Skye just shook her head and then placed a hand on my cheek. "You're the sweetest thing ever," she insisted solemnly.
I gave her my most charming smile, the one which had been partially responsible for making her fall for me years ago. "I know," I replied confidently which made her laugh.
As I openly gazed at my wife, at the changes in her, she flicked a glance at our son, who was now sitting on the couch opposite us and watching cartoons playing on the TV attached to the far wall.
"Cole." She put the laptop away before shifting to face me and taking one of my hands in hers. "There's something I wanted to ask you."
"Yes?"
Her eyes were intent on mine as she rubbed my hand. "I love you so much. You've always tried to make me happy," she whispered and smiled sadly. "I haven't been good to you-"
"Oh, come on, Skye," I interrupted. "We have some bad days but-"
"Some?" she cut in with a raised eyebrow. "Really?"
I sighed, not wanting to dwell on it. We were fine. Everybody fought. It didn't mean this marriage couldn't heal.
"Hear me out, please," she said.
My eyes grew wide as I sucked in a breath. "Are you going to leave me?" I asked in a low voice because I didn't want Jacob to hear. Is that what she wanted to ask me? To agree to a divorce.
God, no. No, please. I couldn't lose Skye too.
She held my face between her hands and then gave me a firm kiss on the mouth before drawing back.
"Listen to me, Cole Aimeric Sawyer," she said firmly. "I'm not going anywhere. You have never left my side and I will never leave yours. Okay?" She waited until I had nodded before taking my hand again. "I want you to be happy, Cole. I want you to stop torturing yourself every single day, mourning for his loss and learn to live for yourself as well. Be a little selfish. You've given me and Jacob too much. Take something for yourself."
I blinked at her in surprise, not even sure what she was getting at. I was fine. What was she talking about? There was nothing I could do about Jasper. I would always love him but I wouldn't betray Skye for him. There was a twinge of pain in my heart when I thought of Jasper Wells. He was probably back in Ireland by now. I hadn't even looked at his social media since Saturday night. Not after seeing how hurt Skye was.
"I'm okay, honey," I told her. "Don't worry about me. I really am sorry for everything I put you through and I'm going to stop calling him," I stated and bit my lip because this time, I actually meant it and God, it hurt so bad.
Skye shook her head again. "Jasper hasn't left," she said with a squeeze of my hand. "I talked to him last night. Cole...if he came to live with us, would you give him another chance?"
I was stunned. Floored. That was the last thing I had ever expected Skye Madison to say. She hated Jasper for his unfaithfulness. How could she possibly want to let him back in our lives? And furthermore, how could she ask me that? Didn't she know already how much I ached for him? How much I wished every single day that he was still a part of my life? I missed him like hell. So much sometimes that it hurt to breathe. Why would she torture me like this?
"Cole?"
"Why are you asking me this, Skye? You know what my answer will be. I love Jasper but I would never take him back if it means losing you," I answered in a strong voice. "I haven't forgotten how much he hurt us, hurt you and I know you can't forgive him."
"This isn't about me," she said seriously. "Stop worrying about me. What if I told you that I'm okay with you being with Jasper? That I may not be able to forgive him but I don't hate him for what he did anymore?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was...unreal.
"Say something, baby," she whispered earnestly.
I shook my head as a whirlwind of emotions ripped through my heart, my very soul. She meant it. She would never joke about something like this.
"Skye," I breathed out. "I really don't want to do that to you.".
"I can handle it," she told me and smiled reassuringly. "Jasper did it for you. He loved you so much that he shared you with me to make you happy. A six-year relationship with you only for you to turn around and tell him you'd fallen in love with someone else?" She bowed her head. "That's not an easy thing to hear, Cole. If he can be that kind of man for you, then why can't I learn to do it as well? This will work. I promise you that it won't hurt me." Skye leaned into me then and gave me a hug. "Just...please don't stop loving me," she said softly, in a child-like tone.
I was still for a moment before my arms slowly went around her as well. "You will never see the day when I will stop loving you, Skye Madison," I told her sincerely. "I loved you then, I will love you forever. But I still can't believe this is happening," I finished, feeling a little shaken up.
I couldn't even say no to her kindness, to this gift she was giving me. Not after the way she had insisted that it wouldn't hurt her. But why? What had changed? What had happened between Saturday night and this morning to make her want to do this for me?
I didn't want to push my luck so I only rubbed her back and stopped questioning her decision. It felt
