Page 94 of Breakout
“He’s handsome and probably the best guy I know,” I admit.
“I love that, but I sense a but in there somewhere.”
“But.” I smile, knowing she hates it when people start sentences with the word but. “I don’t think I’m good enough for him.”
Cora jerks back. “Wait, what? Did he tell you that or something?”
“No, never.”
“Then why do you think that?”
Sighing, I look over at my friend. “Because he’s Beckett Hayes. He’s a kick-ass hockey player who has a chance to play professionally, and if for some reason that doesn’t work out, he has a job at his family’s company all lined up. Hell, for all we know his dad could have his future wife all picked out, and that isn’t me.”
The idea sours my stomach. I don’t want Beckett to be married to anyone but me.
“You’re right,” she says, making my heart sink. “He does have a bright future ahead of him, and maybe his dad does have his future wife picked out for him, but that doesn’t mean Beckett will actually marry this imaginary woman. Not if he knows the woman he wants is actually interested. Let’s be real, if you askedthat man to marry you today, he would drag you off to the courthouse before you could change your mind.”
I feel my cheeks heat.
He already did that.
“Cora…”
“No, I’m serious.”
“What are you serious about?” Grace asks as she comes up and sits next to us.
“Apparently Peyton doesn’t think she’s good enough for Beckett,” Cora says, ratting me out.
Grace’s head whips toward me, and her eyes narrow.
“Come again?” Grace says without looking away from me.
“You heard me,” Cora mutters.
“Guys, seriously, you’re overreacting.”
“Peyton, you’re one of the hardest-working people I know. You have a full-time job and go to school full time. During the summer you work multiple jobs so that way you don’t have to take out as much in loans,” Grace says.
“That’s nothing.” I shrug.
“What about the fact you’re on the dean’s list while doing all of that? Take the compliment, woman,” Cora scolds.
“You are more than enough just the way you are, and anyone would be lucky to be with you,” Grace adds.
“Beck specifically,” Cora chimes in. When we look over at her, she shrugs. “What? Let’s be real. If Peyton tried to go out with someone else, Beck would lose his mind. The guy basically called dibs on you when you met and has just been patiently waiting for you to say go. Didn’t you see him at that party? He was ready to put you over his shoulder and take you upstairs while shouting ‘Mine.’”
“Please, he doesn’t want me that bad.” My cheeks heat as I shake my head.
Both girls’ eyebrows wing up in disbelief.
“How does it feel to be delusional?” Cora asks, making Grace laugh.
“I’m being realistic. If I were to give Beck a chance, who’s to say that it would last? Is it really worth the possibility of ruining our friendship? I rely on him a lot as a friend. I don’t want that to change.”
Grace grabs my hand and squeezes. “I felt like that with Clay. We were such good friends, and we were both scared out of our minds over the fact we felt more for each other. We took the risk, and it paid off. I think if you were to let Beckett in, he wouldn’t let go. I think you could be just as happy with him as I am with Clay.”
Sighing, I look over at the man in question. He really is the best, and he’s never made me feel less than. If anything, I feel like he’s the only one who sees me, who gets me. He must feel my eyes on him because he looks over and smiles.
