"A boat, seriously?" I stared at the large yacht with dread. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"You're not even on it yet." Anthony rolled his eyes as he grabbed my hand in his and stared pulling me forward.

"I get sea sick." I informed him in all seriousness. "And that's me just watching a movie about boats, just imagine."

"Babe, trust me I don't want to imagine."

The boat was docked at present but I was warned it would float out further into the harbour to give the gathering of people some privacy - and to prevent any noise complaints.

We stopped at the end of the dock, Anthony turned to face me with pleading eyes. "This is our friends and family, please do me a favour and pretend you don't hate me for rest of the night."

"As long as you don't act like a giant ass we're good." I smiled at him.

So he can act like an ass, or a small ass?

I frowned in all seriousness. No, not what I meant.

How do even determine the size of such an ass? You can't exactly grab a personality.

"Sky." Anthony craved my attention once more.

I blinked rapidly as my checks flushed red. "Sorry."

"Can we keep that to a minimum as well?" He was all but begging me.

Sorry buddy there is no off button in this mind. We're automatic.

I sucked on my bottom lip as I nodded my head. "I'll try."

"That's all I ask."

Walking onto the boat we were both soon bombarded with people - most of them acquaintances and friends of the Renner family. Gifts and well wishes were passed between us and I was a little stunned and shocked. My social anxiety was building and building.

"Sky," Anthony snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me to side just to stead myself. "You holding up?" He whispered.

"A little claustrophobic." I took shaky breath.

Anthony frowned a little confused. "We're standing outside, on a boat."

"And your point is?" I looked at him with wide, meaningful eyes. You could still get claustrophobic outside, especially if you were around a whole bunch of people.

"Anthony sweet heart!" Sandra beamed at her son as she rushed towards us. She embraced Anthony in a tight hug before she did the same to me. "Sky, honey you look gorgeous, that colour really suits you."

"Thanks." I all but sang at the compliment.

"Son." Anthony's father nodded in his direction.

"Dad."

Anthony's father quickly turned his attention to me. I grinned like the joker in Batman and looked around nervously.

Is he judging me? I think he's judging me!

Quick. Take a few side steps, hid behind the oddly shaped fake pot plant and then, when the coast is clear, jump of the boat and swim to Hawaii.

Hawaii? Why so far?

What's the closest island?

I don't know I failed geography!

Do you think the boat would have a map?

A sharp nudge in my shoulder had coming back to reality.

"Huh? Sorry what?"

"She does that." Anthony rolled his eyes and took a drink off the waiter and passed one to me, before grabbing one for himself.

Anthony's father chuckled lightly before he held out his hand for me to shake. "Elliot Renner. It's nice to properly met you Skylar."

I smiled and opened my mouth to speak as I held out my left hand. "You too."

Elliot pressed his lips together in an attempt to supress a smiled. Looking down with confusion I saw I had offered him the wrong hand. "Whops sorry, wrong hand." I quickly swapped my hands over after quickly whipping my hand on my dress so that it wasn't wet from the glass.

He chuckled again. "An interesting addition to the family."

I feel like I should be offended, but yet I'm strangely not.

"Oh we have a present for you both." Sandra held out an envelope.

I took the envelope from her and opened it - basically ripping it in two as I struggled.

"What is it?" Anthony leaned over to get a look at it.

"Plane tickets." I handed one to him and then focused on the other voucher that was in with the two plane tickets to the Bahamas.

"What's that?" He took it off my hands and read it out loud. "Couples Retreat?"

"Excuse me?"

"Here." He gave it to me so I can I look at the voucher. Sure enough, it was a voucher with a picture of the island and the large words 'Couples Retreat: reconnect with your partner.' "Why?"

"Shut up and be grateful." Sandra scolded Anthony with a small disapproving glare.

"It will be good for you both." Elliot smiled as he grabbed his wife's hand and interlaced his fingers. "Have a good night you two."

Elliot and Sandra both left us to the crowed of people.

