Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“Is there something wrong with her, Beck?” she asks him. “Is she ... simple?”
Whoa.
Bitch did not just call me simple?
She did not.
Before he can answer, I decide, fuck her, I’m going to play along with her rude behavior. If she wants to think I’m simple, I’ll let her, and then I’ll shock the cow before she leaves and let her know that Beckett is here with a smart, intelligent woman that she underestimated.
Oh.
She’s messing with the wrong woman.
I give her a slow smile, and then clap happily, making her jump a little.
“I’m so excited you finally brought your mother to visit, Beckett.”
Becky gasps. “Mother! How old do you think I am!”
It wasn’t a question. I answer it anyway.
“Fifty-six?” I throw out there, face deadpan.
She looks horrified.
“Okay, fifty-four,” I give her a kind smile.
She’s going to bust.
“Fine, fifty-three but that’s the lowest I’m going to go.”
“I’m his girlfriend, you insignificant twat,” she snaps.
I wave a hand at her. “Oh, you little cougar!”
Beckett covers his mouth and turns away, trying to hide the smile. Becky looks utterly horrified, staring at me like I’m the most disgusting thing she’s ever seen.
“Beckett, control her,” she seethes.
“Come on, honey. That’s enough, yeah?”
Honey.
God damn.
That takes me a second to process. It feels amazing.
Becky doesn’t like it; she looks at him with horror. “Seriously?”
“Calm down, Becky,” he says, carefully.
“Oh, that’s so weird.” I laugh. “Beckett and Becky, double b’s, which is all she looks like she has.”
Her mouth drops open, Beckett stifles another laugh.
“Oh, how rude,” Becky gasps. “It’s not nice to say things like that, Poppy.”
She’s talking to me like I’m a naughty child.
“Anyway,” Beckett steps in. “Let’s leave Poppy alone, we’ll talk outside.”
He takes Becky’s arm, gives me a little grin that makes me weak at the knees and walks outside. I won’t deny it, when they walk out and I see her embrace him outside, it makes me feel sick to my stomach. A feeling I’m not familiar with because it’s a feeling I haven’t felt about a man in my life before. I haven’t had a boyfriend that I’ve loved. I never loved Mateo, hell, he gave me good sex and I cared about him, but not love. Not even close.
Not even a little bit close.
I haven’t had a warm feeling like this in the very pit of my belly, a feeling that makes me unsure, vulnerable, and almost weak. I’ve never been weak in my life, not for a single second, but Beckett is proving to awaken something in me that I’m not familiar with. I don’t know how to deal with it, or how to process it, all I know is I don’t like it. Not one bit.
Because as I hear their whispers of chatting, the green-eyed monster comes out and I wonder what they’re talking about. Is he holding her hand? Touching her? Are they sharing little kisses? Warm hugs? Tender affection that makes my stomach twist?
I turn and walk away, going to wash the dishes while they stay outside. Are they having sex out there? Is he pressing her against the wall with his body against hers, fucking her slowly so I can’t hear?
God dammit.
I take the bottle of vodka from the bench and bring it to my mouth, sipping it until the liquid burns my throat and makes my stomach turn. Probably not a good idea, but I don’t care, I need something to distract me from the inner feelings that are making me crazy right now. I finish the dishes, and a good few more sips of vodka, then Beckett and Becky come inside. She looks pissed and glances at me.
Fuck her.
“I’m not simple,” I say to her, bringing the bottle of vodka to my lips. “In fact, I’m probably smarter than both of you combined. I’m here because I have to be, so you don’t need to worry about me stealing your man. I have a job to do and then none of you will ever see me again.”
Becky blinks, then glares at Beckett. He shrugs.
“I didn’t ...” she begins.
“Didn’t meant to insult me?” I ask. “Oh, honey, it takes more than that to offend me. I’ve met far more stuck-up people like you in my life then I’d care to count. Nothing you could possibly say would offend me, god, not even close.”
Her face goes red, and she looks to Beckett, as if offended that he’s not defending her.
“I think you should go,” Beckett tells her. “Tonight isn’t a good night.”
“You’re taking her side?” she asks, her voice soft.
I can hear you, idiot.
“I’m not takin’ anyone’s sides. I’m just not in the mood for a bitch fight,” Beckett tells her.
“She’s being rude to me, you’re supposed to have my back,” she whisper-hisses at him.
I turn and walk away, going into my room where I shut the door.