Page 52 of Beck

“Is it?” Beck asked.

Kole brought the image to the forefront again. “I think so.”

“Maybe we can talk to the police about it.”

“I don’t think there would be any point, would there?”

“Why not? It seems he’s still following you. They should be able to do something about it. Even if it’s just to warn him away.”

Kole thought about it as Beck put a mug of hot chocolate in his hands. The heat burnt his palms, but he didn’t move it. He needed the grounding it gave him.

“Drink,” Beck ordered from beside him.

Kole did. Pushing aside his own issues, he asked, “How are you feeling?”

Beck licked his lips, staring at his mug. “Weird. I still don’t know if it’s her, but I think it is. I’m hoping she doesn’t hate me.”

“She won’t. You weren’t to blame for whathedid.”

Beck nodded slowly. He didn’t believe him, but Kole would do everything he could to make him believe it one day. Maybe not that day. Maybe not the next day, but eventually, he would help Beck to understand it wasn’t his fault what Drake did.

“Finish your drink. We’ll have to leave soon.”

Kole didn’t push, so he let them drop into silence and drank his drink. And when Beck dragged himself from his stool, Kole followed suit. The silence lasted through the journey to the pub, and when they paused beside the bike, studying the building, Kole slipped his hand into Beck’s and squeezed. He heard Beck’s inhale and exhale before he stepped forward, Kole staying beside him.

Unsure what to expect but having a feeling it would be an emotional time—because Kole was certain this was the Rebecca from Beck’s past—he kept quiet, trying to be as much of a rock as he could. Beck had been so helpful to him, especially with his most recent revelation—something he’d think about another time.

The pub wasn’t very busy, and as soon as they entered, a woman with long, dark hair stood from a stool at the bar. She stared at Beck, and Beck stared back. Kole squeezed his hand again, not only to show solidarity but to break the moment enough to not cause too many heads to turn their way.

Beck stepped closer. “Rebecca,” he whispered.

The woman licked her lips, one side of her mouth curving up. “It’s just Becca.”

Beck huffed a laugh. “You used to tell us off for calling you anything but Rebecca.”

“I had to put my foot down about something. There were far more boys than girls.” She cleared her throat. “Would you like a drink?”

“A lemonade would be great, thanks.” Beck turned to him. “What would you like?”

“A glass of water would be good, please.”

Becca ordered for them, and when she turned back to them, Beck said, “This is Kole, my boyfriend.”

“Nice to meet you,” Kole said through a closed throat. He hadn’t expected such an introduction, but he couldn’t deny he was pleased.

“You, too,” Becca said. She gestured to a table. “Shall we sit?”

They headed over and settled in, the gentle conversation humming around them, the music only just loud enough to mask their words. It had a homey feel to it, kind of rustic, and Kole liked it.

“I asked to speak to you because I had so much to say, but now you’re here, I can’t think of any of it.” She sighed. “I’m so sorry, Beck.”

Beck played with the condensation on his glass. “You have nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I am the one who should be sorry. I thought he’d stop when I got sent away. I don’t know why I thought that. Maybe I just needed to believe it, but I need you to know… I tried to tell them. I tried several times, but they didn’t believe me.” He huffed. “Or if they did, they didn’t care.”

“Oh, they knew,” Becca said. “I heard them talking weeks after you went. I didn’t really understand it at that age, but thinking back now, I know what they meant. You weren’t the first, either.”

“I wish I had been the last.”

Becca leaned forward. “What happened to me was not your fault. Drake’s an asshole. He always has been.”

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