Page 21 of Blindsided By Fake Love

Scott’s head drops, and he blows out a breath. For a second, I think he might actually regret how he treated me, but when his gaze meets mine, all I see is annoyance.

“Who’s the new guy?” He asks bitterly, and my stomach swirls.

How did I never see that the only person Scott cares about is Scott?

Behind me, a car door slams. I turn and there’s Beau getting out of his car, striding toward us like he’s exactly where he belongs. And just like that, the tension in my chest finally breaks.

Chapter Nine

Beau

“Areyoubeingseriousright now?” Jack’s eyes bore into the side of my head. “A duck? That has to be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard.”

I nod, my grin widening. “And yet, it works. Every. Time.”

“Really?” The skepticism in his voice and on his face reminds me of the first time I was told this little trick.

“Really!” I say firmly. “The key is to let everything, whatever it is, roll off. It’s not easy, and takes practice to executes it. But once you get it, it changes everything.”

“Hmm,” Jack says, his finger on his chin. From the corner of my eye, I notice his shoulders shaking. And then, for the first time since spending time with him, he laughs. Not just any laugh, but a full belly laugh. I would be offended except I take the advice I gave him and let it roll off—like water off a duck’s back.

“Hey!” I say, pretending to be offended. “One day, you’ll realize that’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten.”

He’s holding his stomach, struggling to breathe. “But every time I try to use it, I’m going to think of you!”

“Awwww. You love me.” I give him a soft shove on his shoulder and am rewarded with my new favorite behavior—the eye roll. “I had the same experience with the person who gave me this advice. Surprisingly, that made putting it into practice easier.”

“It did?” Jack’s fully invested in this tidbit of information.

“Yup! Any time someone said something that would normally hurt me or make me angry, I would think of my dad. I’d end up laughing at how silly the whole ‘duck’ thing was. Once that happened, whatever it was that bothered me didn’t anymore.” And the smile breaks free across my face as I remember this exact conversation with my dad. I was younger, but it went a lot like this one. “If it works as well for you as it has for me, I’m fine being the butt of your joke.”

When I turn toward him, he rolls his eyes…again, and I can’t help but snicker.

My humor fades when I park in front of the clinic and see Kit with Scott.

Jack’s gaze follows mine, his brows furrowed as he picks up on the tense exchange, too. “Is she okay?”

Kit’s shoulders are up to her ears, and her arms are wrapped protectively around her body.

From here, I can see Scott glaring at her. My hands tighten around the steering wheel, and my jaw clenches. I glance at Jack while reaching for my door handle.

“I’m gonna go check. Stay here until I tell you to come up, okay?” I don’t wait for an answer before getting out of the car. As I pass by the front of the hood, I point through the windshield. “Wait for me to call you.”

Jack stops reaching for the door handle, his forehead pulls, and he nods. Hopefully, he stays put.

With Jack taken care of, I turn back to the porch and notice when Kit sees me. I watch her shoulders drop. Immediately, the tension in my chest starts to ease.

Taking the steps three at a time, I position myself between Scott and Kit and stay close to her side. Sliding my arm around her waist, I kiss her on the cheek.

“Hey. Sorry I’m late.” I search Kit’s face for a sign that she’s okay. Her eyes flare with surprise before giving me the slightest of nods. I unclench my jaw. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.”

Without removing my one hand from her back, I reach the other hand out to Scott. “Hey, Palmer. How are you?”

“Beau? Beau Matthews?” Scott’s jaw drops out as he shakes my hand. “What are you doing in town?”

A wry curve crosses my face. “Me moving back seems to be the best-kept secret of the year. Which for a town like Starhaven is completely unexpected.”

“You’re back?” His shock-filled expression would be comical if I didn’t have an overwhelming urge to toss him from the porch. “In town?”

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