Naked Edge (7 page)

“A student?” His wide eyes are full of censure in the rearview mirror.

“Not one of mine, asshole.”

“You’re a teacher?” Skylar’s voice is about half an octave higher than normal. “Wow. I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be. It’s just part-time and it’s only for the summer semester. It’s not like I’m a professor or anything. All you need to teach at Front Range is an associate degree.” I’ve never been ashamed of my two-year degree…until now. All my housemates, except Wade, who’ll go to med school when he graduates, are working on advanced degrees. Derek’s in his final year of law school and Anna is working on her MBA.
 

“Don’t disrespect Front Range.” Skylar’s tone of voice is pleasant, but there’s an edge to it. “If I didn’t have a scholarship to CU, that’s where I’d go.”

“You have a scholarship?” Wade segues into the change of topic easily. If I weren’t so pissed at him for being with Skylar, I’d be grateful. The fact that Skylar seems proud of my two year degree gives me a strange sense of satisfaction. And that worries me.

Wade pulls into Boone’s driveway just as Sky finishes her story about her great-grandfather donating his entire fortune to CU in exchange for a tuition waiver for all of his direct descendants. I’ve heard it before. Boone gets the same deal. Lucky bastard.

Wade cuts the engine. “Forever?”

“Yep.”

“So if you and I got married, all our kids and grandkids could go to CU for free?”

“One date and you’re already talking about marriage?” This time I give in to my urge to smack the back of his head. “Idiot.”

Skylar laughs. “We weren’t on a date.”

“Can I at least walk you to the door?”

“That’s not necessary.” No way in hell am I letting him steal a kiss from her. “I’m spending the night. No point in both of us walking her to the door.”

“What?” Sky and Wade speak at the same time.

The sane part of my brain agrees with their obvious shock and disapproval. But the stupid part argues that there’s a valid reason for me to stay. “If you won’t go to the hospital, at least you’ll have a paramedic in the house.”

Wade says, “I want to check on Boone,” and follows us into the house.
 

I’m appalled by the amount of dust in the air. Boone’s really let the place go since Will and Lori died.

He’s sitting in Will’s old recliner watching a movie. He fumbles with the remote then mutes the sound. “What’s going on?”

I point at Skylar. “Your stubborn cousin had two asthma attacks tonight and refuses to go to the ER.”

Boone frowns at her. “When did you get asthma?”

Her shoulders slump as she sighs. “After we moved to New Orleans.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t ask?” She laughs then frowns when no one else thinks it’s funny. “I didn’t want you to get all weird about it. I have it under control—most of the time. And you never would have taken me climbing if you’d known.”

“Damn straight.” Boone’s expression shifts from concern to anger. “I can’t believe you did that to me. What if you’d had an attack on the wall?”

“I felt fine this morning.”

“What changed?”
 

Skylar bites her lip then mumbles. “I’m out of Advair.”
 

Advair is a daily medication. You’re supposed to use it every day, whether you have symptoms or not. I struggle to keep the frustration out of my voice. “When was your last dose?”

“Can we discuss my medical irresponsibility later? I’m really tired.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Wade says, “Give me your prescription. I’ll go get it refilled for you.”
 

I’d forgotten that he was here.
 

“I can’t get it refilled yet.”

“Why not?” Wade’s never had to worry about money.

I lean in close and whisper, “I’ll loan you the money, okay?”
 

She shakes her head.

“You could die, Skylar.”

“I’m fine.”
 

“Repeating that over and over won’t make it true. Now either hand over your prescription or let me drive you to the ER.”

“Fine.” She pulls the scrip out of her purse and shoves it at me. “But I’m paying you back.”
 

“I understand.”

Wade grabs it out of my hand. “You stay here and keep an eye on her. I’ll take care of this.”

“Wade, no.” Skylar tries to reclaim her prescription, but Wade keeps it out of reach.

“My money’s just as good as his.”

“I’m still paying you back.”

“No need.” Wade shrugs his shoulders. “You can buy me lunch or something if it makes you happy.”

