Page 34 of Beck

What if Drake had done something? Would he have followed Kole once Beck had left?

Stomach somersaulting, he dialled Kole, talking the moment he answered. “Are you okay? Did you get back okay?”

“I’m fine, Beck. I’m fine. I promise.”

Silence descended, and he waited for the inquisition. It didn’t come.

“Have you eaten?”

Beck swallowed against the lump in his throat. The lump that wanted to climb up through his eyes and out through his tear ducts. Through his churning stomach came a growl that reminded him he hadn’t eaten.

“I’m okay,” Beck said. “I just wanted to check on you because I left…quite abruptly.”

“As long as you’re okay. I’m cooking lasagne for dinner if you would like to join me. No strings. No questions. Just a hearty dinner.”

The sincerity in Kole’s voice was easy to hear, and Beck agreed when he really should have said no and holed up in his house by himself. But he wanted to check on Kole in person. At least that’s what he was admitting to himself.

“Okay. I’ll see you whenever you get here.”

Beck stared at his phone when the call ended, knowing he needed to let others know he was all right, but he couldn’t find the energy. Instead, he pulled up the maps and found he was around eight miles from Life in Ink. With no energy left to walk back, he called a taxi, giving the woman Kole’s address when she arrived. She tried to start a conversation, but Beck couldn’t reply.

He had nothing left to give.

And when Kole opened his door for him, it took every ounce of his willpower to not burst into tears when he saw him.

“Come on in. It’s almost ready.”

And that was it. That was all he said. Beck crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him, waiting for something…anything. He wasn’t used to feeling so out of sorts, and he wanted to say something to explain, but if he did, it would open an enormous box of snakes. A box he wasn’t sure he could close again.

“Do you want to get the drinks ready and I’ll dish it up?” Kole said.

Beck nodded and did his chore on autopilot, silence following them through the motions. When they sat at the table with a steaming plate of lasagne with a side salad, Beck tensed. Would Kole bring it up now?

“The shop was really busy this afternoon. I sold a few pieces, which is great. Oh, Joey has decided to get another tattoo done. He said he was going to let Ethan have a go, but Ethan started complaining, saying he wouldn’t trust himself to do it.” Kole chuckled. “Joey tried arguing the point, but I don’t think he’ll win. Well, unless he agrees to have it done in a really obscure place.”

Beck ate small pieces of the food, chewing a hundred times before he swallowed it felt like. But the more Kole talked about his day, the more Beck relaxed. And when the tension finally released its hold, he ate ravenously. Kole stood to get him a second portion with barely a pause in his talking. How he was eating and talking was beyond Beck’s comprehension right then.

When his second helping disappeared, he rested his hand on his stomach and groaned. “That was fantastic. Thank you, Kole.”

Kole beamed. “You’re welcome.” He gathered up the dishes. “Would you like a coffee?”

Beck exhaled. “Actually, I probably shouldn’t. I need to get some sleep.”

With those words, the tension crept back. Getting some sleep would mean going home, and going home would mean being alone, and being alone would mean he wasn’t safe. He shook his head, frowning. His home was safe. He’d made it that way. Even so, his stomach wouldn’t quit.

“You’re welcome to stay here instead of fighting with the traffic if you like,” Kole said from the kitchen area where he was putting the plates in the dishwasher.

The sight brought Beck’s manners to the forefront. “Let me do that.” He took the plate from his hand and nudged him from the kitchen. “Rest.”

Kole dropped into silence while Beck finished the chore, and then he wiped his hands and realised Kole was waiting for an answer from him. Checking in with himself, he decided hewasn’t ready to be alone, even if he knew his house was safe. Drake’s visit had shaken him enough to need company.

“If you’re sure, I’d love to borrow your sofa.”

Kole tilted his head. “You’re welcome to the sofa, but you’re also welcome to share my bed.” He held up his hands, palms facing outwards. “No strings attached. Just a slightly more comfortable sleeping arrangement.”

Beck nodded, but a yawn startled him. Covering his mouth, he wiped at his eyes and apologised. “I won’t say no to somewhere comfortable.”

Kole smiled. “Come on. Let’s get ready for bed then. I could do with an early night myself.”

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