Page 185 of Will Bark for Pizza
Luke scanned the apartment, as though he was just seeing it for the first time. Beckett outdid himself with the details. I was told my friends helped, but I knew it was because he wanted me to have the best. I wondered how much my brother knew about this secret project.
“You talk to Beckett?” Luke asked, as though reading my mind.
Eerie, but okay.
“No. Not . . . lately.”
Not since the night of the grand re-opening, when I told him I couldn’t see him anymore. But that didn’t mean I didn’t reach for my phone all the damn time, my fingers itching to shoot him a text. He respected the space I clearly needed, but it wasn’t bringing me the peace I hoped.
“You should.”
I eyed my brother suspiciously. “Why areyouencouraging this?”
“You two aren’t exactly subtle,” Luke said, his tone a grumble.
“Oh.” I bit down on my bottom lip. “Well, it’s not going to work out.”
“What did he do?”
That my brother immediately took my side over that of his best friend warmed a spot inside my heart I didn’t realize was still frozen. Maybe people could change. People who wanted to anyway.
“Beckett didn’t do anything,” I said.
“Then, what’s the problem?”
“Me, dummy. I’m the problem, it’s me.”
“Then get your head out of your ass. Beckett’s a good man.”
“That’s kind of the problem.”
“Maybe your girlfriends will coddle you, but I’m not going to tolerate your fucking pity party. I’ve known Beckett for the better part of a decade. I’ve seen that man fall for women before, and hard. But I’ve never seen him fall for someone like he has for you. If you screw this up, I will have no choice but to lock you up on an insanity charge.”
“That’s harsh.”
“Did you think I was a soft kind of guy?”
“Maybe somewhere deep down in there.”
“If you won’t do it for you, do it for me. I’m getting tired of his ass moping around.” Luke scratched Husker on the head, pushed to his feet, and headed for the door. Hand on the doorknob, he looked back and said, “Take a damn shower first.”
SIXTY-THREE
BECKETT
“You’re finished?”Madeline’s face lit up through the phone screen as I shared the good news. I spent the past week working late into the night to finish the Kniffen Street house. It was the best distraction I had from Kira.
I missed the hell out of her, but I knew she needed space.
Patience, Aspen warned me, time and time again.
But no one warned me how fucking hardpatiencewould be.
“I just have a few finishing touches left, but you can start packing your bags.”
“We’ve been packing since I got home,” Madeline admitted.
“Of course you have.” I flipped the camera, walking the house to give my sister a tour. It was the perfect size for their family, and included an extra bedroom in case the family grew while they were here.
