Page 69 of Pucking Only
I shut the door and face her, and I don’t know if it’s the look of concern on her face or the fact that she’s here at all, but I suddenly can’t hold my tears back anymore. Bursting out into sobs, I drop my face into my hands to try and muffle the worst of it.
“Sky! Please, tell me what’s going on,” Grace insists, hurrying to wrap her arms around me and pull me into a tight hug. “Why did you leave the party so suddenly? And don’t try to tell me it’s because of work, because I know that’s not true.”
I sag into her embrace and bury my face into her shoulder. The need to confess to her is overwhelming, and I can’t fight it anymore.
“It…it’s Carson,” I whimper, pushing out of her hug so I can look at her. I feel like I need to look her in the eyes when I tell her this.. “He and I were hooking up while I was in Denver. I’m sorry, I know I should have told you, but…”
“Oh, I know,” Grace says with a shrug.
I blink up at her, stunned. “What? You know?”
“Yeah.” She appears completely unfazed by the knowledge that I’ve been fucking her brother. “I was sneaking around with Jensen for a while, remember? I know the signs. Plus, you guys haven’t been total assholes to each other lately, so I figured you’ve been putting that angsty energy to use in other ways.”
“Oh,” I murmur. “Well, I’m still sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“It’s fine,” she assures me. “I just want you to be happy, Sky. Is that what tonight was about? You guys hooking up or something?”
I shake my head. “No…not really. I saw him with Elizabeth Norris and I just…I couldn’t stay…”
Grace furrows her brow in confusion.
“Elizabeth Norris?” she murmurs. “I don’t think Carson cares about her at all, Sky. You should just talk to him.”
I shake my head and sniffle, “No, he does. I never told you what he said to me when we were fifteen.”
Grace gazes at me for several moments before she takes my hand and leads me to the bed. We sit on the edge together and she turns to me with a small, gentle smile.
“So tell me now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: A FEW HOURS EARLIER, BACK AT THE PARTY
CARSON
Elizabeth’s armswrap around me in a tight hug, her perfume — something floral and overly sweet — filling my nostrils. I pat her back awkwardly, searching for an escape route. How did I even get roped into this? One minute I was just standing near the bar, and the next, she was draped all over me like old times. But it’s not old times. We’re not in high school anymore. Whatever we had back then was never as serious as she seems to think it was. Why the hell did my mom invite her? I know she and Dad are friends with Elizabeth’s parents, but why did they feel the need to includeher, especially without asking me?
“Carson, it’s so good to see you,” she says, pulling back just enough to look up at me with a smile. It’s the same smile that used to make my heart race, but now it just makes me uncomfortable.
“Yeah, you too, Elizabeth,” I reply, patting her back while trying to keep my tone light and polite. She doesn’t let me go, though, and I glance around the room, desperately hoping someone will interrupt, or I’ll spot an excuse to step away. Anything to get out of this situation.
Suddenly, Elizabeth calls out, “Skyler! Over here!”
I freeze. Skyler? She’s here? I’ve been waiting for her to show up. I look in the direction Elizabeth is waving and I see her.
Skyler’s standing near the entrance, her eyes locked on me. My heart drops into my stomach. She’s here, finally, after weeks of radio silence, and I’m standing here with Elizabeth draped all over me. I can see the hurt and confusion in her eyes even from across the room. She looks like she’s just been punched in the gut.
No. No, no, no.
I open my mouth to call out to her, to explain, but she turns and starts walking away before I can say anything. Panic surges through me. This isn’t what it looks like. Skyler needs to know that. I have to get to her before she leaves. I need to make her understand.
“Wow, what a bitch,” Elizabeth grumbles. “Can’t even come over to say hi. Must be too good for us small-towners now that she’s living in California.”
“Elizabeth, I — ” I start, trying to pull away from her, but she tightens her grip, laughing lightly.
“Don’t go,” she says with a teasing pout. “We need to catch up. It’s been ages since we’ve seen each other.”
My eyes are glued to the spot where Skyler disappeared. I need to go after her, right now.
I’m on the verge of physically shaking her off me, but before I can make a move, my parents appear out of nowhere. My mom’s hand rests on my arm, her face glowing with happiness.