I know he’s not trying to brag about his wealth. Wade’s not like that. He just takes it for granted. But it still pisses me off.
 

Skylar’s expression softens when she turns to me. “I hate to ask, but could you help me put my allergy-proof mattress pad on my bed? If I stir up the dust mites, it could trigger another attack.”

“Sit down.” I point at the couch. “I’ll go take care of it.”

Instead of following my advice to sit down and rest, Skylar follows me into her bedroom.

I avert my gaze from her open suitcase. But not before I catch a glimpse of her underwear. When we were teens, she always wore boy-shorts and sports bras. Not thongs and see-through bits of lace. I can’t help but wonder what—or who—prompted the wardrobe change. I know it’s none of my business and I have no right to feel jealous, but I can’t help it. Damn. I need to stay focused on the task.
 

Skylar’s body brushes against mine as she dashes past me.
 

My dick springs to life. Great. I adjust myself while she’s not looking. Why couldn’t it respond earlier at Cherri’s when it would’ve done some good?

The back of Sky’s neck turns red as she digs through her suitcase, rearranging things to hide the more interesting articles of clothing. She hands me the zippered mattress pad then closes her suitcase and shoves it in the closet. “I’m going to go take a shower. If that’s okay?”

“Just not too hot. Steam can help, but it can also trigger another attack. And leave the bathroom door unlocked.”

Her lips part as her eyes widen.

“I’m a paramedic, not a pervert.” That would have been more convincing if she hadn’t already caught me staring at her underwear. “I won’t come in unless it’s an emergency.”
 

“Okay.” She clutches a small bundle of clothes to her chest as she backs out of the room.

I try not to picture her in the shower, soaped up and slippery, water cascading down her back as I change the mattress pad and remake her bed with what I hope are clean sheets. I finish before she does and sit on her bed to wait.
 

The sound of gravel crunching under tires announces Wade’s return. I get up and intercept him on the front porch. I reach for the sack in his hands. “Thanks. I’ve got it from here. See you tomorrow.”

Wade lowers his voice. “Look, man. I didn’t mean to intrude on your territory, but Boone said you and Skylar were over.”

“We are.” The Walgreens bag rustles in my clenched fist. What’s wrong with me? I don’t want Skylar. So why does the thought of her being with Wade twist my gut into knots? It must be some weird nostalgic reaction.

Wade’s a nerd, but he’s a good guy with a bright future and no baggage. He’d be perfect for Skylar. I need to back off.

“So…” Wade rubs the back of his neck. “What about Cherri?”

“What about her?”

“You care if I ask her out?”

“Hell no. Go for it.” I slap him on the back. “You want her number?”

A sheepish grin spreads across Wade’s face. “She already gave it to me.”

I slip into a t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants instead of my regular pajamas, which don’t cover nearly enough skin. I’m tempted to put on a little mascara and lip gloss, but Rowdy’s in full paramedic mode. He’s not interested in anything other than my health.
 

My heart skips a beat when I find him sitting on my bed. He’s rubbing his eyes so he doesn’t see me. I take the opportunity to study him. He was always attractive, even during those awkward pre-teen years, but he’s absolutely gorgeous now.
 

He looks up and smiles at me with the same boyish charm he’s always possessed. It lights up the entire room. “Feeling better?”

I nod. “Much.”

He stands up and hands me a white paper bag. “Here’s your prescription.”

“Where’s the receipt?” I can tell by the two tiny tears near the top that it was stapled to the bag.

He shrugs.
 

“Did you take it or did Wade?”

“Does it matter?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “It’s bad enough that I can’t pay for my own meds. I need to know how much money I owe Wade.”

“Believe me, he’ll never miss it.”

“I’m not taking a single dose until I have the receipt.”

Rowdy sighs then pulls it out of his pocket.
 

I cringe when I see the amount. I knew it would be expensive without insurance but I had no idea it would be over a hundred dollars.
 

“Breathe, Skylar.” Rowdy puts his hands on my shoulders and guides me to the bed.
 

 
“How am I going to afford this every month?”