Billy, Bob, and Katniss Everdeen were the only names I could remember - although I am almost certain they weren't real and were the effects of the extremely strong champagne but you never knew.

"Mr Renner." A woman approached us.

"Cami," he smiled as he walked up to her and smiled brightly at her. "Cami, Met Sky. Sky, Met Cami."

"Hi." I smiled a little at her.

She was tall - Much taller than an average woman and with her small heels she was basically the same height as Anthony. She had little shape with blond hair tied back tightly and a bright pair or red glasses positioned nicely on her nose.

Damn she is pretty.

Everyone is better looking than you Sky.

Thanks for the peep talk. I sneered at myself.

"Cami is my new assistant. After the last one quit." Anthony continued. "She used to work for my father before - well, before she had to leave."

"Oh, congratulations." I smiled at her. What were you supposed to say?

"Thank you." She nodded.

"Cami, while you're here. She," Anthony pointed to me. "Is never allowed in my office and is to be dragged out of the building by security."

I narrowed my eyes at Anthony.

"Skylar." I turned hearing my name, leaving Anthony to talk to his new assistant. My father smiled at me.

"Dad." I beamed at him. It was nice to see someone safe and familiar in this chaos. "It's been a while since I've seen you."

"I've been busy." He looked down at his shoe. "H-How are you?" He stuttered.

I frowned a little at his entire stature and behaviour. "I'm fine. How are you? Are you feeling okay?"

"Good." He nodded but still didn't look up at me.

This isn't the man I remember. But, I suppose a lot has happened in the past few months.

"Sky!" Charlene rushed in, quickly giving me a small hug. "That dress is very nice, well done."

I don't think anyone trusts you to dress yourself.

"Thanks Charlene." I accepted her compliment.

"Jessie and that ex-neighbour of yours are around here somewhere, I made sure they were coming."

I blinked a little surprised. She went out of her way to make sure I had friends?

I think the better question is: You have friends?

"Have fun sweet heart." She smiled at me before turning around to give her attention to my father who was already looking at the side of the boat as if trying to see if he could jump it.

I smiled and met at least another fifty people whose names I will never remember again.

"Sky," A familiar voice called making me turn around. "Nice to see you again." Jordan smiled as he gave me a nod.

"Hi." I said a little loudly. "Oops, sorry that was loud."

Jordan chuckled as he stepped forward. "Just a little."

"Jordan!" Someone else called. Another two men were soon standing around me making me a little bit more uncomfortable. Each one was taller than me.

Why was everyone taller than me?!

"Ah so this is Ms Skylar Martin?" One of them asked me as he held out his hand to introduce himself. "I'm Fynn."

"Hi." I breathed out. It was a little difficult to feel any form of comfort with Fynn smiling at me, his eyes sharply examining me and ready to pass judgement. It also didn't help when the other man who was standing more off to the side was also looking at me with the same critical eyes.

Jordan stepped back to give me some space - not that he was the one who needed to be stepping back.

"I'm Charles." The other man said.

They both looked very similar, although any men dressed in a suit-looked relatively similar to me. They both had light brown hair, styled differently. Fynn had bright blue eyes that were very intense despite their light colouring and Charles eyes were an average brown - much like my own.

I turned to face Charles properly as I greeted his conversation.

I stepped to the side so that I was now facing the both of them and not just one at a time, it was then that I realised I still hadn't shaken Flynn's hand and instead left him hanging.

"Oh my god sorry." I quickly apologised as I finally shook his hand.

Charles began to laugh. "You should have just left him hanging, he's used to it."

Fynn leaned in towards me. "Watch out for that one, he is a compulsive liar." He whispered.

"And how do I know you're not the compulsive liar?" I smiled sweetly at him.

Fynn smirked. "Smart girl."

"She thinks so too." Anthony's voice tunned in as he walked towards me with another two of his 'friends' besides him, one of them being Jordan. "Sky, this Jordan Wilder and James Mathews. I see you've already met Fynn and Charles."

