20. Tucker

“Shit!” Colt mutters from behind Skylar. “Sorry, Tuck. She wanted to see you. You know how she gets, there’s no way she woulda taken no for an answer.”

I gather Skylar’s hair to the side, rubbing soothing circles on her back. I”m not sure how much more puking I can take in one day.

“It’s alright, it doesn’t bother me. I can take care of her, you can go.”

Colt hesitates, his gaze bouncing between Skylar and I. He grips the back of his neck and I can tell he’s fighting some internal battle.

“What is it, Colt?”

“She said something…”

“And?” I raise a brow. I can only imagine the things Skylar could’ve said in her current state.

“I asked her why she left…”

“Shit. What’d she tell you?” I scrub a hand over my face. I”m not prepared to deal with this. Not after the day I’ve had.

“She said the loss was too big, she felt broken. She said she lost her future… What the hell does that mean, Tuck? What happened?”

I squeeze my eyes shut; I can”t have this conversation right now. I need to talk to a sober Skylar before any sort of conversation about this happens with Colt.

“I want to tell you, I do. I”ve wanted to tell you for an entire decade, but it’s both of our stories. She needs to be ok with you knowing too… She needs to be sober.”

Colt’s expression softens when he turns his attention to Skylar. Concern fills his features; they care more about each other than they’ll ever admit.

“Do you need help with her?”

He’s hurt but he understands and isn”t going to push. He’s a great friend.

“Nah, I got her. I’ll call you in the morning after I talk to her… I think it’s time you knew anyway.”

He’s reluctant to leave, especially with Skylar throwing up, but I wave him away once again.

“I”m sorry, Tuck,” Sky moans. “I haven’t been this drunk in a long time…”

“It’s alright, darling. Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.”

“I”m too tired to walk,” she mumbles, her eyes sliding shut.

I chuckle softly, thinking back to all the times this has happened. Colt, Skylar, and I were constantly in trouble or pushing boundaries. We’d sneak out to go to parties and get drunk, or I’d sneak into Sky’s bedroom and hold her until we heard her dad’s alarm go off the next morning.

But whenever Sky got drunk, she’d be tons of fun until she hit what Colt and I affectionately called tired drunk. Once she got tired drunk, she’d pass out no matter where she was.

“Uh oh, we’re at tired drunk already?”

“Shhh… don’t tell Colt… He doesn’t like tired drunk; he likes fun drunk.” She tries to place her finger over my mouth to quiet me, but she hits my chin instead.

“I’m sure he does.” I shake my head with amusement. I’ve missed this woman more than I ever realized. “Do you want me to carry you?”

She nods her head eagerly, staring up at me with big puppy dog eyes.

“C’mon, I”m pretty sure your clothes are covered in puke.”

Sliding an arm under her knees, she leans into me and I ease her off the ground and into my arms. Once I maneuver us through the door, I close it softly so I don’t wake up Riley. I’m shocked my little girl has stayed asleep with all of Skylar’s pounding on my door. I head straight to my bathroom, plopping Skylar on the counter.

“Can you sit up while I grab you something to wear?”

She sways to the side; her eyes opening slightly before they fall shut once again. She nods her head but I”m not so sure she can.

I rush to my dresser and am back at her side as quickly as I can. The last thing I need is for her to fall off the counter and hit her head. I pull off her boots, dropping them on the floor.

“Sky, can you get undressed and put this t-shirt on?”

“Mmm… I just wanna sleep, Tuck. Let me sleep.”

“I will, baby, but you need to get these clothes off first. I”m not letting you in my bed if you’re covered in puke.”

“Fine,” she groans. Before I know what’s happening, Skylar pulls her shirt over her head, then flings her bra across the room. My eyes bulge in surprise. I never imagined this happening. She hops off the sink with more grace than I expect and shimmies her tight jeans off.

Damn. Skylar’s more beautiful than I remember. I can”t pull my eyes away from her bare skin. My eyes rake over each curve of her body, committing this sight to memory. I”m not sure I’ll ever get it again.

“You got a little something right...” Sky points to my mouth, a smirk on her face.

She takes a step towards me with her hand raised, but stumbles and falls into me. Her chest slams into mine, I lose my footing and we crash into the wall behind me. My arms wrap around her, holding her tightly against me before she can hurt either one of us.

“Right here.” She wipes at the corner of my mouth, a smirk taking over her lips once again. “I got your drool.” She gives me an over exaggerated wink. My chest shakes with laughter and I drop my forehead against hers.

“Damn, Sky. How did I survive without you?” I reposition us, making sure to keep my legs spread apart in case she attempts to knock us over again.

