This Could Be Us (Skyland, #2)

by Kennedy Ryan

“Aaron,” Judah says, his voice firm but gentle, “inside, please.” “Bye, Aaron.” I wave, grinning even though he hasn’t cracked a smile. “Bye,” Aaron answers, turning to walk inside, leaving Judah and me on the porch alone.

Aww he likes talking to her!

When I ordered it, I didn’t expect you to personally deliver it.” “You knew I was making the basket?” “Of course. That’s why I ordered it.” One side of his mouth skews into a wry grin. “I’ve actually never had focaccia, but I figured if you were making it, it would be good.”

“What was your instinct about me?” The words barged right out of my mouth without my permission, and I drop my gaze to the wide wooden planks of his porch. I didn’t mean to say that. I shouldn’t have said that. “What I mean is—” “Oh, I liked you a lot right away,” he answers, his voice dipping to a low rumble. “I still do.”

“Well, I had the brilliant idea—” “Jury’s out on ‘brilliant,’” I interject. “The brilliant idea,” Yasmen continues,

Hendrix laughs. “That shit is not for me.” “You really don’t want kids ever?” Yasmen asks. “I would have kids, if my love language was drudgery,”

And what am I doing?’ Lurking on Soledad’s socials hoping for a glimpse of what she’s doing right now. “I know what she’s not doing,” I mutter, navigating to her profile. “Having coffee with you.”

Like it belongs to the teenage boy I’m apparently reverting to, my heart beats heavily when I see the notification that she’s live right now. She’s tagged the post Get Ready with Me. I click on it and lean back in my chair to see what she’s up to today. “So,” she says to the camera, pretty face clear and fresh looking. “Help me choose what to wear on my anniversary date.” What the hell?

Aren’t they divorced? Is she visiting Edward in prison for their anniversary? Is it a conjugal visit? It can’t be. Only five states still allow those, and Georgia isn’t one of them. I know. I googled it when Edward was sentenced.

What gexmvkjgr T.T

She holds up the two dresses again, one black and slinky and the other red and equally slinky. Both would look fantastic on her, but I want to see her in the black.

He's so engaged lol

She grins and holds both dresses out. “Which should I choose?” she asks. “Let me know in the comments, red or black.” “The black,” I mutter, still mentally turning over everything she said. I never comment on her posts, of course, but I’m pulling for the black.

“It’s just you?” he asks with a quick frown. “The reservation was for two?” “Oh, yes. Sorry. My husband is… well, not my husband anymore. It’s just me.” He considers me with what looks like sympathy. “I’m sorry.” “Oh, believe me. I’m not.” “Good for you,” he says, a grin cracking the careful veneer of professionalism. “I’ll take this, then.”

I snap a quick selfie of me and my one table setting and type out a caption. Meeting myself! And I went with the red!

Judah just fell to his knees somewhere XD

“I’m only staying twenty minutes, and that’s for the boys.”

He's gonna be there til closing

“If you go,” Tremaine whispers to me, “you know they’ll do it.” “You didn’t say anything about riding a pickup truck through the woods.” “Woods? Judah, I see the parking lot of Walmart from here.

“This is the hottest date in Skyland tonight,” Yasmen says. “It’s the hottest,” Josiah says, grabbing her from behind, “because you’re here.”

Babies! T.T

“I want to keep you interested, Mrs. Wade.” His smile is loving, and his eyes never leave her face, as if they’re alone.

“Thank you,” I answer. “Didn’t expect to see you away from Grits on a Saturday night.” “The manager’s got it,” he says. “Though it was definitely busy. The kitchen is slammed. I’m going back. I just had to see my girl.” “Oh, because it’s been so long since we saw each other.” Yasmen laughs. “A whole six hours.” “I missed you,” he whispers, kissing her cheek.

Oh what's-her-face didn't stand a chance. Seriously though, I forgot her name. Pretty sure it started with a V. Goes to show, she stood less than a chance

Josiah kisses Yasmen goodbye. They’re a fairy tale. Divorced and remarried, they are couple goals for so many. There is no reunion with Edward in my future, but these two were meant to be.

For lifeeee

“I would have done it for free, Mom.” She grins mischievously. “But I’m glad I don’t have to.”

They're such sweet kids, even in strife. Know who wasn't? Deja.

And after all the shit Edward put me through, safe is the new sexy.

but my attention is continually drawn to the quiet man eating his food, only occasionally acknowledging the diners around him.

Waaait he's with a lot of people in really close proximity according to last page's description T.T he's probably overstimulated

“You’re coming home with me,” I tell the merlot. “Lucky bottle.” I swing around, and at the sight of Judah,

He's so smooth. I'm shook. Heck yeah dude

“I don’t know her. I didn’t come for her.” One long finger lifts my chin, and the sincerity in his eyes reaches through my chest and squeezes my heart. “I came for you, Sol.” “Oh. Okay.” It’s all I can manage.