“Don’t worry about that right now.” He kneels in front of me and gazes into my eyes. “There’re lots of resources in Boulder County. I’ll help you figure it out. Okay?”

“Okay.” I hope he’s right. I took a year off after high school to take care of Mom. I’d hate to postpone college for another year, but I will if I have to. If I work full time and save everything I make, after paying for food and rent, maybe I’ll be able to start next spring.

Rowdy taps the bag with his forefinger. “Now take your meds.”

“Yes, sir.” I roll my eyes then follow his orders. I always hated inhaling the dry powder even before I knew how expensive it was. I suck it in and hold my breath as long as possible, then cough as I exhale. “I have to go rinse out my mouth.”

When I return, Rowdy’s sitting on my bed again. I wonder if he has any idea the sort of fantasies that inspires.

He stands up then pulls down the covers.
 

I can’t help the nervous giggle that escapes. “Are you tucking me in?”

His cheeks flush. It’s absolutely adorable.

“Get in bed, Skylar.” He’s back in full paramedic mode.

I try to cover my frustration with sarcasm. “Are you going to read me a story, too?”

“Do you want me to?” He flashes his panty-dropping, crooked grin.
 

“Don’t do that.”

The smile falls off his face. “Don’t do what?”

“Use that fake, sexy smile on me.”

His lips part in the familiar, natural smile that’s always warmed my heart. Unfortunately, it’s warming other parts of me, too.

“You think my smile’s sexy.”
 

Damn. “Not the one you’ve perfected by looking in the mirror. That might work on your bimbos, but it won’t work on me.”

His face slides into neutral.
 

This must be his professional face. The one he uses with regular patients. I don’t like it. I prefer his angry face. The one he uses on ‘stubborn and stupid’ patients, like me.
 

“I didn’t realize my smile was offensive. I’ll work on it.”

I sigh before I can stop myself. “It’s not offensive. It’s just not…you.”

“Don’t pretend you know who I am.” His voice is quiet but it’s hard and sharp. It cuts me to the bone.

I roll onto my side, towards the wall. I don’t want him to see how easily, or deeply, he affects me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” The mattress dips as he sits on the edge of my bed. He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze then jerks his hand away as if touching me was painful. “I’ll be in Boone’s room if you need me.”

“I won’t.”
 

Skylar knows damn well that I was referring to her physical health when I said I was here if she needed me. Her ‘I won’t’ response is so full of spite it fills the room with hostility. The bed springs creak when I stand up.
 

“Rowdy, wait.”
 

I freeze in her doorway, one hand braced against the frame. I should run and never look back. I’ve been with her for less than an hour and already she’s eating through my ironclad defenses like acid. Skylar devastated me last time. I won’t survive if she does it again. I need to leave but my feet are nailed to the floor.

“Do you remember the first time we kissed?”

What the fuck?
Skylar’s question blasts a hole through my chest, shattering the last of my defenses.

“Yeah.”
As if it were yesterday.
I was fourteen, skinny, awkward and terrified. She was thirteen and sporting braces, a lopsided ponytail and a sunburned nose. I remember the feeling of vertigo as I tried to decide whether or not to risk six years of friendship for something more. We’d climbed The Naked Edge earlier that day and it wasn’t nearly as scary as teetering on that precipice of indecision. “What about it?”

“I think about it a lot.” Her voice is so quiet it’s barely above a whisper, but her words are like a battering ram.
 

Why is she bringing up all this old shit? What kind of game is this? I need to get out of here but if I leave without answering her, I might as well hand her my balls. I turn around and face her like a man. “I remember bumping noses, knocking teeth and cutting my mouth on your braces.”
 

Her shoulders slump. She drops her gaze to her hands.

Great. Only a dick would leave after a hateful remark like that.

“Was it the first time you’d ever kissed anyone?”
 

I try to make up for my chicken shit answer with pure truth. “I had all my firsts with you, Sky.”
 

She looks up. Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears but she doesn’t look quite as miserable now.

I tap the tips of my fingers on her wall. Once, twice, then fist my hand to make it stop. “I should leave and let you get some rest.”