Meant to Collide

10. Candid Chats and Textual Tensions

Sky Chandler sat in the dimly lit restaurant, the night still fresh from his accidental run-in with Jules Parker. His glass of wine swirled beneath his fingertips, his eyes fixed on the liquid, lost in thoughts that hovered somewhere mysterious. His expression was distant, like he was trying to solve an enigma only he understood.

Suddenly, a hand gripped his wrist, stopping him mid-swirling. "Hey, you, Hon (meaning stupid) ," came a voice from across the table. "Quit swirling the glass, you're giving me a headache!"

Sky blinked, snapping out of his trance, and glanced up. His best friend Jim was staring at him, her expression half-amused, half-annoyed. Sitting next to her, Tee rolled his eyes, smirking.

"What's up with him, Tee?" Jim asked, her gaze darting back and forth between Sky and her friend. Tee shrugged. "How do I know? Ask him yourself."

Sky's two besties from school, Tee and Jim, were used to his moods. But tonight, something seemed...off. Sky's hand tightened around the stem of the glass.

Jim leaned forward, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Hon, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," Sky sighed, brushing them off. Both of them exchanged knowing glances, their voices rising in unison, "Something is!"

"Seriously," Sky muttered, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. "I'm fine."

"Ha!" Tee snorted. "Whenever you say 'nothing,' it means everything."

Jim eyed his phone, which had been glued to his hand all night. Before he could stop her, she lunged for it. But Sky was quicker, pulling it away.

"Nosy," he muttered.

Jim raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious. "Highly. Now, since you dragged us all out here...what's the emergency? Do you know how much I had to do to get here? I had to trick my husband into thinking this was some serious deal! If it's not, I swear I'll ream you out."

Tee chuckled, glancing at the door. "Wait for Kade to get here. I just texted her; she's parking the car now."

And right on cue, the background music seemed to shift, like some dramatic movie scene. The door swung open, and in walked Kade, the embodiment of confidence. From the flash of her heels to her sunglasses perched like a crown, everyone in the room took notice. Cameras clicked as she sauntered over to the table.

She slid into her seat, ordering a glass of wine with barely a nod, her eyes scanning the group. Jim, struggling to stifle a laugh, couldn't hold it in any longer.

"What are you laughing at?" Kade shot her a sharp look. "Nothing," Jim smirked, shaking her head. "You just look like you walked straight out of a Bond movie."

Kade waved her hand like a gun. "Well, I just finished filming. Guess what I played?"

"Surely, a transvestite," Tee teased. Kade turned on her, playfully glaring. "Wrong. Try again."

"Hooker?" Jim guessed, trying not to laugh. Kade shot her a mock-angry glare. "Spy. A spy, thank you very much."

She turned to Sky, her gaze softening. "So, Hon, what's the deal? You called us all here, so spill."

Sky took a deep breath, finally ready to break his silence. "It's my grandmother."

That was all it took. Tee, Jim, and Kade exchanged knowing looks and high-fived each other. Jim smirked. "I told you! I never guess wrong when it comes to that woman."

Tee leaned in, curious. "What's new this time?"

Sky exploded, his frustration finally surfacing. "She's stressing me out about Unity Corp. She said if I don't make it profitable this year, I have to marry Mia or close the company!"

Jim shook her head. "Hon, seriously, you need to stand up to her. You can't just obey everything she says." Kade sighed. "It's easier said than done, Jim. You know how dramatic his grandmother is. If he doesn't do what she wants, things could get ugly...like they did with Silvy."

Tee's expression darkened. "Don't bring up Silvy, Kade."

Jim added quietly, "Yeah, every time we mention her, it just feels...sad."

Sky drifted into his thoughts, recalling his sister, Silvia—Silvy, as she had been known. The sounds of screaming, the crackling of burning canvases, flashed before his eyes. Their grandmother had torn Silvy apart, forbidding her from painting, calling her a 'starving artist' and an embarrassment to the family. Silvy had walked away, leaving them both behind.

The clatter of plates brought Sky back to the present. Their steaks had arrived, beautifully presented, but Sky was still lost in the past. As he cut into his steak, he was suddenly hit by a memory of his younger sister, Selena, at her birthday. She was 25 then, cutting the cake as everyone sang. His grandmother had handed Selena an envelope, inside of which was a photo of a man—her birthday "gift." A suitor.

The sharp fall of plates snapped him back to the present. "Hon, you need to make your own decisions." Jim says once again.

They all raised their glasses, toasting to Sky, their "Hon." Tee turned to Jim, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Why isn't the drunkard drinking tonight?"

Kade chimed in. "Yeah, Jim. Fasting?"

Jim paused, glancing at the group before dropping the bombshell. "I'm pregnant."

The table erupted in joy, everyone congratulating her—everyone except Sky. He smiled, but his mind was elsewhere, his eyes darting to his phone. He couldn't stop thinking about Jules, wondering if she had made it home. His phone buzzed, and he glanced down, surprised to see a new message from her. She had saved him under "Sky, My Idol."

The scene shifted to Jules, sitting alone in her room, photos of Sky scattered across the table. She stared at one, her voice a whisper. "Why do I feel like the closer we get, the further apart we become? Does he even remember me?"

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. Sky had sent her a flood of teddy bear stickers, fiery and playful. Jules blinked, confused by the sudden onslaught of messages. Was he angry?

"I'm sorry for not texting earlier," she typed quickly. "I didn't want to bother you. I'm home safe."

Sky read her message, a smile tugging at his lips. He typed, "Who's worried?" and then quickly deleted it, replacing it with a more curt, "It's late. Have some manners."

Jules stared at her phone, puzzled. He was the one texting late! What kind of person was Sky Chandler, really? Still shaking her head, she changed his contact name to "My Boss," feeling the strange distance between them grow.