Skyla’s POV

It has only taken a couple of days for Eloise and I to fall into a routine.

She’s at school most of the day and joins me in the dog spa afterwards to finish homework or study. Answering phone calls and chatting with customers while I complete the last of my scheduled pups for the day.

At the end of the day we turn the music up way too loud while I cleanup, then its dinner and movies until bedtime.

She’s an amazing young woman, very smart.

Four days have passed now, not a word from Xavier. I’ll admit I haven’t exactly tried called him either, just a text here and there. No more than two a day, I’d promised myself.

“Friday night, any plans?” Eloise asks expectantly.

“You know I don’t hav plans, why?”

“I have that movie date tonight with my friends.”

“Yes, I remember. I’ll be just fine.” I tease, before telling her she is more than welcome to raid my closet. She’s been eyeing a skirt hung in there since Tuesday.

“Thank you,” she starts to rush away before running back, “can I get a ride there?”

“In your brother’s car? Just take it.” I laugh while trying to finish cleaning up for the evening.

“No, I can’t do that. What if you need it?” She asks, following me up the stairs. “I’ll get one of my friends to bring me back… or go home with them.” 

In the time it takes me to change out of my work clothes and into some leggings and a baggy t-shirt she has tried on at least four outfits. She makes a comment that she wishes she had a sister instead of Xavier that makes me laugh.

“While I have loved having you here, experience has taught me that sisters fight way too much.” Offering her a different top with a smile.

“You have a sister?”

“Two actually, and a brother. They’re all younger than me and… well, it’s been a long time since I’ve talked to any of them.” Almost a year actually, my parents and I had a huge fight while I was still in the hospital and after that…

“That sucks, I can’t imagine not talking to Xavier everyday.” She turns back and forth in the full length mirror. Seems we’ve found tonight’s ensemble.

“My sisters and I weren’t all that close, and my brother’s about your age. My parents are very strict and I wasn’t exactly one for following rules.” Smiling at her through the mirror, I could have tried harder to keep in touch with them, instead I let my pain consume me. “I think it’s about time I reached out though, spending all this time with you has made me miss them more.”

“Have you been in touch with your brother since they left?” I ask, hoping I didn’t sound as pathetic as I feel.

She tells me they’ve been texting everyday. He’ll check in on her homework and make sure she has lunch money, it is adorable honestly how much he cares. Eloise says he asks about me too, encouraging me to call him.

“I’m pretty sure he’s too proud and stupid to make the first move, at least he and dad haven’t killed each other yet.” 

“When do you need to be at the mall for your movie?”

“In about an hour, is that okay?”

I find myself back downstairs with almost an hour to kill, sending text reminders and making confirmation calls for the upcoming week’s appointments. Diablo’s lounging on his cot in the back, about to drive me insane with the incessant speaking of his toy.

The sound of the front door’s bell draws my eyes up from my paperwork. The sun hasn’t set yet so I hadn’t bothered locking the door, occasionally we get some foot traffic coming in to make an appointment.

The squeaking of Diablo's toy has stopped as he stalks forward to check things out, I try to maintain my composure as I point toward the sign in the window. “Sign says we’re closed, you’ll have to call during business hours to make an appointment.”

“I’m here on a personal matter.” James replies.

“Not interested.”

“I just wanted to invite you to dinner, I’d hoped for a chance to make up for my previous… very drunken behavior.” He says, approaching the counter.

Diablo quickly stands on his hind legs and puts his paws on the counter. James curses, taking a few steps back.

“Took you a month to sober up?” I sigh, “What are you really doing here?”

“Your bodyguard is still out of town so I thought I’d take my chances and try to apologize now.” He says with a crooked smile.

“Xavier is out of town, but this guy” I lean over and hug the devil’s neck, “eh, don’t mind him actually, he’s just a big ole teddy bear.”

“Okay,” James responses, still uncertain of Diablo “but it’s just dinner, my treat, and I hold no expectations for you to even be civil… I certainly don’t deserve it.”

“I’ve got to be near the mall at six, Diablo and I can meet you nearby afterwards… somewhere with a patio perhaps?” 

Girl, have you lost your mind? This is a terrible idea.

“I know just the place,” James reaches out to snag one of my business cards off the counter, Diablo lets out a warning growl that he’s too close “I’ll text you the address.”

“Don’t make me regret this, my previous promise still stands.” I state, laying the gun I’d had on him beneath the counter since he entered in plain sight.

“Noted.” He salutes, waving back at me through the window as he disappears down the sidewalk.

Locking the front door and quickly changing into anything not considered lounge wear, I’m running out of time and don’t want to make Eloise late. She walks in to the master bedroom as I’m putting on some simple makeup.

“Hey, I’m ready to… did you change just drop me off?” She asks.

