Page 112 of Teach Me How

“Should I be?” His tone starts to harden. “Has he done anything I should know about?”

“No.” I answer quickly. “It’s been a mutual thing since day one.”

“And when was that?”

“Early fall, I guess?”

“Oh.”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

“I just…” He hesitates. “I always thought you two had a thing for each other.”

“Skyler and me?”

“Yeah… back in high school, you guys were always in your own little world.”

“We were?”

He laughs. “I don’t know. You tell me. Maybe I imagined that. But it seemed like Skyler always had you set aside. He treated you differently. I’m actually surprised it took him this long.”

“Are we talking about the same guy?”

He laughs. “We are. And don’t act so innocent. I know you had a crush on him back then.”

“Did not.”

“Is that why you visited him every day at the hospital?”

After the accident, I couldn’t stand the idea of him being alone at the hospital. Despite having a crushed hand, his dad had to keep working. And his mom had a full-time job, too. I’d stop by to play cards with Skyler or tell him about the latest drama between my sisters and I. It seemed to amuse him. I liked to see him smile, but I don’t think it was ever an outright crush. That would be like a kitten falling for a tiger.

Which is eventually what happened.

“How serious is it?” Josh asks, jostling me from my thoughts.

“I don’t know, Josh. You know how it is. He’s a farmer first and foremost.”

“Are we talking about the same guy?” He asks, echoing my own words.

I laugh. “Yes. You look up the word loyal in the dictionary and there’s a picture of Skyler. He wouldn’t abandon the people he cares about.”

“And what if that includes you?”

Suddenly I’m feeling exhausted. “These are questions I don’t have the answers to.”

“I wonder why he hasn’t talked to me about this yet.”

“I don’t know, Cro Magnon. Could have something to do with the way you used to shake your club at any male who dared come near your sisters.”

He laughs. “Can’t blame a guy for being protective.”

“Tell that to my lackluster love life.”

He laughs again. I can hear Trace and Maven in the background. They’ve moved outside with him. “I have to hop off, but real quick… I know you don’t need my blessing or anything. But if you did, you have it.”

My eyes start to burn. Do I need it? If Skyler doesn’t make up his mind, it might be a blessing I have no need of.

76.