75. Reese

I wish the menstruation cycle could learn to respect deadlines. My insides feel like molten lava, but I won’t let that get in the way of finishing my first official project with the Boulder City development board. I suffer through the day, proud to say I made good on my promises. Getting home, I kick off my heels and immediately heat up a rice pack for my stomach.

Not bothering to change out of my sweater dress, I flop down on the couch and wish for sweet oblivion. Between my cramps and thoughts about Skyler, rest doesn’t come easily.

When my cell rings, I almost ignore it.

But on the off chance that it’s a board member, I pop one eye open and grab my phone. It’s only Josh. “Hello?”

I can hear the kids yelling in the background. “Hey, Squirt. What’s up?”

“Oh, you know. A little from column A. A Little from column B. You?”

“Just wrangling the monsters. Wanted to know what your plans were for Christmas.”

I pause, adjusting the rice pack. “I’ll be home for Christmas Eve. I already told mom.”

“Yeah. That’s what she thought.”

There’s an awkward pause. I squeeze my sides. “Was there something else? You’re being a little weird.”

“Yeah, so…”

He clears his throat. I can hear shuffling on his end and the screen door creaking open, slamming shut. The noise from the kids is suddenly cut off. “I saw Bo yesterday.”

“Okay.”

My palms start to sweat.

“He had some interesting things to say.”

“Bo’s got a big mouth.”

Josh laughs quietly on the other side of the phone. That eases some of the anxiety creeping up my spine. “What exactly did your gossip of a friend tell you?”

“He said that you and Skyler…”

“Me and Skyler what?”

He sighs. “That you’re together?”

I sit up a little. “Shouldn’t you be talking to your bestie about this?”

“I’m talking to my sister about it.”

I sit up, leaning my head back. “What do you want to know?”

He pauses. “How long has it been going on?”

I let out a long breath. “That depends. How mad are you?”

He laughs. “I’m not mad.”

I try to decipher his tone. “Really?”

“Should I be?”

His tone starts to harden. “Has he done anything I should know about?”

“No.”

I answer quickly. “It’s been a mutual thing since day one.”

“And when was that?”

“Early fall, I guess?”

“Oh.”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

“I just…”

He hesitates. “I always thought you two had a thing for each other.”

“Skyler and me?”

“Yeah… back in high school, you guys were always in your own little world.”

“We were?”

He laughs. “I don’t know. You tell me. Maybe I imagined that. But it seemed like Skyler always had you set aside. He treated you differently. I’m actually surprised it took him this long.”

“Are we talking about the same guy?”

He laughs. “We are. And don’t act so innocent. I know you had a crush on him back then.”

“Did not.”

“Is that why you visited him every day at the hospital?”

After the accident, I couldn’t stand the idea of him being alone at the hospital. Despite having a crushed hand, his dad had to keep working. And his mom had a full-time job, too. I’d stop by to play cards with Skyler or tell him about the latest drama between my sisters and I.

It seemed to amuse him. I liked to see him smile, but I don’t think it was ever an outright crush. That would be like a kitten falling for a tiger.

Which is eventually what happened.

“How serious is it?”

Josh asks, jostling me from my thoughts.

“I don’t know, Josh. You know how it is. He’s a farmer first and foremost.”

“Are we talking about the same guy?”

He asks, echoing my own words.

I laugh. “Yes. You look up the word loyal in the dictionary and there’s a picture of Skyler. He wouldn’t abandon the people he cares about.”

“And what if that includes you?”

Suddenly I’m feeling exhausted. “These are questions I don’t have the answers to.”

“I wonder why he hasn’t talked to me about this yet.”

“I don’t know, Cro Magnon. Could have something to do with the way you used to shake your club at any male who dared come near your sisters.”

He laughs. “Can’t blame a guy for being protective.”

“Tell that to my lackluster love life.”

He laughs again. I can hear Trace and Maven in the background. They’ve moved outside with him. “I have to hop off, but real quick… I know you don’t need my blessing or anything. But if you did, you have it.”

My eyes start to burn. Do I need it? If Skyler doesn’t make up his mind, it might be a blessing I have no need of.