“No, my plans have changed. I was invited out to dinner.”

“Like a date? With who? Who is the lucky guy… or girl? I don’t judge.” She smiles while wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

We head out the door as I answer each of her questions, explaining how it came to be I’m now going out for dinner. Leaving out the details about this being an apology dinner and subsequently what he’s trying to apologize for.

“That old guy that owns the antique general store?” She recoils.

“Apparently, it is just dinner. Diablo will be with me the whole time and I promise to be on my best behavior.”

“Don’t be, I heard that guy can be a creep.” She says on the ride over. “It’s okay that I stay at Ashley’s after, right? Her mom will bring me back in the morning.”

“I’m not your mother, do whatever you want. Just be safe and call me if you need to… no matter what.” I hand her some extra cash for snacks, clothes, or anything else they might be getting up to this evening. She gives me a hug and thanks me before joining her small group at the entrance near the movie theatre. 

The address James had given me is to a cute little Greek place a few minutes down the road, I park just in time to watch him being seated out on the patio.

“I wasn’t sure whether or not the dog was a joke, but the weather is perfect for eating out here.” James says, standing as Diablo and I approach the table.

“He’s a certified service and protection dog so he goes where I go, he’s not any more dangerous than the gun on your belt.” I reply, taking my seat across from him.

“Fair enough, I hope you like Greek food. This is one of my favorite places.”

The food is lovely, the restaurant manager even brings a lamb kebab just for Diablo but tonight’s company is seriously lacking. James talks about himself, his business, himself, the town, and himself some more.

It all feels so forced and practiced, something about him still has me on edge, even with Diablo here. Nothing at all like when I spend time with Xavier. Ignoring the tinge of disgust I feel when I look at James, there is just no chemistry to be felt at all.

“So, how did you know Xavier is out of town?”

“Ripper had mentioned a job this week when he came by The Wolf Den looking for him.” Ah, that’s right James was the one who sent Ripper my way the night he broke in.

“And how is it that someone in AA is in a bar on a Sunday night?”

“What makes you think I’m in AA?” He scowls across the table.

“You read over the drink menu for more than a minute but only ordered water, for one thing, the other being that token you’ve been toying with it your right hand all night.” 

With a nod he confirms that he was in an Alcoholics Anonymous group. He’d started drinking again a few months back and then what happened at the open house was a bit of a wake up call. “I’m just not sure I deserve another chance.”

“I don’t know you well enough to answer that question for you, but if it helps you feel like you can get the help you need… then I forgive you, James, I do.”

“I’ve not been able to make it more than a year,” he says as he hands me the token “the addiction, it runs in the family. My dad, my half brother, me…” He gets quiet for the first time since we sat down when I give the token back.

“Sounds like you need to be the better man, then. If not for anyone else, try to do it for you.” I shrug.

Seems James has a bit of humanity after all. He orders us dessert and the topic finally shifts away from the narcissist who invited me to dinner. After our goodbyes we go our separate ways, hopefully for good.

Maybe I should text Xavier, tonight’s definitely made me realize I’ve been missing him. My days, and bed, have felt a bit empty. Before settling in for a movie on the couch in my pajamas I send him a quick message.

Missing you tonight, see you soon.

A couple of hours ago…

Xavier’s POV

Eloise: @ the movies with friends tonight, might stay @ Josie’s

Sounds fun, be safe. Let Skyla know if you stay out.

Eloise: she knows! it’s cool, she’s got a date anyway.

WTF? With who?

I’m about to crush my phone in my grasp as I watch the three little bubbles that indicate she’s typing appear and disappear a few times. I’m gone a few fucking days a Skyla’s already meeting up with some asshole?

Eloise: u can’t be mad, are u even like 2gether 2gether?

Answer the question! Who is she out with?

Eloise: dinner w James

Not funny.

There’s no way in hell Skyla would agree to spend any time alone with James. Right? Not after the shit he pulled.

Eloise: not a joke, she was going to dinner after dropping me off.

Eloise!

Answer your fucking phone!

I mean it, El!

Eloise: can’t the movies about to start. ttyl

She’s got to have her phone on silent, and I keep getting bitch buttoned. Absolutely fuming at the thought of Skyla even giving James the time of day… much less going on a fucking date with him.

Should I call Skyla? No, I haven’t responded to her all week, I’m not starting now. What-the-fuck-ever! It was fun while it lasted, if she’s fine spending times with James now then he can fucking have her.

When Ripper and I stop to rest again, I check my phone that I’d put on silent. Eloise is annoyed that now it’s me who isn’t answering, only a single text from Skyla today reading “missing you tonight, see you soon.”

Jealously boils through me and I can only imagine she’s saying this now because she’s feeling some sort of guilt. Fuck that! I turn my phone off for the rest of the night… which turns into the rest of this stupid trip.