But Skye is all soft curves. It’s not just her perfect tits—fuck, they’re unreal in that snug dress. It’s her dramatic waist, her lush ass, her full thighs.
“Hey.” She looks up at me, her bright eyes full of affection. “You look handsome today.”
I don’t know if she’s faking it or not. I stare back anyway. Release her hand. Bring my palm to her cheek. “You look gorgeous.”
Her eyelids flutter together. She leans into my touch. Let’s out a soft sigh. “It’s just—”
“You wore that dress to drive me insane, didn’t you?”
Her chest heaves with her inhale. “Maybe.”
“It’s working.”
Her lips part with a sigh. “Working how?”
“I want to undo this.” My fingers brush the corset lacing. The bow. “See what you’re wearing under it.”
Someone clears their throat.
Mack.
It snaps me out of my trance. Or maybe into it.
Fuck, it’s hard keeping this shit straight. This is pretend. I’m pretending I want Skye.
It doesn’t matter that I want her.
She’s my best friend. I’m not fucking that up.
Mack clears her throat. “You’re very…”
“Sorry.” Skye turns to the table. Lets out a coquettish giggle. “You know how it is when it’s new. You can’t keep your hands off each other.”
“Yeah.” Mack forces. “I do.” She squeezes Diego’s hand.
He leans in to whisper in her ear.
She nods yeah. Laughs.
He whispers something else.
Her laugh gets louder. Fuller. Realer.
It bounces around the entire fucking room.
My stomach twists.
My dinner threatens to make an appearance.
He makes her laugh. That’s one thing I—
Skye is hilarious. I make her laugh, sometimes, but I’m not on her level.
I want to give her that pleasure. To set her at ease. To fill her with bliss.
Mack smiles wide as she turns to us. “This is weird, huh?”
Diego nods. “I should have reached out a long time ago.” He offers me an apologetic look.
Mack turns to me. “Can we have a minute, baby?”
He nods. “How about we get a drink? At the bar?” His eyes meet Skye’s. “I have a cousin who’s into fashion. I’d love to pick your brain. Pass it on.”
She shifts back in her seat. “You want to talk about fashion?” Her brow furrows with confusion. Then her eyes light up. Like she realized something.
He motions to the bar. “Yeah. I’ll buy you a glass.”
Her eyes flit to me. She stares at me, waiting for something. An okay. Or an excuse to say no.
I want to say fuck no. Don’t talk to him. Don’t leave.
Stay with me. Hold me. Kiss me again.
“Whatever you want to do, princess.” I try to give her room to say no. “I’m getting tired. If we stay out any longer, I won’t be able to fuck you properly.”
Skye’s eyes go wide. Her cheeks flame. “Oh, uh, well my parents are right there, so maybe less on the volume.” She stands. Looks to Diego. “Sure, I have a minute.”
“Riesling?” he asks.
She nods.
He knows her favorite drink.
Envy rises in my throat. I’m not even sure where it goes. I hate that asshole.
I guess it doesn’t need explanation. The fucker slept with my girlfriend. I’m pretty sure that gives me free rein to hate him forever.
But that feels off. Like it’s not enough. Like it’s not the reason I don’t want him talking to Skye.
Besides the cheating dickhead thing, Diego’s a good guy. Handsome, smart, athletic.
A former baseball star.
A straight-A student.
He’s in grad school now. Researching some breakthrough that’s going to save the world.
I watch them move to the bar.
Then I turn to my ex-girlfriend.
She refills her glass of wine. Looks to her parents. They’re stopping Diego and Skye. Gushing over his suit. Her dress. Some shit about school. How he’s acing it.
How there’s nothing he can’t do.
I swallow the bile that rises in my throat.
She leans a little closer. “She has a loud style, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah.” I don’t know what Mack is getting at, but I know her tone. It’s not a compliment. She can insult me if she wants, but I’m not letting her insult Skye. “Her tits look amazing in that dress.”
“She does show them off.” She does nothing to hide her judgment.
I shrug like I don’t notice. “Lucky me.”
Mack’s eyes turn down. She’s a lot like Holden. She wants a reaction. I’m not giving her one.
She’s not happy about that. “They are… big.” Insecurity streaks her expression for a minute. Then she swallows a sip of wine. “I guess that’s a perk of being—”
“She’s a curvy goddess, yeah.”
“Right.” Her smile is fake. “I’m glad we have a minute. There’s a lot I want to say to you, Forest. I… I hope you’re ready to hear it.”
I nod uh-huh, but my eyes stay on Skye.
Chapter Fourteen
Forest
“You look good. Healthy.” Mack’s slender fingers wrap around the stem of her glass. She brings it to her red lips. Takes a long sip.
Her lipstick doesn’t mark the glass. It stays perfect. It stays the same bright shade as her hair.