"It's nice to met you." I smiled, directing my sentiment towards James since I have already met the others.

"You too Sky." He smiled sweetly at me.

Fynn and Charles moved from my side and began talking to Anthony while James rolled his eyes and stepped forward.

"So are you excited about the wedding?" James asked me as he slipped his hands in his pockets.

"More nervous, but I think that's normal." I answered truthfully.

"It is, my wife was so nervous I think her brides maid dragged her down the isle." He chuckled fondly.

"How long have you been married?" I asked being nosey.

"Little over two years now."

"Any advice for someone about to get married?" I smiled a little nervously.

James bit his lip for a second as if contemplating what to say. "Don't expect too much. Things don't always work out straight away so you have to be patient."

"Sounds like wise advice." I nodded in acceptance.

"I have to borrow Sky for minute." Anthony reached out and grabbed my waist, pulling me back towards him and away from the earshot of any of his friends.

"You didn't say anything incriminating did you?"

"What?" I frowned a little confused.

"Only Jordan, your two friends and our immediate family know about this agreement. The rest don't." He explained further.

"Oh, so we are lying to people?" I didn't like the idea of lying to our friends and family.

"No Sky, we are simply leaving a few details out of the wedding invitation."

"Convenient way of putting it."

"It really is isn't it?" He smirked clearly proud of himself.

"Sky!" I turned hearing Jessie's voice.

Her and Josh were standing behind me dressed in their best clothes with wide smiles and the free drinks in their hands.

"Hey, I've missed you." I hugged them both, throwing one arm over Jessie and the other over Josh - taking Josh by surprise since I've never really purposely hugged the man before.

Pulling back I decided it was only proper to introduce them to Anthony.

"Jessie, Josh this is Anthony, Anthony, this is Jessie and Josh." I smiled as I gestured between the three of them.

There was a handshake and a few smiles passed between them before Anthony quickly excused himself from my small gathering leaving me alone and in the comfort of Jessie and Josh.

"So," Jessie questioned me. "How has it been going?"

"Yes," Josh tuned in with more curiosity. "Please do tell."

I rolled my eyes and tried to repress a nervous smile. "It's been good."

"Good?" Josh looked at me unbelieving. "Is that is?"

I giggled at their reactions. "It's not as bad as I first thought," I answered honestly. "He isn't that bad really and he is trying, I can see that."

"So you're starting to like him then?" Jessie wanted some clarification.

I looked down as I thought about it. Licking my lips nervously. Did I like him?

I enjoyed the banter and the challenge he posed, the temptation to prove him wrong or to show him I'm more than what I seem was becoming too great to ignore and, despite his own desires for convenience and order I think he was beginning to accept me for who I was.

Crazy, nuts, a little bundle of attention deprived mentality.

He didn't try to change me, his conversations were never boring and I have even laughed a few times. I guess I was beginning to trust him, and yes, I guess by extension; like him even.

"Yes," I admitted out loud. "I think I am."

Jessie gave me a small smile. "I'm glad things are working out Sky."

"We need to toast." Josh grabbed another two drinks off the waiter walking passed. He gave Jessie and me a fresh drink and picked up his half filled glass. "To Sky and her future."

I smiled at my friends and joined in the toast, raising my glass we clinked glasses and drank the wine.

Taking a long sip I pulled the glass back and felt a little fuzzy, my head spun a little bit and I suddenly felt very seasick.

"Sky you alright?" Josh frowned as he grabbed my arm to steady me.

"Yeah, I just need some water and a place to sit down. I'm going out side for a second." I told them as I pushed off Josh and started outwards.

I could hear the faint sounds of Jessie and Josh arguing about following me as I left and smiled. Stepping out of the cabin I took a deep breath, enjoying the cold air of the night. It was a beautiful sight, the stars reflected brightly off the water and the city lights danced with life.

