Brett (Boys & Toys Season 2 2)

He sighs. “Look, Brett. I have had my ups and downs over the years, too. I’ve debated whether or not writing software for AppuCore the rest of my life is the best for me. Seemed like a dream job in college. Now it … seems like a sentence. I’m not perfect by any means, and I’m not saying you should be. I just …” His voice goes soft. “I had high hopes for you, that’s all. High hopes. Is it … Is it a crime to want your best buddy from college to be successful and have a huge, amazing life?”

“Best buddy?”

“Yeah!” He snorts at my reaction. “Is that so surprising to you? Come on. You and I used to be so …” He doesn’t seem sure of his next words. “I wish we hadn’t lost touch the way we did.” Then he lifts his eyes to mine, squinting. “Why did we lose touch? I must’ve called you a hundred times.”

My eyes drop to his chest.

I had so many dreams back in college. I had all of those high hopes myself. I think I was the best version of myself when I was with Skylar.

When did I go wrong?

Why did I let our friendship fade away?

I need to tell him how I feel, what he means to me, and why I couldn’t tell him the truth back then. Then we can both be put out of our miseries. “To be honest, Sky—”

“Shit, one sec.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and answers it. “Hey, sis. How’s—?” He lets out a chuckle and shakes his head. “Breathe, girl! You’ll be fine. What? … Really? … You need your brother to hold your hand for you?” He gives me an eye-rolling look, which I return with a tightened, understanding smile. “You do know I’m out with my old pal Brett, right?” Sky throws me a look of apology before returning to his phone. “You got it, sis. Love you.” He hangs up, shoves his phone away, then frowns at me. “Sorry, it sounds like I’ve got to go meet my sister. The DJ fell through, and we’ve got to work some deal out with the caterer now, since there’s a shortage on duck, I think … or something. I couldn’t make out whatever it was Lena went on about. She is in hysterics. Not to mention something else to do with the, uh … the …” He laughs it off, sounding stressed, and slaps a hand to his forehead, unable to even finish his thoughts.

My heart is sinking. Our night’s about to be cut short and it feels like it’s barely begun. We have so much more to talk about. “Sky …”

“I really gotta deal with this,” he says.

I shrug. “I know a DJ or two. I probably know eight, actually. I can hook you guys up.”

“Oh, seriously? That’s bomb!” He throws his arms around me, gives me one agonizingly brief squeeze, then slaps me on the shoulder. “I had no idea what the hell I was gonna do about that. Now I’ve gotta solve ten other things before my sister turns from a Haas to a Lopez next weekend.”

“What would your sis do without you?” I give him a smile. “Seems like you’ve been holding her together since she was in high school getting her heart broken by a new boy every week.”

Skylar chuckles once, then bites his lip and stares at me, lost for something to say. I think he’s trying to figure out how to tell me he’s gotta go.

I very much don’t want to hear those words.

And so: “Hey, why don’t I come with?” I suggest in a tone that sounds awkwardly desperate. “I can say hi to Lena, hook you up with a choice of DJs, not just one, and maybe after we sort her out, you and I can resume our night! I’ll take you to the best bars, I can show you my pad, I could even—”

“I’d love all of that, but …” Skylar sighs. “She’s a handful lately, and she isn’t gonna be up for any visitors, if you get what I’m saying. Her big day’s approaching fast, she’s neurotic, and I gotta make sure she doesn’t lose it. You know how it is.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I agree too quickly, nodding and smiling to mask all my blistering disappointment. “Totally. You’re the glue that …”

That has held me together for years.

That makes me feel like there’s one sexy flicker of hope in this world that someone’s out there for me.

That keeps my heart from falling the fuck apart.

Skylar is studying my face with his eyebrows lifted in cute anticipation. Oh. I haven’t finished my sentence. “The glue that … that holds your family together,” I finish clumsily. “Look, I’ll take you to the station, and then—”