Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
He smiled. “I’m glad.”
“Speaking of friends, it was so fun tonight to hear the stories of how everyone met and fell in love. I was dying laughing at the image of Blair getting out of her car in that white dress, and then fainting on the sidewalk.”
Beckett shook his head. “I wasn’t there, but I have always been able to picture it perfectly.”
“Cheyenne invited me to the wedding.” I swirled the last bit of tea around in my mug.
“That would be fun.”
“Are you a groomsman?”
He nodded.
“Think I could tag along? Unless you have a date,” I went on quickly.
“Just my dad, if he’s having a good day. He’s my usual plus-one at these things.”
“Well, I’d love to attend, although I’d have to figure out what to do with Elliott.” I finished my tea and set down the mug. “Maybe one of the girls knows a sitter.”
“I could ask my sister Mallory to come over with my niece.”
“Really?” I straightened up. “Oh my gosh, that would be perfect!”
“She’ll be here tomorrow. I’ll ask her then.”
“Thanks.” Smiling, I rose to my feet, and carried my plate and mug over to the sink.
Beckett got up too, heading for the garage door, and a moment later I heard the clink of his bottle when he placed it in the bin. Returning to the kitchen, he said, “We can get going on the yard cleanup tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I rinsed my plate and mug and put them in the dishwasher. “But if you’re too busy, I understand.”
“I’m not. I want to help you.”
Closing the dishwasher, I turned to face him. “Thank you. And thanks for listening tonight.”
“What are friends for?”
Our eyes were locked, and the room suddenly felt thick with tension. I thought of Blair’s advice—I vote you kiss him and see what happens—and licked my lips.
Beckett’s jaw ticked. His eyes were on my mouth.
If I took a step toward him, would he meet me halfway?
But I remained still, and Beckett stayed where he was, his arms folded over his chest.
Unsettled, I looked at the clock and saw it was ten-thirty. “Well, it’s getting late. I guess I’ll turn in.”
Beckett cleared his throat. “Me too. I’ll get the lights and lock the doors.”
“I’ll wait for you.”
He looked at me a moment, and I thought he was going to insist I go up to bed, but he didn’t. Once the back door was locked, he turned off all the kitchen lights, and I followed him into the great room.
I waited at the bottom of the stairs while he locked the front door and switched off the one lamp he’d left on. As he moved toward me, I started up the steps. He followed behind me.
My pulse was racing for no good reason. All I was going to do was say goodnight at the top of the stairs. Maybe give him a hug.
I wasn’t going to kiss him.
I wasn’t going to touch him.
I wasn’t going to suggest it might be fun to play naughty naked unicorn toss in my bed.
My feet took each step slowly, but I swear to God I was sweating by the time I reached the top. The upstairs hall was dark and silent. I paused outside my bedroom door.
When Beckett reached the landing, he headed for his bedroom. “Night.”
I opened my mouth to say goodnight—I swear I did.
But that’s not what came out.
“I need to tell you something,” I blurted.
He turned and faced me.
“I want to answer your question.” My heart raced, and my fingers locked over my stomach.
“What question?”
“You asked me—last night—why I always chose jerks.”
“You said you didn’t know.”
“I lied. I do know.”
He was silent a moment. “So tell me.”
I took a step toward him. “I chose jerks because they didn’t ask anything of me. They didn’t expect anything of me. They didn’t even want much from me—just skin.”
Beckett took a deep breath, his chest expanding.
“That’s why I couldn’t be with you,” I whispered.
“Because you think I would have expected perfection?”
“Because you would have deserved it.”
He exhaled and shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
“I’m sorry. This is stupid.” I squeezed my eyes shut a moment. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this right now. It’s not like I can go back and do things differently. I guess I just wish I would have been brave enough to tell you the truth back then.”
“What’s the truth?”
“That I wish I could have been yours. I know you would have been good to me.”
He said nothing for ten full seconds, during which my heart banged painfully against my ribs and I regretted everything.
“Listen, forget I said anything,” I said quickly. “I don’t know what Blair puts in that apple pie, but—”
“I have something to tell you too.”
I swallowed. “You do?”
“Yeah. Several things, actually.” He moved closer to me, so close I could feel his breath on my lips. “First, I’m glad you finally answered my question. It’s been bothering me for fifteen years. Second, you’re right. I would have been good to you. And third, no—we can’t go back and do things differently. The past is past.”