Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

Brooks

Skylar leaned in over the bar to kiss me, and a chorus of catcalls rang out. I lifted my hand, giving my friends the middle finger without breaking the kiss.

"Brooks and Skylar sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S—"

I broke the kiss and turned a glare on Fisher and Cash. "Yeah, yeah, get it out of your system now, assholes."

"So, is this official?" Fisher asked. "Someone wise told me not to harass you until you figured out what the heck you were doing."

Sky laughed as I handed off the bar and exited to join them on the other side. "Yeah, it's official. We're dating."

"Damn," Cash said. "I missed my moment."

"You snooze, you lose," Fisher joked.

"Pretty sure you never had a shot," I said, wrapping a possessive arm around Sky's shoulders.

"Mean," Cash said with a laugh.

Fisher cleared his throat. "Hey, so, uh, I know you've been mostly into women. If you, uh, need any tips—"

"Close your mouth."

"It's just, my other cousin, Beck? He's got a hookup with a sex toy dealer and—"

Cash snorted. "A dealer ? You make dildos sound like an illegal substance, man."

"It's not just dildos," Fisher said eagerly. Beside me, Skylar choked on his own spit he was laughing so hard. "They have butt plugs to sorta…" He lowered his voice, "Train your ass."

Cash doubled over, cackling. "What makes you think Brooks isn't topping?"

"I don't know." Fisher shrugged. "Even if you are, you should try it both ways, right? To know what you really like."

I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head. "On that note, we're getting the hell out of here. Please do not offer any more ‘advice,'" I said, using air quotes.

"Just trying to help," Fisher mumbled.

"It's sweet," Skylar said, with only a hint of amusement. "You're a good friend, Fishy."

He smiled slyly. "You can text me if you want the hookup. Brooks can pretend it never happened."

"Goodbye!" I called loudly, dragging a laughing Skylar toward the exit.

It only took a few minutes to get to the apartment over the Riggins' garage.

I pulled out the key Uncle Boone had left with his tip a few days ago and unlocked the door. I'd called ahead to let them know I'd be taking it so I wouldn't scare them when I arrived late at night, and Aunt Melinda had been ecstatic.

I stepped inside, Skylar right behind me. "This is the place. It's not exactly in the same league as the Addison Estate."

I flipped the switch to turn on the overhead lights and surveyed the single room with a king-size bed in the center of it. There was a small kitchenette off to the right and a door that led to a bathroom on the left. A bedside table, wide chestnut dresser, and a small closet with sliding doors filled the rest of the space.

"This is way better than the Addison Estate," Sky said. "It's yours."

"You sure about that? This isn't just one room. It's the entire place."

Skylar slid his arms around my waist from behind and hooked his chin over my shoulder. "Mm-hmm. Because it's got you in it. That makes it the best place ever."

I dropped my duffel bags and turned. "Good answer, Sky. Very smooth."

He smiled into our kiss, making my heart swell with happiness.

I'd been a little nervous about bringing him here. Which was ridiculous. Skylar hadn't been too fussy to sleep in the stockroom at the bar, on a mattress on the floor.

He'd been scared shitless that night, but still, he hadn't so much as wrinkled his cute nose over it. And even though he lived in a massive house, he never seemed to care for the trappings of his family's wealth.

He was one of the most down-to-earth people I'd met.

I pressed my forehead to his, holding him close. "You're staying the night?"

"Just try to make me leave."

I chuckled. "Okay, make yourself at home. I'm going to shower off the bar smell."

"Okay," Skylar said, looking tired.

"When I get out, you can tell me how it went with your parents. You seem a little stressed."

He groaned. "Sounds delightful."

"All right, a fun distraction in the shower instead, then." I grabbed his hips and began walking him toward the bathroom with me.

"Wha—Brooks!" He laughed and clung to my shoulders as he staggered backwards. "You're being very pushy."

I stopped instantly. "Is that okay? You can say no. I'm just playing."

"I know." His eyes met mine. "I don't want to say no. Distract me. I need it."

I kissed him thoroughly, tongue slipping in to taste his sweet mouth, then pushed him into the bathroom ahead of me to start the shower.

"There's one perk of moving into my cousin's old apartment, I guess." I gestured to the fluffy towels hanging from a rod on the wall. "It came furnished with the basics."

