Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I looked toward the living room—which opened onto a large veranda where they spent most of their time in the summer months—then let my gaze wander onward to the yard overlooking the water. Taking in all the preparations, I didn’t think I could ever pull something like this off. Nor would I want to.
Skylar might be impressed, if only by the view of the bay. The other stuff he might think was a bit too stuffy, and I’d have to agree.
Of course, my parents had hired a chef to make loads of hors d’oeuvres—or whatever fancy name Mom called them—canapés, that was it—to be served on shiny, silver trays. And they would definitely keep the drinks flowing so their guests could say they had an amazing time, and oh, what a beautiful home, and whatever else tickled them to death. I knew I was lucky to have been raised by successful parents in a good neighborhood, and I used to take it for granted way too much. Skylar had helped me see that too. He really had been a big influence in my life these past few months, helping me think outside the box—in more ways than one.
As the guests began arriving, I started getting nervous about Skylar and his mom. I knew how Skylar felt about being around my parents—well, let’s be honest, my mother in particular. My dad wouldn’t have even noticed the rift, had no one ever informed him.
I’d invited his mom sincerely, because I really liked her and I knew Skylar didn’t want to leave her alone when she was going through another rough patch in her dating life. Yikes. That helped explain why Skylar was so fiercely independent, and it also spoke to how our worldviews had been shaped by our parents to a certain extent. I thought deep down Skylar was afraid of lots of things he wouldn’t readily admit to, but what scared him most was being hurt by love like his mom always was.
I looked toward the water. Dusk was descending, and the fireworks would be shooting off in a couple of hours. They really were spectacular, especially from this uninhibited view. Every year seemed to top the last—and yeah, I was getting anxious, hoping this night would go off without a hitch.
I felt a tap on my shoulder, and when I turned, it was Jasper, who’d brought a very handsome date. He introduced us, we made some small talk, and I led them toward the temporary bar area near the outdoor fireplace. Of course, my parents had hired waitstaff to serve the food and drinks.
Note to self: plan less pretentious events. Assuming I ever invested in a house to call my own. I thought back to that game night a couple of months ago, at Skylar’s friends’ house. Yeah, I’d want something cozier and more laid-back, like Jake and Seth’s place.
As I walked around and mingled with coworkers and friends, I noticed Skylar and his mom out of the corner of my eye. And Skylar looked…different, for lack of a better word. Understated. Gone were his crop top and tight-fitting jeans, as well as any sparkle on his cheeks or eyes—not a stitch of makeup, not even the shiny lip gloss he liked so much. I felt instantly guilty for inviting him and making him think he might feel comfortable here, when it so clearly wasn’t his kind of thing. He’d obviously decided that his button-down shirt and knee-length shorts, along with his modestly styled hair and zero makeup, would go over better in this environment.
And he might’ve been right, but I supposed I was expecting…more of an entrance from him. For him to say fuck it and make a splash, to be braver than I ever was, but now I couldn’t help thinking he’d done that for me. Or my parents.
Skylar’s mom seemed none the wiser as she looked around in innocent wonder at all the lights and tables and, of course, the view, and I could see it through her eyes, how lovely it must seem, and it undoubtedly was.
She was wearing a sundress with thin straps and flowery fabric that came to mid-thigh, and I immediately detected the looks she was getting from my parents’ guests, most likely noting that her clothes were shorter or cheaper or some other ridiculous thing by their snooty standards.
That made me spring into action, and I strode up to them and gave them my best smile. I hugged his mom and then him in turn. I wanted so badly to kiss him right there in the open, but he wasn’t my boyfriend, no matter how much I wished he were. Too bad Gretchen and Hope hadn’t been free this year, because they might’ve helped put him at ease.
“Thanks for coming,” I said brightly. “Let me show you around, then get you something to eat and drink.”