“That’s ridiculous—” she started to say but I cut her off.
“Is it? Are you going to stand here and tell me that you and Dad have been the picture of a healthy marriage?” I threw back at her.
When she didn’t say anything, I sighed. “I love you, Mom, but I can’t be around this anymore. You and Dad figure it out on your own. Leave me out of it.” I opened the door to see Dad standing there looking sheepish.
“Skylar, what are you doing here? I hope you’re not leaving. We could really use your sage advice,” Dad said, looking over my shoulder to where Mom was standing.
“This is all up to you guys this time. Good luck.” I squeezed past my dad and headed for my car.
It was time for me to forge a different path for myself. And I knew what I had to do.
**
It was well past dark when I pulled into my driveway. I had debated calling Rob on my way home. I was desperate to talk to him. But I also needed to get back and tend to Edgar. I needed to get my thoughts in order before I spoke with him.
Because I had some groveling to do.
I was so deep into my thoughts that I didn’t notice the car parked to the side of my driveway. I was shocked though when Edgar jumped off the porch and ran to me.
“Edgar, what in the world are you doing out here?” I looked around for Mr. Sheehan, knowing he would never leave my dog out here by himself.
“He’s been hanging out with me,” a voice said, coming from the dark shadows of the porch. Robert stood up and came down the steps toward me.
“Rob,” I breathed his name a whisper in my mouth.
“Hey,” he said softly, his hair falling into his eyes. “Everything okay with your parents?”
I frowned. “How did you know—?”
“Mr. Sheehan mentioned your mom had called and that’s why you dropped Edgar off,” he explained.
“So how did you end up with my dog?” I asked in confusion.
“He was walking Edgar when I showed up and knocked on your door. He told me then that you had gone over there. I offered to watch the big guy since I planned to stick around until you got home.” He held out his hand. “So here we are.”
“How long have you been out here? It’s cold.”
Robert checked his phone. “I don’t know, three hours I guess.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’ve been sitting on my porch for three hours waiting for me to come home? I’m not sure if I should be flattered or slightly freaked out.”
Robert gave me a half-smile. “Maybe both? I didn’t think it through very clearly.” He rubbed his hands together. “Can we go inside and talk? I think the tip of my nose has gone numb.”
“Of course,” I exclaimed, hurrying to the front door. I opened the door and my dog burst past me, heading straight for his food bowl in the kitchen. I could hear him crunching happily from the hallway.
Robert closed the door behind him. We stood awkwardly, not entirely sure what to say. With embarrassment, I remembered what I had said the last time I saw him. I wanted to talk to him. To lay some things out on the table. I hadn’t expected to do it tonight, so I was feeling off balance and floundering.
“Are your parents okay?” he asked again.
I shrugged. “They’re being their usual dramatic selves. But I made it clear this time they needed to start leaving me out of it. Their toxicity has colored too much of my life. I need to stop letting their relationship dictate mine.”
Robert’s eyes met mine. “Sounds like you’ve made some important decisions tonight.”
“I have. I think it’s time I stop being so black and white. People are allowed to screw up. They’re allowed to make mistakes. I can’t expect perfection from those I love. I have to be willing to forgive. I’ve been really bad at that in the past.” My heart started to hammer in my chest. I felt as if I were on the precipice of something great but I was scared I’d fall off and break like my mother’s dishes.
“It sounds like we’ve both made a lot of mistakes,” Robert said.
“We have. I think we’ve made a complete mess of something pretty damn wonderful,” I agreed.
“Do you think we can work together on cleaning it up?” he asked hesitantly.
I considered his words. I knew I wanted to forgive him, but I had to be straight with him too. It was the only way this would work. “You lied to me. I know why you didn’t say anything about your website. It’s not exactly something you bring up on a first date, but you still should have told me once we started to get serious.”
Robert hung his head. “I’ve never felt shame for the work I did until I hurt you. Then I felt the worst guilt I had ever experienced in my life. I don’t want secrets between us. I don’t want you to ever feel I’ll keep things from you. And I won’t again. I promise. I just hope you give me the chance to prove to you I’m trustworthy.”
He was practically self-flagellating. I didn’t want him to take all the blame for this. It wasn’t fair.
“I hate that I made you feel shame for what you were doing. That wasn’t my intention. I need you to know I don’t judge you for it, for what Tiffany made you do. For stripping. For the website. Sure, I don’t like knowing so many women have seen what I feel belongs to me.” I gave him a self-conscious smile.
Robert’s eyes brightened. “Are you saying I’m yours?”
I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. I didn’t do well with emoting and telling someone how I was feeling. But for Robert, I’d try. Because I knew, deep