I took another deep breath and felt a lot better, the wine and champagne had now settled in my stomach and I had sworn to only sip for the rest of the night. Turning around, I started walking back to the party when I heard something.

I frowned and paused to listen further. A mixture of talking of laughing from the wheelhouse of the boat - somewhere I was probably not allowed to go with my clumsy nature.

I took a few more steps closer without even noticing.

"So that's the girl you're going to marry?" One of the voices asked, it was a man's voice - I couldn't tell if it was Fynn or Charles voice but it wasn't deep enough to belong to Jordan.

I paused hearing the question. I know I shouldn't be ease dropping but my curiosity was just to controlling for me to take another step back. Peering up a little I peeked in the window to see Anthony and his friends.

Anthony chuckled loudly. "Yes that is insane little demon I am going to marry."

Insane little demon? I can show you how demonic I can be buddy. Conscious take a holiday, Inner woman get my lighter!

Shut up, I'm listening.

"She's not exactly ugly." James came to my defence.

Naw thank you. I like that one.

"Yeah, but she's not exactly mentally stable either. I fear for my own sanity." Anthony spoke as he and his friends started laughing.

I had heard him call me crazy, mentally unstable and disabled all before, but, hearing him say it to other people, to people who would be judging me right this second and for the procurable future, it hurt and more than it probably should.

"I bet you can't wait for those divorce papers." Another so-called friend of his put in.

"It won't matter." Another voice tunned in. "He has a pretty little assistant and a new company to play with."

They all erupted into fits of laughter.

My lips parted as I tried to breath. I didn't know what to say; I didn't know what to do or even how to feel. It hurt, hearing that. I thought we were on good terms, I thought we were starting to get along, that maybe, just maybe he was starting to like me, as I had started to like him.

I thought we had an agreement, an understanding that we wouldn't be 'playing around' with anyone during this so-called relationship.

But clearly, my trust has once again been miss-placed.

I leaned up against the wall and closed my eyes to stop myself from tearing up. I hated the idea of crying over a man, or worse, his words. If I was going to shed a tear, it better be for a damn good reason.

I sniffed and bit my bottom lip hard trying to gain some sort of composure.

Maybe I had heard wrong? That was a possibility?

Do you really believe that?

I looked down ashamed that I even doubted myself. He never denied it, his friends know him far better than I do and let's face it. I knew those divorcé papers sat in the bottom draw of his office desk, ready and waiting for the day he can no longer tolerate me.

I pulled myself over to the back of the boat and looked down. I didn't want to go back out there, pretending to be a good loving fiancé as my 'future-husband' sat there with a smug smile on his face. I couldn't do it. I wouldn't pretend, I wouldn't subject myself to that scrutiny.

With my inner courage, and pride united, I climbed down the ladder at the back of the boat until I stood on the platform right at the water level. I pulled off my heels and left them on the platform before I lowered myself into the water.

I hissed at the coldness of the water and momentarily cursed my inner courage for this idea. I lowered myself further into the water and started swimming towards the dock - thankfully it wasn't too far from the boat.

I slowed my poor stroke as I reached the dock, swimming around to the side I found the old ladder and started pulling myself up to the dock. I sat down for a brief moment as I suffered with the brisk chill running through my bones.

"Ms Martin!" I heard my name being called from a distance.

I didn't bother to turn around. I didn't want to have to give anyone my attention right now.

"Ms Marin, it's freezing you shouldn't be in the water." Roy draped something over my shoulders as he reached out and gave me his hand.

I took Roy's hand to let him help me to my feet as I pulled the blanket around my shoulders welcoming the warmth it bought me.

"Take me home please."

Roy looked a little unsure as he glanced back at the boat. "Mr Renner..."

I interrupted him. "Will not be joining us. Please Roy, just take me home."

Roy nodded his head and opened the door for me. I slid into the car while Roy climbed into the drivers seat and blasted the heater to keep me from catching a cold. I hugged the blanket and leaned my head up against the window, watching mindlessly as the lights flickered by in a blur.