Entangled (The Accidental Billionaires #2) - J. S. Scott Page 0,46
bossiness at all.
CHAPTER 17
SKYE
“I’m going to miss you so much, but I hope you have a fantastic time. I know how badly you’ve always wanted to go to Australia,” I told Jade the next morning as we hugged.
Despite Aiden’s warning the night before, there was no hot sex when we’d arrived home. I’d been so tired that I’d fallen asleep with Maya while she was reading to me. I found myself covered up the next morning and snuggled beside my daughter.
Soon after we’d gotten up, Jade had arrived to say her good-byes.
“I’ll miss you, too,” she said tearfully. “But I’ll see you in a month.”
I snorted. “I doubt you’ll spend much time missing us back here in Citrus Beach when you’re with the husband of your dreams.”
We both sat down to drink our coffee at the table.
Aiden had gone with Eli to do some last-minute errands before the newlyweds took off.
“I’ve been so crazy busy with the wedding that we haven’t had much time to talk,” Jade said with regret in her voice.
I shot her a smile. “That’s okay. I’ve been helping Aiden set up his new business, and I’ve been looking at new designs for the restaurant, so it’s been crazy here, too.”
“How are you two doing?” Jade asked anxiously.
I hesitated before I answered. “We’re good. I think we’re both starting to leave the past behind so we can give Maya a good life.”
“But there’s more than just Maya, right? I mean, it’s obvious that there’s still something there between you and Aiden.”
I was surprised. “Is it really obvious?”
She shrugged. “Maybe only to me. I’m crazy in love with Eli. So I recognize the subtle signs.”
“We don’t really know what’s going to happen yet,” I admitted.
“Maybe it’s okay to take your time,” she suggested.
“Really, we don’t know each other anymore,” I confessed. “We’ve both . . . changed.”
“Of course you have. You were only eighteen when you got pregnant, Skye. And even though you haven’t shared much about your marriage, you’re not the same person you used to be. You’re a lot warier.”
I felt guilty. “It wasn’t because I didn’t want to tell you. It was just . . . painful.”
Jade had always been the best friend I’d ever had, but I was ashamed of all the trouble I’d gotten myself into. I hadn’t wanted to tell anybody the whole truth.
“I understand,” she said gently. “I don’t have to know every little detail to know that those experiences did something bad to you. But please don’t be afraid of Aiden. He’d never intentionally hurt you.”
“I know. But it’s hard for me to trust anyone now.”
“Give it some time. You and Aiden will end up together someday. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to happen.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why do you think that?”
She winked. “Because I saw the way you looked at each other when he was singing. He got to you.”
Jade was right. Aiden did get to me. And I wasn’t sure if I should be terrified or relieved.
I wanted to feel things again.
I just didn’t want to face those emotions as quickly as I had with Aiden.
“I think things are happening too fast,” I shared. “For years, I trained myself not to feel anything to survive. I poured everything good into Maya, but that was it. I turned myself off to everybody and everything else. I had to, Jade. I did it to protect myself and my daughter.”
“But you don’t need to do that anymore, Skye. I get that you had to block out the bad things around you, but that’s all over. You deserve to start living again, and not just for Maya. You need it for yourself.”
I took a deep breath and then let it out. She was right. But Jade didn’t realize just how hard it was to let go of defense mechanisms that had probably saved my life.
“I know,” I answered. “But it’s definitely going to take some time.”
She smiled. “You have all the time in the world. I don’t think Aiden is going to go anywhere.”
“He’s an amazing man. He always has been,” I said wistfully.
Jade pulled a face. “Well, he is my annoying older brother, but I guess I have to agree with you. All of my brothers are pretty extraordinary.”
“You adore him and you know it,” I said emphatically.
“Yeah, I do. So try not to torture him too much,” she requested, still smiling as she raised her mug to drink.
“I honestly don’t want to torture him at all. But I