“I saw you talking about starting a book club and thought…” A smile that mocks himself comes and goes, briefly softening the stern lines of his face. “It’s kind of silly now that—”

“I want to read more. We haven’t even chosen our first book yet.” I bite into a smile and tease him through my lashes. “And have you been stalking my socials?” “I can’t seem to stop.” Our smiles fade together as his words drift down between us, soft and so revealing.

“And I keep asking myself: Why can’t I stop watching this woman restock her refrigerator?” He shakes his head with a smile that’s not quite comfortable. “Or wash her sheets? Or organize the cabinet under her sink?” A laugh bolts out of me at the unexpected comment. “That’s ASMR.” “What the hell is ASMR?”

“I was rooting for the black dress,” he says, his eyes never leaving my face. “But you looked so good in the red.” “Th-thank you. It turned out to be a great night.” “You have a way of doing that, taking shitty things and making them turn out great.”

(I just realized months later that, while he probably didn’t mean to, he just insulted her dress 😂)

“I guess I wanted to let you know that when you are ready to spend time with someone else,” he says, “I’d like to be someone.” “You are very much already someone, Judah,” I whisper, and press the bookmark to my lips. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You did good too.” She puts her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry I came at you like that.

DEJA WADE WOULD NEVERRRR

“My mom is a general. Cleaning is war,” Lupe says. “And we’re her soldiers.” “Not exactly how I would put it, but close enough.”

“Deidre, who owns that bookstore—” “Stacks?” “Yup. She brings me books.” Cora rolls her eyes but manages a smile. “Like every week. She was bringing me romance novels, but I told her I like nonfiction better. So Deidre brought me some, and that one interested me.”

Deidre is so sweet. She really loves her community. What's her story?

“Bye, Mrs. Barnes,” Lindee calls from the porch. “It’s Charles now,” Lupe corrects. “That’s her maiden name.” I stare at my daughter because, if I’m not mistaken, there’s a touch of pride in her voice.

Lupe is so real. Mommy's girl

I smile because that’s as close as I ever come to flirting, and I think I did okay.

Dude is literally a /fantastic/ flirter. It's so effortless and smooth

“ComeHithah2004, did you say, ‘add a pole’?” I laugh. “Like for pole dancing?” I glance over to the space where Edward’s pool table sat before I butchered it with my machete. “Pole dancing, huh? Now there’s a thought.” I turn to the camera and give them a little half-hearted, full-assed twerk. “I’ll think about it.”

Judah nearly went into cardiac arrest somewhere

Soledad hermosa. Beautiful solitude.

My dreams aren’t haunted by the past or all the cruel things he did to me. I dream about a bright future of my own making.

“Where’s Dad?” “On my nerves.

“That Puerto Rican lady, Soledad something,” Mama mutters, brow furrowing, possibly with the effort to recall more. “Pretty. Smart. Your dad loves to watch her.” “Must run in the family,” I mumble.

“I like her a lot,” I reply quietly, not embarrassed by my feelings for Soledad, but also not wanting to pull them out for someone else to poke at and examine.

I knew those heathens were too quiet. Now I have to cut gum out of this child’s hair.”

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” —bell hooks, All About Love: New Visions

A week of meals in exchange for a Sunny Side gift card. If she’d given me cash, I would have found something for the family to spend it on. This time alone is a discipline I invest in, so each Sunday I use her gift card with its dwindling balance to meet myself here.

This is smart...now specific, reloadable gift cards to your favorite places for presents is an idea

“Maybe she’s finally breaking her silence through snail mail,” I say, sliding a nail under the envelope flap, “to let me know what a deceiving, backstabbing bitch I…” A check flutters from the envelope and onto the counter. “Five thousand dollars!” I stare at the check like it fell from space,

how little contact I’ve had with Edward’s mother. The memo line on this extraterrestrial check reads Tuition for the girls. There’s no note. The check is simply wrapped in her monogrammed stationery. Relief and reluctance

Girl, this is a trap. MOST of the money was recovered. They're trying to pull you into this under the guise of providing for the girls. Do not cash that check.

This money is right on time, but I hate that it comes from Oneida. I can’t help but wonder what she wants in return.

You behind bars with her son, that's what!

“‘Evidence’”—she says the word as if it’s a tenet of a conspiracy theory—“that you magically produced to save yourself and your house and your car and all your designer dresses. And then to abandon him in his hour of need.”

Soledad, if you can hear me beyond these digital pages, Do not. Cash. That check.

“And to see my granddaughters every once in a while. Even if it’s only Lupe.”

End dial tone would be heard.

“You look good,” he says. “You always do.” “Thanks.” I clasp my hands behind me, gripping my purse to keep from reaching for him again. That simple mingling of our fingers was better than a kiss in some ways, and I want to hold on to it. “I assume you didn’t bring me back here to compliment my outfit.” “No, I brought you back here because you weren’t even going to speak to me.” One side of his mouth quirks up. “It defeats the purpose of me arranging ways to see you if I don’t actually get to see you.”

Sol?”

Aw use of nickname debut