“Skye?” Colin blinked in surprise, “You look well. I didn’t think it would be possible to see you again around here.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. Even now, with her in front of him, it seemed surreal. She and her family had packed up and left almost immediately after the breakup. They had several theories—the one about Jae being the chosen heir took the top spot. Since then, they became suspicious of not only her but also her family.
“Well, the breakup had been hard” Skye spoke softly, nodding her head, “If we didn’t get a sudden business opportunity, I wouldn’t know what I would have done here.”
She turned to the cashier and said, “I’d like to pack these up please. I think I’ll add in those milk chocolates with salted caramel you mentioned as well. Can’t hurt to try something different.”
Aimee gulped, straightening her posture. She went back to work and did as Skye requested. She also did her best not to eavesdrop too much.
“What is it like being back in town, then?” Colin asked. He unfolded his arms and tucked them into his pant pockets, “Something important must have brought here since this place holds some painful memories.”
Skye sighed, her eyes on the counter. She looked up and tried to smile, “Mother remarried. Since we’re just new to the family, we thought it would be nice to visit some relatives.”
“You have relatives here?”
“Not me but my stepfather” she explained, “It takes a bit of time to adjust so we’re really trying to win their favor.”
“Oh, I see.Congrats to your mom” Colin nodded. Remarried? Relatives? How much of what she said was true and how much of it wasn’t? Besides the twins, he actually didn’t talk to her much before, “Have you seen Logan by any chance?”
A small talk after a long separation should be good, right? She had been his best friend’s ex-girlfriend and he heard most of their relationship from Logan. He remembered the things he did for her. How much effort he’d put in. Half of the time, Colin thought he went nuts.
“I did. Yesterday. I guess it went as good as I could hope it would” Skye replied with a sad tone. She bit her bottom lip, “You think he’d see me if I went to his house? I’ll be leaving town soon.”
So she wasn’t staying long? Colin thought. If she wanted to get back with Logan, she would have stayed longer. If she did go to the same school as Emily, she had the chance to stay for a week and constantly bumped into him.
Did they worry for nothing?
“With Logan? Even I’m not sure” he answered honestly. He cupped the back of his neck, “I’d say to wait it out a bit.”
They hadn’t talked about her in so long. Logan had insisted on it. For him to move on, he said. Colin had respected that until now. He wouldn’t even bring this up unless Logan did so himself.
Skye shrugged, “I guess that’s to be expected. If I had it hard, he must have had it harder. But… you think it would hurt to try?”
Colin faced a dilemma. He had a feeling the group at the diner would oppose. They’d tell her to quit and go back. At the same time, he thought the matter involved Logan and Skye. Logan had a right to make his own decision on whether to talk to her or not.
They shouldn’t take that away from him.
“It would be up to you” he settled for as his response, “It would depend on how strong you are to face whatever happens.”
“Miss, here are your purchases and the total is on the digital screen” Aimee cut in. The conversation seemed serious that she initially didn’t want to interrupt. Since it seemed like the female customer had somewhere to go, Aimee couldn’t let her forget about the items.
“Thank you” Skye turned around and checked the amount. Then, she opened her purse to take out the payment from her wallet.
Colin stepped forward and grabbed a few chocolate bars. He placed them on the counter, waiting for his turn. They’d part ways soon. If anything, the gang would just have to follow her to the Parker Mansion. He could already predict how they’ll take his way of handling the situation.
“Oh, I can get that for you,” Skye offered, ready to pay for his purchases. She brought out a credit card and opened her mouth at the cashier.
Colin blocked her hand along with the card. He shook his head when she glanced at him. Then, he snatched it off her hand and handed it to the cashier, “Please only ring up her purchases.”
“It’s unnecessary. I’d rather pay for them on my own” he added for Skye’s questioning gaze.
“But I insist!”
Colin gave her a pointed look, “I’d rather spend my own money for my girlfriend.”
She would never admit it but something died inside Aimee’s chest. She prayed to whatever higher power existed to bless her with such a guy. The moment she’d find one, she’d tie him down to her side and exchange vows.
