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Miri put an arm around my shoulder. “Hey. It’s okay. You can talk to me, you know.”
She darted a look at Gabe; he coughed and mumbled an excuse before walking away.
“Is it true? You’ve broken up with Sean? Talk to me. I’m your friend.”
The words got lost, sticking in my mouth. I’d wanted to keep it quiet. It didn’t matter now anyway. Soon everyone would know. Me and Sean would be the talk of the locker room. Then Twitter. I could already imagine the hashtags. Football’s golden couple split. I stiffened my spine and tried to look dignified, but heat pressed behind my eyes. I nodded and turned my face away. Miri didn’t need to see me cry.
Miri’s arms wrapped around me. Her enormous bump pressed against my middle. Her words made my heart contract. “It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay. Gabe’s away with work tonight, but you’re coming home with me.”
Chapter 18
Reece
I stepped into the hallway and tripped over a pair of purple boots. The recognition made my chest tighten. Skylar’s boots. Why on earth were Skylar’s boots in my hallway? Alanis Morissette’s angry vocals pulsed from the living room. Frankie had been on a ’90s kick, and if I had to listen to another hour of Courtney Love or Shirley Manson, I’d be forced to go and live in a tent in the garden.
I stuck my head around the living room door and froze before a word could come out. Skylar Marshall sat on the couch, her hands clasped around a tissue in her lap. Her eyes locked with mine and my stomach did on odd swoop.
Miri looked up. “You know Skylar, don’t you?”
Do I know Skylar? Sure. I know Skylar. I know the way she dotted her i’s with little hearts when she was thirteen, the way she holds the tip of her tongue between her teeth when she smiles, the way Sean Wallace broke her heart but she pastes a cocky smile on and pretends that nothing can touch her. I know the warmth of her mouth around me when I’m such a selfish piece of shit that I encourage her to give me a blow job when I’m supposed to be counseling her.
“Hi, Skylar.”
She held up her hand in a wave, but she didn’t look at me. Her knees were drawn up tight to her chest and her face was ashen and tear streaked.
I dropped down in front of her. “What happened?”
She hugged a cushion and stared straight ahead with a hurt, faraway look. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
Miri shot me an odd look. “Don’t fuss, Reece. Skylar needs some space.”
Of course. This would look weird to Miri. She had no idea how close we’d become over the past couple of weeks. For a moment, I’d just seen Skylar in need of comfort and forgotten that anyone else existed.
Frankie sauntered past me and dropped onto the couch with a huge bowl of popcorn. “We’re bingeing period dramas.” She propped her bare feet up on the coffee table and relaxed into the cushions. “Are you joining us?”
I tried to keep my gaze away from Skylar, but I couldn’t help myself. Dark circles shadowed her red-rimmed eyes. What had gone on to bring her here? Why wouldn’t she talk to me? Was this about me? My stomach dropped. Was she upset about what had happened in my office? I had to know.
“Can I have a word, Miri?”
Miri frowned. “Can it wait? I’ve only seen Mr. Darcy emerge from that lake five times this year. It’s not good enough. I’ve been slacking.”
“No.” I tried to relax my jaw. “It can’t wait.”
Miri blew out a breath. “Fine.” She passed the remote control and popcorn to Skylar and held both her hands out to me. “But you’re going to have to help me stand up. It took long enough to sit down.”
With two hands, I hauled Miri out of the chair. She followed me to the kitchen and I closed the door behind us.
“What’s going on?”
Miri sighed. “It’s Skylar’s business. It’s not for me to say.”
I busied myself filling the kettle. My heart weighed as heavy as a stone. I couldn’t bear the thought that I’d made Skylar cry. I’d run out of my office and left her alone. She was probably hurt and confused. It wasn’t her fault. This was all me. I planted both hands on the counter and bowed my head. I couldn’t have a client staying in my house, but I couldn’t bear to see her in this state either. She shouldn’t be alone.
“This is weird for me, Miri. I’m working at the club now. I can’t have a colleague staying over in my house. It’s a violation of the boundaries. It’s unethical. I’m going to have to move out until she’s gone.”
Yes. Having her here was definitely the biggest ethical violation, not the blow job in my office.
