Free Jilted by Eve Vaughn

between her classes while Jeremy had been there. The teenager was quite smitten with the doctor and had gone on and on about how hot he was. “Well, I am excited. You never go out unless you’re doing something with the children or you have some work-related thing to attend. You work so hard and you deserve to enjoy yourself. Besides, it helps having a handsome escort.”
    “Sounds like someone has a crush,” Skylar teased.
    “I just appreciate a good-looking man when I see one. Besides, even if I was interested in Dr. McHottie in a romantic way, I wouldn’t stand a chance. He only has eyes for you. And Skylar?” Izzy rested her chin on Skylar’s shoulder and looked at her through the mirror.
    “Yeah, hon?”
    “I’m really happy to see you getting back on the dating scene. I mean after what happened with Ash—, well you know who, it’s just good to see you putting yourself out there again.”
    “Thanks Izzy. And I won’t fall apart at the mention of Ashley’s name. Yes, it took me a while to get over what he did and I still get a little angry when I think about it but without him, I wouldn’t have my beautiful babies and for that I will forever be grateful. I don’t know what’s going to happen between me and Jeremy but I do like him. And depending on how well things go tonight, maybe our friendship will lead to something more.”
    Izzy grinned. “That’s the spirit.”
    “I’d better go downstairs and wait for Jeremy. He should be here any minute.”
    When Skylar entered the living room, the kids were all in their pajamas watching their favorite cartoon movie. Her mother sat in between them. She was the first to notice Skylar enter the room. “Oh my, don’t you look gorgeous.” Priscilla beamed as she stood up. “Do a little twirl so we can get the full effect.”
    Skylar spun around.
    “You look pretty, Mommy,” Tristan complimented her.
    “Yes, really pretty.” Finn agreed.
    Skylar smiled at her boys. “Thank you, babies. What do you think, Harper?” She asked of her daughter who looked at her with wide-eyed wonder.
    The little girl slid off the couch and walked over to her. “You look like a princess, Mommy.”
    Tears sprang to Skylar’s eyes. “Are you three trying to ruin my make-up? You’re going to make me cry.”
    “Well you really do look like a million bucks,” Izzy added.
    “Yep, you guys are definitely going to make me cry.” Skylar dabbed the moisture from the corner of her eyes.
    Just then the doorbell rang.
    “There’s my date.” Skylar headed toward the hallway to answer the door, but Izzy halted her.
    “No. You have to make a dramatic entrance when he catches his first glimpse of you. Go upstairs and wait for me to call you down.”
    Skylar rolled her eyes. “You’re being dramatic, Izzy.”
    “That’s how it’d done in all the movies. Come on. Mom, back me up here,” Izzy whined.
    “Well, it’s kind of silly to make her go all the way back upstairs. Maybe you can just go into the kitchen and then walk into the room.”
    “Et tu, Mom?” Skylar threw her hands up in the air.
    “Aww, come on honey. This is your first date in a very long time, let us have our fun. But hold up while I grab my phone. I want to get a picture.”
    Skylar groaned. If she would have known her family would make such a big production out of her date she would have met Jeremy at the function. But seeing how excited they were for her, she couldn’t begrudge them this moment. This date was just as much for them as it was for her. It was proof that her life was once again intact and that Ashley Hollingsworth might have left her temporarily broken, but she’d come out stronger from the ordeal. Now she was ready to finally take the plunge into possibly starting a new relationship.
    Though she and Jeremy had gone out for lunch and coffee a handful of times she’d always considered them casual meet-ups with a friend. But this was something different. Skylar headed to the kitchen while