Page 81 of Will Bark for Pizza
Okay, like ninety.
Beckett or not, it was the family and friends I missed most. The closeness. The connection. If I could find a way to preserve the bookstore before Dad sold the inventory—and maybe kidnap Lila—Bluebell Springs might make sense. Hell, even Luke wasn’t being as cold to me as he had a few days ago.
Husker lay down at the edge of the dock as I kicked off my flip-flops and dangled my bare feet above the chilled water. I wished, not for the first time, that I remembered my sweatshirt. Despite the unusually warm evening, it was still much cooler here than Omaha’s humid summer nights. I’d rather deal with goose bumps than swampy sweatiness, though.
I rubbed the back of Husker’s neck, certain he appreciated the friendlier temperatures with all that Husky fur.
He was so happy here, surrounded by people he loved instead of being stuck with only me in the apartment,bored out of his mind as I spent my days writing—or stressing about not writing, as I had this past year.
“Bubbies, leave it,” I warned him when he scooted farther forward, dipping his head over the side, no doubt catching a flicker of pondweed in the sliver of moonlight.
He grumbled in response.
“And what are you going to do if you fall in?” I asked him, as though he understood every word. “Do youwantto get wet?”
He looked back at me, his head tilted at that sharp angle that made him extra adorable, and usually resulted in bonus treats. I was about to admit as much when I heard the light chatter of male voices.
I stiffened, hoping to remain unnoticed on the edge of the dock. After hours of socializing, I was a little spent. I craved my solitude. But I also wasn’t ready to head back out to the farm.
“I wanted to give this place one last hoorah. For Aaron. He loved it out here.” Was that . . .Uncle Karl? He had an unmistakable gruff voice that tended to travel in clearings. I leaned back, as though that alone would help me hear their conversation better. “But I don’t plan to make this a regular thing.”
I let out a sigh. That was too bad.
Or maybe it was exactly the permission I needed to ask Karl about renting it myself.
I was a couple of weeks away from having to make a decision on my apartment lease. Was this the sign I needed to take the leap and make the move?
“You’re still planning to sell, then?”
Beckett?
What the actual fuck?
Why was Beckett Campbell having this conversation withmyuncle?
“If you’re still looking for somewhere to settle. I know you have other options?—”
“I’m definitely interested in this one. Luke mentioned something about rent-to-own?”
Luke? I was going to kill my brother. He might still be a little sore at me for last year, but we were at least back to being amicable to one another. Why the hell didn’t he say something to me about the cabin? Uncle Karl had talked about selling the place a few times over the past decade, but he always backpedaled. This time, it sounded serious.
“I’d rather be free and clear of the place, if I’m being honest,” Karl said. “Wendy, too.” Wendy? She didn’t bring it up when we met for an afternoon coffee date the other day. “But I’m sure we can work something out. I heard you’re also buying the bookstore, so I understand the timing isn’t great.”
“I can make it work.”
What. The. Fuck.
This was why I didn’t let my guard fall anymore when it came to a man. Because no matter how sweet they pretended to be, they were always looking out for themselves first. Beckett didn’t give two shits about me or what I wanted. And why would he? He didn’t know me. Not really. He’d been accepted into the family in my absence, and suddenly everyone was trying to sell him everything that meant anything to me. What was next? The fucking farm?
I wanted to march off to my Jeep and peel out of here. But I couldn’t leave the dock without exposing myself.
“Why don’t I give you a call next week and we can talk this over? I might have Owen facilitate the paperwork.”
“Sounds good,” Beckett agreed.
I wondered if Aspen knew her dad was selling the place. But of all people, she would have told me. Right?Right?
Gah, I hated how one twist made me question everything and everyone close to me. How I still struggled to trust anything.
