Attention What If

Chapter 27

POV: Skylar

The drive back to the mansion is a quiet one. I stress-eat cookies the whole way there, following Darleen in my own car. Just thinking about coming face-to-face with Darleen's aunt slash mom again has me breaking out into nervous sweats.

When we get there, her mom's car is still in the driveway. I know Darleen wants me to still think of her as an aunt, but I just can't. Now that I know the truth, no way I can just go back to calling her Darleen's aunt.

To be honest, I feel kind of stupid for not figuring out something was up between those two sooner. The woman has always been obsessed with Darleen. Something I noticed back when we first dated the junior year of high school. I just thought she felt guilty for not having kids of her own to spoil so she spoiled Darleen by default. The truth makes a lot more sense.

Darleen grabs my hand and I take a deep breath before we walk back into the house.

"Darleen this place is a disaster, when's the last time you washed dishes or did laundry? If you need maid service you could have just—" her back was to us as she inspected the kitchen but when she turned around and saw me she stopped talking.

"You're back," she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Yes, she is. Skylar and I are together, and you are going to have to accept it." Darleen stands her ground.

"I guess my previous warnings weren't clear. You are not to see this girl, you are not staying here Darleen. You are going back to Stanford—"

"Hello, my name is Skylar," I walk up to her and outstretch my hand.

Even though the thought of making nice with this woman makes my skin crawl, I know I have to do it. She may hate me, but she's Darleen's mom. Like it or not, she comes with the package. I'll never get to be with Darleen in peace if I don't get through to her family. I have to make them like me, or at least tolerate me, even if I would rather never talk to them again.

She raises an eyebrow.

"I would like a clean fresh start with you. In all honesty, Darleen and I are still trying to figure out what we are or how we are going to make it work this time around. The last thing I want is for her to pick me over her family. So, if you would have me, I would like to start over." I push my hand closer to her.

There is a tense moment of silence as Darleen watches us.

"You are no good for her." Her birth mother clicks her tongue at me.

"I know," I let my hand fall to my side. "But... I'm trying to be." I meet her eyes.

She narrows her gaze at me.

"It's true," I say. "I'm not rich or have any claim to my name. Or have anything going for me right now for that matter. In fact, I'm currently dealing with my own demons right now. But I never once only liked Darleen because of what she has and what she can give to me. That is not who I am, or who I've ever been. The reason I fell for Darleen, the reason I keep falling for her despite my better judgment, is that she is a friend through and through. She is always there for me, taking the punches for me, nursing my wounds back to health. She puts herself in the line of fire, and I hate that about her, but I also love how sweet she is. How much she genuinely cares about people. She'd gladly watch me walk away right now if she knew I'd be happy. Even if it killed her. Darleen... she's an amazing person who deserves someone who can give her the world. I don't know if I'm that someone, but I do know... I want to be." I feel my eyes water as I look down.

There is another moment of silence.

"I want to be worth it. I want to be the reason she smiles and I want to be the one to wipe her tears when she cries. I want to be...I'm trying to be. And if that means I have to make nice with you, even if the thought of it makes my blood boil, I will. For Darleen. Because I'm not the kind of person who would ever make her pick me over her own happiness." I finish.