Free Rival Hearts (Rival Love #2) by Natalie Decker Page B

following me with his luggage.
    My plans to spend as much of my time alone with Skylar as possible just flew straight out the window and splatted on the cement out there. “I take it you’re staying with me?”
    My uncle lifts his brow. “Is that going to be a problem? Were you planning on having a certain someone stay with you?”
    “What? No.” My voice is not all nonchalant like I want it to be. Pretty sure my uncle knows this, too.
    “How long?”
    I throw my hands up. “Not this again!”
    “Yes, this again! How long?”
    Screw it. I’m telling him. “How long have I liked her? Way before homecoming.” Actually, I think it’s when she Saran-Wrapped my car that I actually started liking her. But we didn’t do anything—I mean, we kissed, but nothing else—after the championship. I stare at him, waiting for a response. He doesn’t give me one so I keep going. “I like her a lot. No, that’s not right. I love her. There, you happy? I want her to come back home. She needs to come back home.”
    I slump into the chair in the corner and hide my face in my hands.
    “Erin owes me twenty bucks.” I look up, confused, because his voice is awfully chipper. “Caleb, I’m happy for you. For you both, actually. It’s going to be a little awkward and I know this isn’t ideal stuff, but it’s not wrong or sick. But if you two decide to continue this relationship and she does come back with us, there are going to be some rules. A lot of rules.”
    “So you aren’t mad at us?”
    “Should I be?” His eyes narrow.
    I shake my head.
    He nods.
    Now that my uncle knows, Erin is sure to find out. Where would that leave Skylar and me? She doesn’t want them to know, and I just spilled it. Damn it! I’m an idiot. She won’t come back now. I’ve lost her.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    “Are you two ready?” Erin asks as Uncle Brian and I head out of the hotel room.
    “You look beautiful, Erin,” Uncle Bri says.
    She blushes and slaps his arm. “Thank you.”
    I shake my head and step into the elevator. It feels like ten years pass before the doors open. The lobby is filled with people coming and going, but my sights land right on Sky sitting in a chair, blowing a piece of hair off her face.
    I look back at my uncle and Erin, who aren’t paying attention to anyone but each other. That’s a good thing. I return my attention to Skylar, who is still looking bored, her stare glued to either her lap or the floor. Either way, I don’t care.
    Carefully, I sneak up to her. I gently pull the necklace I bought her from the box and unhook the chain.
    “Whatever you plan on doing, you shouldn’t. I’ll kick you then I’ll kiss you,” she says without lifting her head.
    “How did you know it was me? And I’m still going to do something, but I don’t want to get kicked.” She lifts her head and I say, “Ah-ah. None of that. Close your eyes.”
    I glance at her and she complies. My hands shake a little as I slip the necklace around her neck. Dropping my lips near her ear, I whisper, “Merry Christmas, Sky.”
    I kiss her cheek and watch her. Her hand touches the charm and then she looks at me. “Caleb, I love it.” She swings her arms around my neck and kisses me. “I got you something, too.”
    “You did?”
    She elbows me. “Yes, silly. But you can’t have it until later.”
    That probably won’t happen as soon she finds out what I’ve done. I cringe at the thought of losing her for good. But I need to tell her. “I did something.”
    “Did something?” Sky asks.
    I nod. “I told my uncle.”
    She nods. “So?”
    I face her. “You aren’t mad?”
    Sky stares at me then the ground. “No, I’m not. I just … I don’t know.”
    “Hey, don’t worry about how this will work if you want to stay here. And don’t worry about how things will be if you come back. Just take it one day at a time. Okay?”
    “Okay.”
    I take her hand and won’t let it go until she makes me. Because she has me. Whether she