The Best Friend Bargain

Deep breath.

Slow exhale.

Happy thoughts.

I pull out my cell. Dial her number.

Ring, ring—

Fuck. I can’t do this. I go to end the call, but she picks up first.

“Skye? Is that you?” she asks.

“Yeah.”

“Is everything okay?” Her voice drips with vulnerability. She really does care what I think. If I forgive her.

Which I don’t.

I mean, she hasn’t even said sorry.

“Yeah, good actually.” I shift my cell to my other ear. “I have to ask a favor.”

“Sure,” she says.

“You’re renting out the hotel in Malibu for the weekend, right?”

“Yeah.” There’s a smile in her voice. “It was Daddy’s idea. He wants his family to fly in easily. They’re all in New York. And they’re used to nice places.”

“It looks nice. Online, I mean.”

“It’s beautiful. Do you have a room?” she asks.

“Oh, well… I don’t know. My parents are taking care of that.”

“I’ll ask Mom to make sure you have a good one.”

I clear my throat. Mrs. Davis doing me a favor? Unlikely. But that isn’t why I’m calling. “It has a nice pool, right?” I act as if I don’t know. As if I haven’t spent hours staring at the pool. Which is completely perfect for this shoot.

“Yeah. Two, actually.”

“Would it be possible for me to reserve it for a few hours?”

“You want to reserve the pool?”

“For a photo shoot.”

“Oh.” Her voice shifts. “Something with Forest?”

I try to read her tone. Is she happy for me? Jealous? Angry? I can’t tell. “No. These are just me. For a swimsuit company.”

“Oh.” Her voice gets easier. “That’s great. A plus-size swimsuit company?”

“Yeah.” Why does that matter?

“Like with the lingerie?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s great, Skye. Your pictures are beautiful. I mean, the ones with Forest are a little much. But still hot.”

“It doesn’t bother you?”

“Hmm?” She feigns ignorance.

“Seeing your ex-boyfriend with someone else?”

“No.” Her voice is matter-of-fact. “I’m happy for you. I miss you, Skye. I miss him too, sometimes. But not like that.”

“Oh.” Yeah right.

“I know you… you have every right to be mad. I know you’re avoiding me. Honestly, it means so much you’re even coming.”

“Yeah.” I bite my tongue so I won’t add fuck you for even inviting me.

“I’m really sorry. I… I didn’t mean for this to happen. I know that isn’t an excuse, but… In the end, it worked out, right? I’m happy. You’re happy.”

I guess.

“You and Forest… it seems right. Is it right?”

“Yeah.” I think so. I hope so. “He’s a great guy.”

“He is. Just… Be careful.”

“Huh?” What the hell is she doing?

“Never mind. I shouldn’t have said anything. There’s nothing I can tell you. You know him better than I ever did.” She makes that hmmm voice. “I’ll book the pool for you. If you do me a favor in return?”

“Yeah.”

“Mom’s been driving me crazy. Especially complaining about your clothes. Promise you’ll wear something—”

“Slutty?”

“Yeah.”

“Sure.” I laugh. For a second, I forget our frost. I forget that she stole my crush. That she went years without apologizing.

I’m laughing with my cousin, joking about our parents.

God, I miss that. I miss her being my friend.

But that bridge is ash at this point.

There’s no fixing it.

“Friday afternoon work?” she asks.

“Yeah, thanks.” My stomach flip-flops. It’s weird. I still want her approval. The way I did when I was a little kid. “I’ll, see you—”

“At the rehearsal dinner. That night. You won’t have a ton of time to change.”

“Sure, yeah.”

“We’re doing a bachelorette party after. In the suite. I think someone ordered a stripper. If you want to come—”

“Maybe.”

“Oh.” She does nothing to hide her disappointment. “I, uh, I should go. There’s so much to do. Don’t have a big wedding. Not that you would. Not your style.”

It means something, but I don’t know what it is. And it doesn’t matter. She’s not getting to me. I clear my throat. Make my voice as pleasant as possible. “Yeah. I’ll see you later.”

“You too. I… uh… I miss you, Skye. Take care.”

I end the call. Place my cell on the kitchen table. Stare into my empty mug.

Mackenzie misses me. She wants to help me. She wants to warn me about Forest.

I don’t know what she’s after. But then I don’t care.

And it doesn’t matter.

Mackenzie does what she does. She’s not doing it to me anymore.

I have the pool for a few hours.

Sure, the rest of the weekend might be a train wreck, but at least I’ll have my photos.

That’s something.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Skye

I tie my robe a little tighter, but it does nothing to chase away my goose bumps. Between the fluffy clouds and the breeze, it’s a cool day.

Which is good. The soft light is flattering. It’s bright enough our surroundings look beachy but not so bright my pics will be overexposed.

Hell, if the sun comes out, I can really sell the idea of multiple swim sessions on multiple days.

My plan is set. Four images. As if I spent four different days lounging in swimwear.