Attention What If

Chapter 68

POV: Skylar

"Geez, I thought you'd never get off work," Vida complains as I finally walk out of the rec center.

I caught her waiting for me about half an hour ago and decided folding that extra load of towels suddenly didn't seem that bad. I tried to wait her out, but she is as determined as ever. Sigh.

"The towel lords are relentless," I say.

She laughs.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Well, I thought we could hang out today. I'm off work. We haven't hung out in a while." She says.

"Yours or mine?" I ask.

"Come over, I want to show you the new rug I bought." She tugs my arm.

Sounds like a dangerous situation.

After Darleen dumped me and after all that Jade drama, I found myself alone. I tried hard not to lean on Vida, but... things got complicated there for a second. I may have slipped up once, or twice, okay, maybe it was three times. Regardless! I sat down and had a talk with her once she asked me to be her girlfriend again. We agreed to just stay friends only, no more benefits, since it only got in the way of everything. Then I started pushing her away again and focusing on track.

I haven't been to her apartment since my last slip.

We always end up slipping at her apartment.

I should have just asked her to come over to mine instead.

"Fine, but no weed. I have to stay clean for track." I relent.

"Relax, I know how important track is to you." She rolls her eyes.

I drive to her apartment, and she lets me up.

"You can change into something of mine to get out of your work uniform if you want." She offers.

"Nah, I'm okay. Have any pizza?" I walk to her kitchen.

"Yeah, in the freezer. Oh, throw in some of those pizza bites too." She says.

"K," I take the frozen pizza down.

We are silent for a moment.

"How's Gina?" I ask.

At the same time, Vida asks, "Why are you hanging out with Darleen and Kenzie all of a sudden?"

I cringe but don't turn to her.

We are silent again.

I turn the oven on and take out all the pans she stores inside.

"Answer me," she demands.

"Am I not allowed to hang out with them?" I try to keep my tone neutral.

"Well, no... but..." she trails off.

I slide the frozen pizza in and toss some of those frozen pizza bites in the air fryer.

"How's Gina?" I turn to face her.

She frowns at me.

"What?"

"Why are you so insistent that I give this girl a chance?" she crosses her arms.

I avert my gaze.

"What's going on with you lately?" she asks.

I don't want to hurt her.

I wish I didn't have to hurt anyone.

"Come on, let's watch a movie or something," I walk to the living room.