“Don’t know.” She shrugs her shoulder then lays her cheek against my chest. I kiss the top of her head, tightening my hold on her. A soft snore fills the air a few minutes later, warming my heart. Only Skylar Barren could fall asleep standing up.

“What’s up with you? Why do you keep doing this to yourself?” I whisper into her hair.

“‘Cus I can”t have you,” she mutters in her sleep.

But you can, baby. I”m all yours.

Dropping my t-shirt over her head, I slide her arms through and carry her to my bed. The last thing I need is for Riley to wake up and find a naked Skylar in my arms or bed.

Yanking the sheets back, I ease Sky into the center of the bed. I take one last look at her smooth legs before I pull the blankets over her, placing a lingering kiss on her temple.

“Get some sleep, Sky.”

I stop in the doorway, giving her one last glance over my shoulder. I wish this could be my reality, but it can”t be, not unless she wants this as much as I do.

“Daddy?” Riley’s soft voice stirs me from my sleep.

“I”m out here, girly.”

I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and stretch out the kinks in my sore muscles from sleeping on the couch.

“Why are you out here? Who’s in your bed?”

Fuck. I really didn’t think this through. I scrub a hand down my face and try to find the best response I can give her.

“That’s my friend.”

“Ms. Barren? It looked like Ms. Barren.” She places a hand on her hip, staring me down.

“Uh…” I rub the back of my neck. I can”t lie to her, but I don’t know what to tell her. “Yes, it’s Skylar… I mean Ms. Barren.”

“That’s a pretty name. Skylar.” She nods her head like she’s giving it some real thought.

“Yes, it is.”

“I like her… a lot. I still think you should date her again.” She hasn’t let up on this. Ever since she found out Sky and I used to date; she’s been pushing it.

I pat the spot on the couch to my right, Riley bounces to my side and climbs up next to me.

“How are you feeling?”

“Lots better! I don’t feel sick at all!”

“Good. I”m glad you feel better.”

I stare at her, not sure if I should ask the question on the tip of my tongue or not.

“What, Daddy?”

“Can I ask you something and you have to tell me the truth?”

“I always tell you the truth, silly.” She rolls her eyes playfully.

“How would you feel if I did date Skylar… I mean Ms. Barren?”

“Can we just call her Skylar? It’s prettier than Ms. Barren.”

“Umm… You need to ask her that, but I think it will be ok. Except for at school, you still need to call her Ms. Barren at school.”

“Ok, I can do that.”

“So… how would you feel if I asked Skylar out?”

She shrugs a shoulder before jumping off the couch. She stands in front of me, her hands cupping my cheeks.

“I don’t mind, Daddy.”

“Well, this would be the first time I’ve dated since you were born.” My brows crinkle. This is a big deal.

“I know. I just want you to be happy. I like Skylar, she’s really nice to me.”

“I think she still has a boyfriend.” I wince.

I might be a little too transparent with my daughter. Maybe I shouldn’t be discussing this with her. Riley yawns, I glance at the clock and let out a sigh.

“Let’s get you back to bed, we don’t need to be up at four o’clock in the morning.”

We walk to her room, hand in hand. I help her into bed, pull the covers up, and kiss her head.

“I love you, girly,” I whisper on my way to the door.

“I love you too, Daddy.”

I turn towards the living room, but stop myself. I should check on Skylar and make sure she’s ok.

I tiptoe into my room and over to the bed. Skylar’s sprawled across the mattress, only half covered with the blanket. I brush a few strands of hair from her face and she moans softly in her sleep. I run my thumb over her bottom lip, wishing I could kiss her like I want to. I let out a sigh, stepping away. I need to keep my distance.

“Don’t leave…” Sky murmurs.

I stare at her for a moment before I continue towards the door. I”m sure she’s just talking in her sleep.

“Tucker… stay.”

“Go back to sleep, darling,” I whisper. She’s definitely asleep, there’s no way she’d ask me to stay if she were awake.

“Only if you lay with me, otherwise I”m going home.”

“You’re awake?” I take a few steps closer, catching a smirk tugging on the corner of her lips.

“Yeah, I heard you come in.”

“Sorry. I was just checking on you.”

“Lay with me, Tuck… Please.” Her lips form a sexy pout. I war with myself between staying with her or going back to my place on the couch.

“Slide over…” I mumble, climbing into bed beside her.

The second I”m on my back, Skylar tugs my arm around her. She rests her head on my chest and her hand on my stomach. She lets out a soft sigh, going right back to sleep.

Me? I couldn’t sleep if I wanted to. I”m too focused on the girl in my arms. How right this feels, how much I don’t want this to end, and how hard it’s going to be when it does. She’s not mine… not yet. But I”m not going to stop until she is.