Skye’s face lit up, “You have a girlfriend?”
“I—”
At that moment, Colin remembered that he and Lauren hadn’t made their relationship official yet. The word merely flowed out of his lips naturally. Well, he did already consider her as one… but it might not be good to have her hear that from people. It might look like he disrespected her wishes to take it slow.
Not to mention, how he didn’t even ask her that yet.
“I’m still in the middle of courting her though” Colin covered up in time, breathing out a sigh of relief.
“Does Logan have one?” Skye took the paperbag of her purchases and stepped aside. She took out a water bottle from her bag and drank from it.
“Haven’t really seen him with a girl. He’s been more closed off since… that time.”
Skye closed the bottle, slipping it back inside her purse. Even if Logan knew about Alex’s gender and wanted to keep it a secret, he would have told Colin about his interest in a girl, right? Just keep out her name? If his best friend didn’t know then, Logan must have only seen Alex as a guy.
Additionally, if Logan really had been more detached after the breakup, did he perhaps still had feelings for her?
===
��You… did… what?!” Emily sneered, “Is she on her way to the Parker Mansion, now? I thought the whole point is to get rid of her? Not bring her closer to Logan?”
The plates and glasses on the table rattled when she slammed her hands on it and rose to her feet. Alex and Jae quickly grabbed the drinks before they could topple off. Most of them were still full. On the other hand, Colin’s face remained impassive. He already expected this reaction.
“I get that you’re all worried and so am I” he began to say, “But Logan should decide whether he’d talk to her or not. All we can do is support him and keep an eye on what happens. If you want to go to the mansion, it’s fine but I’m not coming. I have a date.”
“You also can’t come” Alex pointed a fork at her cousin, “You have a flight soon and Aunt Lilly is waiting for you so she could drive you there.”
Emily sat down, fuming. She knew Alex was right. Aunt Lilly had sent several messages about when they’d get home. It ticked her off at how she couldn’t do more. All these suppressed irritations would explode someday. Once Monday rolled in, she probably wouldn’t be able to restrain herself and attack that conniving bitch.
“Fine!” She huffed, “I’ll go home. If I find out that bitch really wanted to ruin Alex’s life, mark my words I won’t hold back!”
As she grabbed her plate of food and drink, Jae stood up to let her out of the booth. Alex followed her cousin’s example and grabbed her own meal. Colin swung his legs to the outer edge of the bench so she could pass through.
She glanced at the boys, “I’ll make sure she doesn’t make a detour. You go on ahead and tell me where to meet you.”
They nodded in reply then watched the pair disappear from sight. A blanket of silence fell on the table. With just the two of them, the area felt empty. Jae could feel Colin’s eyes on him. He purposely avoided them and focused on his food. He didn’t need to see it to know what ran in his friend’s mind.
“You really should have told him,” Colin said. He leaned back on the bench, his body in a relaxed position. His gaze held no judgement either. In fact, it looked somewhat sad, “If he gets back with Skye, what are you going to do?”
Jae placed down his spoon. He chewed slowly and stared out the window. Skye had left a while ago. She probably reached his house by now. Last time he checked, Logan was still sleeping. He couldn’t think of a place he’d leave his room for other than their mother’s grave.
Since he already did that yesterday, he’d coop himself up for the time being.
“Why do you think I wanted to keep her away from him?” He finally replied. His voice sounded as dazed as he looked, “I knew I can’t interfere if he ever decided on that. I can’t meddle anymore than I have.”
Colin gave a nod. Jae always placed his brother’s happiness first. If Skye could make Logan happy then, he’d stay out of the way but watch over things.
“She was the only one who could make him laugh after mother died. I didn’t want to ruin her image more than she already did. It would be another blow and I don’t know if he’ll ever recover from that.”
“I understand,” Colin sighed.
They could only pray that Logan would reject Skye out front. After all, no matter what she’d say, it wouldn’t erase the past. It would be a tedious task to regain their trust again.