Skylar grabbed the bottom of my T-shirt and tugged it up. "It also gives us a parent-free zone to do this."

He licked a stripe from just above my navel to the dip between my pecs.

"Fuck, yes, so many perks," I muttered as I tossed my shirt aside and drew him in for a deeper, sloppier kiss.

We undressed each other as the room steamed up, then stepped into the hot spray. In the beginning, Skylar had shied from this intimate space, but now he eagerly stepped into my arms, our bodies sliding together.

The shower was stocked with shampoo and conditioner too—Aunt Melinda was starting to make me feel like a hotel guest—and I poured some in each of our hands. As Skylar massaged shampoo into his hair, I stroked conditioner over his hard cock.

His head fell back, eyes closed in bliss, and it didn't take long for him to tip over into release. I sucked water from his neck as I roughly stroked myself to orgasm, too.

Then we climbed out, dried off, and cuddled up in bed naked together.

The sheets weren't as smooth and silky as Skylar's, and I missed Freddy prowling around and butting his head into my arm for attention, but the weight of Skylar against me, his damp hair under my fingers and bony knees bumping mine, was perfect.

It was reassuring to know that we still fit, even outside the private bubble of his vacation house. That our lives could mesh.

"Be honest," I said. "If I asked you to move in with me here—not now, but at some point—would you want that? I mean, it's not as nice as most of the places you've lived, I'm sure."

"None of that stuff matters to me," Skylar said. "I'd rather be with you here than alone is some big house." He sighed. "But if I don't figure out this resort mess, I might not have a good reason to stay in Swallow Cove. Other than seeing you, of course."

I shifted to look at him. "What mess?"

Skylar filled me in on his conversation with his dad, the no-show contractors, and the calls he'd made that had seemed to confirm that he was in fact being blackballed.

"You think the Wexlers are behind this?"

"Yeah," Skylar said. "Maybe Blaize too. He's helping them with their project across the lake."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Skylar slumped down into the pillows. "My dad wants to just fix it, and he's been around development circles long enough that he could do it a hell of a lot easier than me. But if I let him, what does it say about me? Why would anyone trust me to manage anything?"

I nodded. "So you need to show them your word is as good as your father's."

Skylar chewed his bottom lip. "Yeah, but I'm nothing like him."

"So do it your own way," I said. "Make them face you, because no one who talks to you would ever believe you're not taking this seriously. You're the most genuine person I've ever met."

Skylar smiled hesitantly. "Really?"

"Yeah, Sky. You won me over, and I was a grumpy bastard who didn't want you anywhere near my bar."

He snorted. "Until I went all damsel in distress on you, but I don't think that would work with these guys."

"It better not," I growled, pulling him closer and nuzzling at his neck until he laughed. "Seriously, though, that's not why I fell for you, Skylar. You were already under my skin before that nasty phone call from Blaize."

Skylar's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "But…really?"

"There was just something about you that drew me in from the start. I liked you. I didn't recognize how much I could like you, but I did."

"I'm glad," he said softly. "Because I don't want any more rescues. Not from my dad or from you. I have to start rescuing myself."

"Then you will," I said.

"I just wish I knew how," he muttered.

I ran my fingers through his hair. "I have faith that you're going to figure it out."

"Mm."

"Just do me a favor?"

"What's that?"

"Make the Wexlers regret the day they decided to fuck with my guy."

Skylar laughed. "I'll do my best."

"Good." I pressed a kiss to his temple. "Now, then, do you want to sleep or…"

"Actually, would you mind if I watched a movie? It would help me relax and quiet my mind."

"Sure." I climbed out of bed to retrieve my laptop, then paused. "Wait, is this going to be a horror movie?"

Skylar winced. "Is that okay?"

I sighed. "Yes, but you might have to hold me all night and reassure me I'm safe."

He grinned. "I'll always keep my pretty boy safe."

I settled into the bed with the laptop and let Skylar navigate to a movie. I rested my head on his stomach, content to hold and cuddle him.

And pay as little attention to the movie as possible.

"This is nice," I murmured, right before there was a shrill scream in the movie that made me jump.

Skylar's body shook with his laughter, and I wrapped my arms a little tighter around him, burrowing my face into his navel.

"I take it you're not talking about the movie," he said.

"No." I glanced up at him. "I just like cuddling my boyfriend."

His smile widened. "I like hearing you call me boyfriend."

