Page 16 of Reticent

“Always, Yazzy.”

“Growing up, I was so jealous of you because you had the most access to Mama.”

“I think …” Skylar stares off at nothing. “Sometimes I’m jealous of you because of what you were kept from.”

I’m hit with instant guilt, having no idea what she’s been through. “I’m sorry, Sky-Sky.”

She gives a small smile. “I’m sorry that you missed out on some of the good times with Mama.”

“And I’m sorry you saw so many of the bad.” I feel the familiar prickle of tears in my eyes. She overdosed seven years ago, and it still feels like we lost her yesterday. “I have something to tell you,” I say, needing to change the subject.

“What’s up?” Skylar folds her arms over the table.

A server comes to our table with a basket of warm bread and asks us if we’re ready to order.

Skylar pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose and inspects her menu again. “Let’s see …” she says, playing with the string of pearls around her neck. “I’ll have the duck, crawfish, and oyster gumbo.”

“I’ll have the chicken alfredo,” I say, ordering the cheapest thing on the menu. Jordyn was right. These prices are bougie as hell. The server fills our water glasses before leaving our table.

I tear off a piece of warm bread from the basket. “Do you remember that guy from Vivid? The one I left with?”

Skylar grins. “He was crazy hot. We all understood why you ditched us for the D.”

I laugh. “You ditched us for Ian before I ditched you for Hunter.”

“Touché.”

“I think it’s cool that you guys are together now.”

“He’s a great boyfriend, and he’s so smart.”

“Not smarter than you. Aren’t you like a genius or something?”

“But he’s going to be a surgeon.”

“That’s awesome. And you’re going for your master’s in social work in the fall.”

“That’s the plan.”

I get straight to the nitty-gritty. “Have you guys had sex yet?”

She shakes her head, chewing her bottom lip. “We’re waiting.”

I pop a piece of bread into my mouth and chew. “For marriage?”

“No.” She shakes her head adamantly. We’re so not there yet.”

A grin grows on my face. “Yet?”

Skylar smirks. “Stop trying to change the subject. What did you want to tell me?”

I take a sip from my water glass. “For starters, bae from the club—his name is Hunter, and this is his restaurant.”

“I thought one of Chef Lucas Demalio’s sons owned this place.”

“I know. He does. Chef Lucas Demalio was Hunter Demalio’s dad.”

“Really?” She scans the restaurant as if she’s looking for him to appear. “Do you guys still talk?”