Page 28 of Anteros' Return

“Come on then, tell me what lies he fed you.” Harry glanced over my shoulder at Beckett but aimed his demand at me.

“They aren’t lies. You knew me, Harry. Do you really think I would have left her with absolutely nothing if I knew?” Beckett stepped around me, not wanting to hide, his crutches squeaking against the floor.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Idon’tknow you anymore.” He shook his head with a sarcastic smile.

“Please, can we sit down and talk about this?” I breathed out a sigh, hoping he’d agree.

“I’m happy to explain everything if Harry’s willing to listen.”

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes before settling in the armchair.

I let Beckett go over everything while Harry sat there stunned. I listened to it all again, hating that it cut deeper than the first time.

“That motherfucking snake.” Harry tightened his fist until all the blood had drained from his knuckles. “And to top it off, he’s acted like a fucking saint all these years! Wait until I get my hands on him!” He jumped to his feet, anger radiating from him. “I can’t believe I tried to set you up with him. How the hell do I have such bad taste in friends?”

“You fucking did what?” Beckett was seething, clearly pissed off at Harry’s confession. Apparently, he didn’t love the idea of me being set up with someone else.

“I hated you! Fuck, I probably still do, but you were gone. He fed us all shit, painting himself as a hero and stepping in when it counted. Why wouldn’t I have wanted that for my sister?”

“You mean stepping in to spend time withmyson when he was the one who caused all this drama and miscommunication in the first place?!”

I glanced between the pair of them, their eyes burning with fury at one another.

“That’s enough! This isn’t your fight, Harry. No matter how much you want it to be. Mike played Beckett and me, and when he’s back from his business trip, we’ll deal with it.” I turned to face my brother fully. “But I do need your help with something.”

“Anything. Name it.”

“I need you to help Beckett with Liam if he needs it.” He scrunched up his face as I spoke. I knew he hated the idea despite now knowing the truth. “Help him or don’t, either way he deserves to know his son.”

“So, what, you’re just going to blurt out he’s his father?” my brother asked.

“I’m going to be introduced as a family friend. Hopefully, it helps with Liam’s attitude towards me, but if it doesn’t, then we’ll take each day as it comes.” Beckett half smiled. I could tell he meant every word he said.

“Alright, I’ll help but that doesn’t mean I trust you.” Harry just couldn’t help himself with the remarks.

“It’s cute that you think I care,” Beckett said, earning a pissed off glare from my brother.

“I think it’s best if both of you leave now. I need to go to bed.” I rose from the sofa, hoping they would do the same. “If you want to leave your number, I’ll text you in the morning, Beckett.”

“It’s the same number it always has been. I never changed it in hopes that one day I’d hear from you.” A smile played at the corner of his lips.

“I deleted it years ago. You can just rewrite it for me.”

He scribbled down his number on the pad beside the sofa as Harry finally clocked the pizza.

“Did you order a takeaway or did you make that?” Harry asked, scrunching up his nose in disgust., already knowing the answer.

“If you already know the answer, why did you ask?” I laughed.

“Call it curiosity.” Harry chuckled.

“Do you want me to pack some for you to take home?” I teased, knowing just how much my brother hated my cooking.

I might have been good at baking, but unfortunately, I wasn’t when it came to cooking.

“Umm, you know, that’s a lovely thought. But I have food there.”

“I’ll take some.” Beckett smiled, clearly forgetting he only liked my baking.

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