Only Her

“I am sorry.”

“Not in a forgiving mood right now Skylar. Have a nice life. When Luka Shaw breaks you again don’t come running back to me,” he told her.

“He won’t. I won’t give him the chance.” Tag snorted at her.

Skylar leaned against the post at the top of the stairs. The thick post on either side helped hold up the roof of the porch that ran the length of the house. Right now, it was holding up Skylar.

“Good bye Tag,” she told him.

He didn’t answer her. Tag shut the door on his Beemer and started his car. She watched him back out of the drive then spit gravel as he drove down the lane. She heard a few pebbles hit the side of her truck but she didn’t even care. Skylar sat down hard on the steps leaning her elbows on her knees. She was staring into the distance wondering if that kiss actually prompted her to end it so quickly with Tag. That kiss from Luka Shaw, last night before she went to the town square that she just couldn’t get off her mind?

The feel of Luka’s lips on hers was fresh in her memories. She hadn’t thought she would feel his mouth on hers again. Skylar touched her lips and her eyes closed at the same time. She imagined Luka kissing her but that was all she would do; use her imagination because she had to keep Luka at arm’s length. She wouldn’t keep him from Ava but she didn’t have to succumb to his charms again.

She rose and walked out to her truck. She climbed behind the wheel. Her hand trembling, she started up the vehicle and backed away from the fountain. There was no harm done to the fountain itself but her front bumper fell off when she pulled away.

Skylar drove down the lane wearing just her pajamas. She just didn’t give a damn. She had to get away from Luka for a little while. Get her head on straight. She could see Luka and Ava standing on the porch. She knew they were wondering where she was going but right now she had to be as far away from Luka Shaw as she could get. He would take care of Ava of that she had no doubt.

Skylar drove into town and parked behind the pub where her sister worked and lived. She stopped her car next to her sister’s little sports car. Then she ran up the steps to the back door; Skylar knocked. She knew that Ramona was home because her car was here. When her sister didn’t answer she jiggled the handle and realized it was unlocked so she went inside the loft.

At one time the bar had been a warehouse. A bar was built downstairs and upstairs an apartment for the manager. Ramona bartended and managed the place for the owner. The floorplan was wide open with a platform surrounded by four freestanding walls open at the top where her sister’s bedroom was located. She called to Ramona but still there was no answer.

Skylar ran up the steps, calling her sister’s name. She got to the top just as a bare chested Brett was buttoning his jeans. Ramona was covering her nakedness with the blankets on her bed.

Skylar’s mouth hung open in surprise. “Well this is a surprise.”

Then it all started making sense. He was always harassing her younger sister. Teasing her to spark her ire because he liked her. Ramona wouldn’t give Brett the time of day which only spurred him on.

Then Skylar turned and went down the stairs she had just come up. She felt so stupid. How had she not seen what Brett was feeling for her sister? Walking in on them; her face flushed red with embarrassment. She shouldn’t have just walked into Ramona’s apartment. Ramona could have been here with any man but it was Brett.

Skylar had to admit as she ran out the door that she was too blinded by her own selfishness to see what Brett was feeling. She had always relied on him to make her feel better but she had never stopped to see what he might be feeling or needing.

“Skylar,” Brett shouted. He came down the steps behind her and caught her at the door to her truck. “What the fuck Skylar? You’re barefoot and in your pajamas. What’s wrong?”

“I needed to escape my house. Luka is there with Ava. He stayed the night because I was throwing up after we left the pond. Then Tag came over this morning and I broke it off with him. He was hurt. I’ve made such a mess of everything Brett. I just needed my sister.”

Brett pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry Sky.”

She laced her arms around Brett’s neck. They both heard the door slam shut to Ramona’s apartment. Sky removed her arms and took a step back. “Is Ramona the girl you spoke about last night?” She asked Brett. He licked his lips and looked everywhere but at her.

“Looks like she’s ready to give you a chance. Go back inside to my sister if she’s the one that you have wanted for all these years. You deserve it. I’m sorry I always rely on you. I feel like I have never actually been there for you.”

“You’re wrong,” he told her. “So wrong. Sky, we’ve known each other since we were five and started kindergarten together. I don’t know why we clicked the way we did but we did. You’ll always be important to me Sky and I can’t change that. The girl I end up with just have to understand that and you have supported me when I’ve needed you. You just didn’t realize it.”

Skylar hugged Brett again. “I appreciate that Brett. Please go back inside to my sister. Show her she is most important right now. If I know Ramona, the longer you stay out here with me the higher she’ll build her walls to keep you out.”

He nodded. “Let me know you’re all right.”

“I will. Tell me how it goes with Ramona.”

He nodded. Then Brett turned and ran back up the stairs to th

e loft where Ramona had slammed the door in anger. Anger at her or Brett, Skylar didn’t know. She needed to talk to her sister at some point and see what she was feeling exactly. To reassure her as Brett always had Luka that they were just friends.

Then she started up the truck and headed back home. She was nearly to the ranch when the flashing red and blue lights came on. She looked down at the speedometer and then up in the rear view mirror. Finally, she pulled over. Her seat belt was on and she wasn’t speeding.

“Hi Isaac, “Skylar said to the officer approaching suddenly uncomfortable with the fact that she wasn’t wearing clothes. She also didn’t have her license with her at the moment. She hoped that Isaac didn’t ask for one.

“So Sky, how are you?”