Page 86 of Indigo Ridge (The Edens 1)

“No. Let’s talk about us.”

“There is no us.” From the corner of my eye I spotted Emily inch closer. Nosy bitch.

“I’ve been worried about you. Yesterday especially.”

“Yet here you are, a day late.”

“I figured you’d be busy yesterday and didn’t want to bother you.”

Or he’d had his own plans and hadn’t wanted to cancel. “If you actually cared about the anniversary of Mom and Dad’s accident, you wouldn’t have planned a golfing weekend last year over the Fourth. Or maybe that trip was just an excuse to fuck your side piece.”

He stiffened. “I’ve told you. That was just sex.”

“Not to me.”

“It wasn’t a real affair.”

“Oh, so you didn’t really put your penis inside her vagina?”

“Jesus, Winnie.” He flinched. “Do you have to say it like that?”

“Yes. Go away, Skyler.” I leaned past him. “And you too.”

Emily’s eyes widened.

“Did you need something? A new story?” I asked her. “Because there isn’t one here. Sorry to disappoint.”

“I was just passing by and saying hello,” she mumbled.

I waved. “Hello.”

“Let’s talk inside, where it’s private.” Skyler dropped his voice.

“No. You’re not coming inside. We’re done. We’ve been done for months. I don’t understand why you’re here and what it’s going to take for you to disappear but—”

“Eight years. We were together for eight years. We had a house together.”

“A house you refuse to sell.”

“Because I can’t.” He tossed up his hands. “I walk through the door, and it still smells like you. I can still see you in the living room. I know I fucked up. I wasn’t there when I should have been. I didn’t realize it until I came home and it wasn’t home anymore because you were gone. Don’t we owe it to each other to try?”

“Try what? We wouldn’t have made it, Skyler. There’s a reason neither of us pushed for an actual wedding. There’s a reason we never made that commitment. We wouldn’t have made it.” That was the truth I hadn’t wanted to admit for those eight years.

There hadn’t been enough loyalty, on either side. I hadn’t made our relationship a priority. It had always been an afterthought to what was happening with my career. There was a reason I’d been promoted so quickly through the ranks. I’d given my job ninety-nine percent of my heart. Skyler had only gotten fragments.

He’d been just as dedicated to his own career, and there were couples like that who made it work. But we hadn’t shared an urgency for one another.

I hadn’t even realized what we’d lacked until I’d met Griffin. I hadn’t understood what it was like to crave a person. To long for their voice, their scent, their taste.

Eight years with Skyler. One month with Griffin.

I’d choose Griffin every time.

“There’s a reason you cheated,” I told Skyler. “Because we wouldn’t have made it.”

“Winnie.” He stepped closer, his hand moving from my elbow to my shoulder.

“If you want to keep that hand attached to your body, you’ll take it off of her right now.” The deep rumbling voice behind Skyler sent a shiver racing down my spine. The thud of boots echoed before Griffin stepped onto the porch and came to my side.