having the time of her life while I…lived a pathetic existence. “How’s life in the parlor?”

Slade rolled his eyes. “I’m a damn janitor.”

I chuckled. “Sounds perfect for you.”

He threatened me silently.

“Your dad will give you more responsibilities as you go on. You can’t just start off on top without learning the basics. He’s just trying to teach you.”

“Well, he’s taking his sweet ass time,” Slade said bitterly. “I’m making minimum wage right now. I can’t even afford my own place.”

“You don’t have any money saved?”