"It's weird but good," I said. "And, I was thinking… If we're going to date, there's one important step we've forgotten."

Skylar paused the horror flick mid-stabbing. I averted my gaze, keeping it on his beautiful but puzzled face.

"What step?"

"An actual date."

"Oh."

"Yeah." I grinned. "What do you say, Skylar Addison? Will you go out on a date with me on my next night off?"

A Wednesday wasn't the most traditional night for a date, but it was my day off because business at the pub slowed down. I sometimes worked anyway to pick up extra money, but the tips were crap. I wasn't giving up much.

And what better way to prove to Grandma she wasn't a burden than to actually start living fully?

"I'd love to go on a date with you," Skylar said. "Just promise we won't go to The Savory Swallow. My parents just took me there tonight, and there's just no way it'll ever seem romantic after that."

"Don't worry. I'll come up with something better."

Skylar beamed. "Good. I'm sure I'll need a happy surprise after wrangling difficult contractors."

"Happy to be whatever you need."

Skylar closed the laptop and set it aside, then slid down on the pillows.

"I'm happy to be what you need too," he said softly. "If you ever need help with…" He hesitated. "With anything."

"You being here right now is everything I could need."

Skylar had the means to take over all my financial responsibilities. We both knew that. But we'd never be equals if he did.

We had to stand shoulder to shoulder, or lie chest to chest, as it were.

I kissed him softly. "Ready to get some sleep?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I've got to get my beauty rest for a hot date this week."

"Mm. Think you'll put out?"

"I think he'll put out," he shot back.

I laughed. "I don't doubt it at all."

"Hey, Brooks, I'm happy to do your laundry if—"

Beside me, Skylar squeaked and pulled the sheet over his head while I shot up in bed, still half asleep. "What? Huh?"

"Oops!" Aunt Melinda exclaimed. "I should have knocked first. My bad!"

My brain powered up enough to understand my well-meaning aunt had just barged in on us. I glanced down to see Skylar peeking out from beneath the sheets.

"Yeah, please knock," I rasped, my voice still hoarse. "And, uh, I can do my own laundry."

"Right, of course." Melinda backed out of the open doorway with a nervous laugh. "Fisher was always saying the same thing. Not that I can't learn! I did. I will!"

I blinked at her, a little too groggy to follow.

"You know what? We can just talk later!"

The door slammed behind her.

Skylar started snickering. "Oh my god, how embarrassing."

"You're embarrassed?" I grumbled. "You were under the sheet the whole time!"

Skylar grinned up at me. "Because I'm smart enough to leave that awkward dance to you ."

"Some boyfriend you are," I said, "just throwing me under the bus."

Skylar pushed me down and climbed on top of me, waking other parts of me that were too stunned by Melinda's arrival to fully register before now.

"Are you saying you don't like being under me?" he asked coyly.

"You know, I thought you were so sweet when we met." I coasted my hands up his flanks, his skin still bed-warmed. "But you're devious."

Skylar nuzzled my nose. "I'd never truly let you suffer for me."

I tugged him down to nibble his neck and—

Knock-knock-knock!

"Brooks?" Melinda called through the door. "Sorry, I just forgot to invite you to breakfast! We'll be eating in a few minutes if you'd like to join us! If you want. If not, that's okay too. But we'd love to have you, and uh, Skylar too, of course. Enjoy your morning, boys!"

I let my head thump back into the pillows while Skylar laughed at me.

"Looks like we're going to need to set some boundaries," I muttered.

"Aw, she's so sweet though," Skylar said. "She probably misses her baby boy."

"No wonder Fisher wanted out of here so bad."

Skylar swatted me. "Oh, stop being such a grump. Go eat breakfast with the woman and say thank you. I'm sure this is just growing pains. You'll figure out what works."

"Me? Where will you be?"

His lips twisted wryly. "I've got my own awkward family breakfast to attend. I'm sure they'll be watching like hawks for me to come home."

"Ah, the walk of shame. To think, we might have missed that wonderful dating tradition if they hadn't arrived in town."

Skylar smirked. "Lucky us."

"So lucky," I agreed as we rolled out of bed and began tugging on clothes instead of taking our time enjoying each other. I caught Skylar by the door before he left. "Want to wake up with me again tomorrow?"

"You know it," Skylar said. "But you're sleeping on the side closest to the door next time."