Page 35 of Over the Limit

“Skylar!” I answer the phone, everything I’m feeling more than evident in my tone. Does she know how much I’ve missed her?

“Wow. Someone is clearly in a great mood.” She laughs.

“I am. I just got the best bouquet of flowers ever.”

“Flowers?” She snorts. “But you don’t even like flowers.”

“I like this kind,” I say, so lost in looking at the books, I don’t realize what I just said. Skylar knows me well to catch the flub.

“And who gave you these flowers?”

“A friend.”

“A friend?” she asks. “So not the man who’s supposed to be giving them to you, then.”

I open my mouth to make an excuse for Rossi but then stop myself. If anyone knows the truth about me and Rossi, it’s Skylar. She’s often challenged me whenever I’ve stood up for or made excuses for Rossi, and as I’ve watched her and her husband more closely as of late, I’m beginning to understand why. So, honesty it is.

“Correct,” I say.

“And would this friend happen to be a man or a woman?”

“This friend . . . it’s a long story, but the flowers weren’t flowers. They were books. I—”

“Okay. This is making more sense. I can see why you liked the ‘flowers’.” She pauses. “Explain why you’re hesitating to be honest here. Why won’t you tell me who gave them to you?”

“Sky.” I sigh her name out.

“Nope. No, Sky. No excuses. Whoever bought you these flowers—er books—has clearly made you happy.” She clears her throat. “Sounds like something your mom or one of your crazy siblings would send you.” She’s not wrong. “Which you totally deserve by the way. So this person is a good one to have in your corner from my perspective.”

“Thank you. It’s been a while since someone has made me feel like this—happy, appreciated, I don’t know—and I hadn’t realized I was missing it, if that makes sense.”

“It makes total sense. Rossi hasn’t cared for you well for a while now. And it’s worried me.” Interesting Sky has noticed that, and yet, it’s only recently hit my radar. I nod, not that she can see.

“It just came out of the blue, you know?”

“Yeah, I hear you. Definitely not something Rossi would do. Selflessness isn’t in his wheelhouse.” I chuckle and for once I don’t feel the need to defend him. “Look, you deserve to feel everything your flowers made you feel. We both know that. It sounds like you need to make some choices here. Perhaps look at your relationship with Rossi with a different perspective.” A different perspective. Interesting that Skylar mentions that term after Lachlan did a few weeks ago.

“I know,” I say softly as I run my fingers over the jackets of the hardbacks.

“Good. I’m glad. Sometimes doing what’s best for you is the most courageous thing you can do in life. It’s not easy. You often have to go through some pain to get to the other side. But it is well worth it. I promise.”

“Just like you did,” I say softly.

“Just like I did,” she repeats. “And send me a picture of your flowers. I want to see them!”

We talk for a bit more, and when we hang up, I read over the synopsis on each book while Skylar’s words linger in my mind.

When was the last time someone who wasn’t part of my family did something thoughtful like that for me? A care package from my mom is one thing, but this was an intentional gift.

One he put time and effort into.

One that says he was thinking about me.

Because that’s what friends do. Right?

CHAPTER NINE

Lachlan