Georgia tapped on the arm of my chair. “Earth to Skyler.”
I looked from the sparkling ocean water to Georgia, who was sitting next to me on Grady’s deck. We had just finished helping Colton unload his truck. With his house on the market, Colton was moving in with Grady and his dad for the remainder of the school year.
Georgia kicked up her legs and rested her feet on the rail of the deck. “My mom said I could have a graduation party. I think that’s better than the Halloween one I couldn’t have.”
“Awesome.” She was all about parties. Granted, she knew how to throw an extravagant one.
“Have you thought any more about talking to Ashley?”
I slanted my face toward the sun. “I told you, I plan to. I’m just not sure when.” Part of me was procrastinating. I hadn’t gotten over Dad’s death, and I was trying to get to a better place emotionally. The last thing I wanted to do was open a wound that should maybe stay closed. After all, as far as I was concerned, my parents were Randall and Candace Lawson. “She went back to Chicago, anyway.” Grady had mentioned that Ashley lived in Chicago and owned a printing company. She wasn’t married and didn’t have kids.
“I’m sure she’ll return soon. She’s dating Mr. Dyson.”
I didn't know how I felt about that, and frankly, I didn’t want to talk about Ashley and Mr. Dyson. “I’m going to find Colton.” The last I knew, he’d been unpacking in his room. A sudden need to jump his bones coursed through me.
We hadn’t had a chance to spend any time together. He’d decided to see a therapist, which I was stoked about. I could see an improvement in him after two visits. He was happier and not as quiet as he had been when I’d first met him. I know I played a role in his healing, but he was working through his father issues and blaming himself for Josh’s death. He also had a great friend in Grady, and Mr. Dyson was there to parent him if the need arose. Aside from that, there was school, Colton had football, and on occasion, he would make a trip to South Carolina to visit his mom. And I had my own things to deal with.
“Can you bring me a soda when you come back?” she asked.
I didn’t know how long I would be or if Colton was ready to kick back or not. I acknowledged her just the same.
As soon as I crossed the threshold into the brightly lit sunroom, I came to an abrupt halt.
Ashley was standing in the kitchen with her phone to her ear, dressed in casual attire and appearing relaxed and comfortable as she chatted with someone.
I had no clue when she’d gotten there. When I’d arrived with Colton two hours before, Ashley hadn’t been in the house or even in town, as far as I knew.
Maybe fate was trying to tell me to talk to her.
When she realized I was in the room, her eyebrows rose.
Colton’s and Grady’s voices filtered into my ears. It sounded like they were in the rec room off the kitchen.
She set her phone on the island then glided toward me. “Skyler, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
I could have said the same. I also didn’t know why she was surprised that I was there, given I was dating Colton, who was friends with Grady, and Mia and I were friends. “I thought you flew back to Chicago.”
She looked pretty, and her floral-patterned silk blouse brought out the color in her red shorts. “I did. Mr. Dyson and I are on our way to Key West for a conference.”
I knitted my eyebrows. “Don’t you own a printing company?”
“I do. I’m going as his guest.” She stood behind a wicker chair. “I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. Is there anything I can do for you?”
A laugh broke out in my head. I had so many snarky retorts. You’re now asking if you can help when you gave me up? But I didn’t have the emotional energy to deal. I wasn’t even sure if I had the strength to listen to her. Then again, if she and Mr. Dyson were a couple, I would be seeing more of her, since Colton was living there now. On top of that, if I wanted to put the past behind me, I knew I should listen. “I don’t need anything, but thank you.”
“I understand you and Colton are dating. He seems like a wonderful young man.”
He was the best. I sat on a wicker chair on the opposite side of the room and sighed with indecision. “It seems like we might run into each other more often.”
“Are you saying you’re ready to listen?”
I tangled my hands in my lap. “Yes and no. I’m angry and curious.” I hadn’t gotten over my anger, which was probably one of the reasons why I’d been procrastinating.
She skirted the chair and lowered herself in a matching wicker love seat far enough away that I didn’t feel like she was suffocating me. “We’re not leaving for an hour. But I don’t want to talk if—”
I held up my hand. “It’s okay.” I was pretty sure it was okay. I couldn’t promise how I would react when I heard her story.
She held up her chin. “I had my speech all planned. But as I look at you, I don’t even know where to begin. I am sorry, but I know that doesn’t help.”
“Were you in love with my father?”
She winced as if I’d said a swear word. “No. We were teenagers who got caught up in the moment.”
Great. I was a mistake. Shut up, subconscious.
I was grateful, though, that Nan had made a doctor’s appointment for me, which I’d gone to last week. I was officially on the pill.
“But your
