Attention What If

Chapter 55

POV: Darleen

I watch her scroll through apartment listings on her phone, a bored expression on her face. She doesn't know I'm watching her. She can't see me from where she sits at the bar. I lean against the wall and watch her.

Am I doing the right thing?

The past two days have been hell with her. She'll agree to do what I say one second, then turn around and just say she's going to leave. It's like pulling teeth with her. One second, I think we are making progress, the next, back at square one.

She says even if I don't help her get an apartment, she's going to get one on her own, that she doesn't want to stay here with me and Kenzie.

I don't think I've ever met anyone as stubborn as Skylar.

I sigh before making my presence known by walking over to her. She doesn't stop scrolling, she doesn't even look up at me.

"How was class today?" I ask her.

She just shrugs.

She's been so quiet lately. If we aren't fighting, then she isn't talking at all. She won't go to therapy either, says she doesn't want to make me waste any more money on her. She won't let me buy her food or even offer her a ride somewhere, so she can save on gas.

I don't know what to do.

My therapist said Just give her space, let her make her own choices. But is that really the right thing to do in this situation?

"Jade's coming over," She announces.

"What!? Why?" I feel my blood pressure immediately rise.

"She said she wants to apologize to me and Kenzie. I told her not to come over, but I think she's going to anyway. You know Jade." She sighs.

"That girl is something else." I shake my head.

Skylar sets her phone down and rests her head on the counter, looking off into space, a sad expression on her face.

"If you want, I can keep her from coming in," I say as I sit next to Skylar and rub her back.

"Heaven and earth couldn't keep Jade Tate from barging back into my life." She mumbles.

I sigh because deep down, I know she's right. Jade is a permanent fixture in Skylar's life, whether I like it or not. For a moment, we sit in silence.

"I almost did it, you know... I almost took her back. I almost just said fuck it and put myself back in that awful situation." Skylar says.

"What stopped you?" I ask.

"Kenzie... I don't want to end up trapped in a miserable relationship like Kenzie was. I know I still love Jade, but I also know if we got back together, I'd spend the rest of my life wishing I was somewhere else."

"Where? Where would you wish you could be?"

"I'd wish I were with someone who saw me, paid attention to me. Didn't blow me off every chance she got. Someone who would hold me without needing a reason why. Someone who can just stare into my eyes all day and enjoy the silence together. Sometimes I wonder if someone even exists for me."

"Maybe if you stopped looking back at Jade and started living your life for you, you might find that someone. And they might be closer than you think." I suggest.

She sits up and looks at me, a sad, pain-filled expression on her face.

I grab her hands in mine and squeeze before leaning in closer to her.