Page 54 of Flare

“You wouldn’t be the first.”

“Can I maybe ask just one thing?”

“Can I stop you?”

He flicked a hand dismissively. “Did you tell Beck? And did he say something to upset you? Cos if he did, I swear I’ll—”

“He didn’t. It was nothing like that. But letting men close is... hard for me.”

Hunter leaned in. “Do you think he’s someone you could learn to trust?”

I didn’t have to think. I just nodded. “But I thought that about Nolan too, remember?”

“Nolan?” Kip fired a questioning look my way, but Hunter got there first.

“A jerk who forgot to pack his balls when he moved in with Rhys for a bit.”

“Fuck you,friend.” I flipped Hunter off.

“You’re thirty-four, Rhys,” he fired back. “Maybe Beck will deserve your trust. Maybe not. But you can’t lock your heart away forever just because some arsehole before him didn’t deserve it. Beck strikes me as nothing like Nolan.”

“Speaking of our poetry professor,” Kip interrupted, “when I shut up the store, I ran into a delivery guy.”

I perked up. “The new Danger Jean collection?”

Kip’s mouth curved up in a slow smile. “Not exactly.”

* * *

I looked between Kip’s knowing smile and the gorgeous bunch of flowers sitting on my office desk. “For me? Who the hell—?” It came to me with a stomach-lurching jolt. Beck.

“Oh, how sweet.” Hunter regarded the arrangement with the smuggest of smug smiles. “I just wonder who they could be from?”

I ran a scowl over my interfering do-gooder friends. Buttheyhadn’t made total fools of themselves.Theyhadn’t learned just how much wanting more could hurt. Bad enough thatIend up in that place again. I wouldn’t do that to Beck. Because Beck mattered for reasons I couldn’t or wouldn’t explain. Jack would be gone in a few weeks and things could get back to normal. It was nothing more than a stupid crush.

Then again, flowers.I groaned. What the hell was he thinking?

I pulled my glasses from my pocket and stared at them for a second, remembering.Ugh.I shoved them in place and read the card.

Rhys

I’m so sorry. I crossed a line. You were very clear and I took advantage. I hope we can still be friends. I really enjoyed your company. I’m sorry if I screwed things up. Socially stunted, remember?

Regards, Beck.

If flowers were apologies, I’d owe you a garden.

A little cheesy for my man of words but it didn’t stop my icy little heart melting into a puddle on the floor along with every bit of my resolve. I stared at the bouquet until Hunter nudged me.

“From Beck, I take it?”

I nodded, still staring at the flowers.

“Mmm. Then I’ll leave you to it.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. “I love you, you know that, right? You’re my best friend.”

I leaned back and tucked a wild lock of hair behind his ear. “I love you too, arsehole. Can we just leave it at that?”

He grinned. “And you know I want you to be happy.”

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