He Forgot My Birthday for Her Anniversary Again Chapter 04
Skyler grabbed it, took a couple sips.
“Wow, this is amazing. Here, babe, try it.”
She turned the straw she’d been drinking from toward Brady.
He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t look uncomfortable.
He just lowered his head and took a small sip. “Not bad.”
I saw it. My fingers curled tight.
I’d imagined how close they were. Told myself seeing it wouldn’t hurt.
But it did. Like a needle straight through my chest.
“Paige, me and Brady grew up like this. We don’t have boundaries. Hope you don’t mind.”
Skyler smiled wide, all innocent little girl.
But I caught the glint in her eyes. Quick. Sharp.
“He’s told me he sees you as a sister,” I said, calm as still water. “I don’t mind.”
Her smile flickered, went stiff for a second.
“Yeah. If something were going on between us, he wouldn’t be with you, right?”
The first time Brady told me Skyler was “like a sister” was her second month in town.
She said she was scared of the thunder—living alone, wanted him to come keep her company.
I tried to stop him. Blocked the door as he was changing his shoes.
“You’re a man, she’s a woman. Nothing good happens alone at night. Don’t go.”
I’m scared of thunder too. I used to burrow into his arms every storm. That’s where I felt safe.
But that night, wind howling, thunder crashing, one call from Skyler and he pushed me out of his embrace.
After I said what I said, his eyes went cold.
His voice went cold too, like I was a stranger.
“Skyler’s like a sister. If you’re twisting that into something else, that’s your problem. Paige, stop. She needs me.”
The second time: I had a stomach virus. He promised to take me to the hospital.
On the way, Skyler twisted her ankle coming down the stairs.
He didn’t hesitate. Told the driver to turn around.
I was sweating from pain. He didn’t see it.
I was crying. He didn’t hear it.
I said, “Is Skyler your girlfriend or something? You sure care about her.”
Brady got angry. His eyes flashed.
“What the hell is wrong with you? She’s my sister! She’s alone out here—if something happens to her, how can I ignore it? Stop making up problems!”
At the BBQ place, Brady didn’t argue with Skyler.
He just quietly picked the spicy bits out of her dipping sauce.
I barely ate.
Skyler, though? She ate like a queen, under his doting watch.
Kevin worked fast. The next day he found me a place I liked.
Good condition, fully furnished. Move-in ready.
So on the last day of the lease, I called the movers, just like he recommended.
Brenda saw me carrying out only my things.
She sent Brady a text: [Your lease ends today. Please vacate on time. Thank you for your cooperation.]
I calculated how long I’d lived there, split the rent evenly, and sent my half to Brady via Venmo.
Everything packed, I got into the moving truck.
When we reached the intersection across from the old complex, my phone rang. Brady.
I didn’t pick up.
Then a voice message. Urgent. Strained.
“Paige, why aren’t you answering? We talked about renewing for another year, then buying the place from Brenda. Why is she telling me to move out?”
