Fallon had almost disappeared inside when I called her name, and when she looked back, I said, “Thanks for being such a good friend.”
She just nodded.
Her words followed me the rest of the morning, battling with Chelsea’swords from the day before, and Beckett’s offer, and my own tormented feelings.
But by the time I jogged down the apartment steps after showering and changing, I felt a bit more settled. I’d help Beckett out, and he’d help me, and in doing so Dad would have a place to land while we sorted his financials. For a few months, I could pretend to the town that everything I’d wanted had come true, and when it was over, I’d tuck my heart back into my chest and make believe nothing had changed.
Chapter Ten
Beckett
KEEP UP WITH A COWGIRL
Performed by David Adam Brynes
FOUR YEARS AGO
HER: Thanks again for coming to my graduation and taking me to dinner. Having Kurt show up was a surprise. Make sure to thank him again for me.
HIM: You already thanked him so many times he’s still blushing.
HIM: I couldn’t be prouder of my Maisey-girl. Fallon and I are both proud of you. What was your dad’s excuse for not showing up?
HER: Rig broke down in New Mexico.
HIM: And Chelsea?
HER: She had an audition in LA.
HIM: When she graduated, it was the middle of your finals, and you still drove six hours to attend, but she couldn’t be bothered to show up for you?
HER: Don’t. I had a good day. I had the most important people with me. It’s your turn next.
HIM: I’m not walking. I just need the paper stating I got my master’s so I can move on to the next task on my list.
HER: Celebrating your achievements is important.
HIM: When I get my captain’s bugles, we’ll celebrate. I’ll let you get me drunk and take advantage of me.
HER: *** eyeroll and puke emojiis ***
HIM: Darlin’, I think something’s wrong with the emojis on your phone. I think you meant to send *** drooling face, jalapeño, and fireemojis ***
PRESENT DAY
I was wrestling with Vader, whokept sticking his nose into the kitten’s crate, making feeding her impossible, when Tejas’s deep, flirty “Hey, Maisey” had me whipping around.
Maisey barely had time to say hello back before Vader abandoned me to go crashing into her. She laughed, the sound filling the air and loosening the knot that had been lodged in my chest since I’d left her at the hospital the night before.
“Well, hello to you too, boy,” she said, brushing her hand over Vader’s head.
I swore my dog quivered at her touch. Lucky bastard.
When her eyes lifted to mine, the beautiful picture she made ripped the air from my chest. Her hair fell in soft, tumbling waves over her shoulders, and all I could think about was how it had felt curled around my finger yesterday—soft and silky—filling me with visions of fisting it as we came apart together.
Today, it wasn’t only her hair but another damn summer dress that did its best to wreck me. Blue and white with buttons tracing a line between her breasts, it taunted me to slowly undo each one. Or better yet, tear them open and feast on her until I sated this new, unrelenting, and reckless hunger.
The yearning I had for her these days felt so wrong. But how could I escape it when she looked like summer skies and weekend delights all rolled into a single, sweet package?