Page 28 of Coming Home to You
The part of me that’s a dreamer and a hoper and a wisher wants Beck to call me his girlfriend, tell his friend that he loves me, that he can’t live without me.But the cynical part of me, the one who’s been through this all before knows it will only bring heartache.But today I’m not dwelling on the past or what may come.
I lean against Beck and he squeezes me a little tighter before saying, “Kelsey, this is my partner Ryan Summers.”I smile, but Beck continues talking.“And Ryan, this is my girl Kelsey Walters.”And when the last part leaves his mouth, my heart stops.“She’s the reason I can’t leave.”
Ryan greets me with a kiss on the cheek and a few words, but I’m in a daze, still replaying Beck’s words in my head and struggling to keep that bit of hope that has seeped through under control.
Beck’s arm leaves my shoulders and his hand gives me a pat on the ass, startling me a little, but bringing me back to the conversation.
“You okay?”he asks.
I nod my head, before telling Beck I’m going to go inside and get showered and changed.
I stop in the kitchen, listening to their conversation through the open window; part of me needs to know why Ryan is here and I have a feeling it isn’t because of the situation with Jason.
“So why are you here?”Beck asks.
“Gotta talk to you about some follow up shit with that case that’s about to close.It’s going to trial.But we can talk about that later,” Ryan says blowing it off like it isn’t important.But I know it is to Beck.I smile when I hear Ryan say, “So where can a guy get a beer in this town?”I can see why they’re friends, that’s the first thing Beck would ask too.
Beck comes through the back door and into the kitchen to find me still standing there.
“You sure you’re okay?I thought you were taking a shower?”He leans into the fridge pulling out two beers.
“Yeah, I’m fine.All good,” I lie.I can’t burden him with my issues right now.He grabs me and gives me a quick kiss before squeezing my ass and telling me to get moving.
“Hey,” Beck calls as I’m heading to the bathroom.“You mind if Ryan joins us tonight?”
“No, not at all.I’ll call Erin.See what she’s up to tonight.”Beck lets out a chuckle that stops me in the hallway.“What?”I question.
“You can invite Erin as long as you realize Ryan’s gonna try to fuck her.”He shakes his head, taking the beers with him.
“I think you’re underestimating Erin!”I yell as he walks out the back door.
Before getting in the shower, I send Erin a text asking her if she wants to meet us at O’Loughlin’s in an hour for dinner and drinks.Her response is instantaneous and it makes me laugh.The poor girl is bored out of her mind.Since Beck has been back I’ve hardly spent any time with her and with her being off in the summers, she expects me to be her entertainment.Sometimes I wonder what possessed her to become a teacher and why she would take a job in this tiny ass town.
An hour later the three of us are walking into Beck’s dad’s place.I duck behind the bar greeting Pop with a kiss and a hug, while Beck gives him a simple nod and walks to the back of the bar and sits down with Ryan.
“Good to see you, baby girl,” Pop says, slinging a towel over his shoulder.“You look happy,” he adds, smiling at me.
“I am,” I answer back as I begin pouring Beck, Ryan, and myself beers.
“You’re not the only one who’s glad he’s back,” he says, eyeing me and I know he knows that I’ve wanted this since the day Beck left.
“I’m just enjoying it while it lasts,” I respond back, slipping the beers onto a tray as I tell Pop I’ll talk to him later.
Just then Erin walks through the door.You certainly can’t miss her.Gorgeous curly red hair, stunning green eyes and body to die for.But it’s that southern accent, paired with a short skirt and cowboy boots that has every head in the bar turning to look at her, including Beck and Ryan.
“Pop!”she yells, slamming her hands down on the bar.“Did you miss me?”
“Always, Erin,” he says, before handing her a pint glass of Harp, but the three of us know it’s what Erin likes to call a Harp Shandy.It’s even on the menu as The Erin.Harp mixed with Sprite.
“Come on, crazy girl.Let’s go sit down,” I say, dragging her away from the bar and the group of semi-drunk tourists who seem to be a little too friendly for my liking.
But what I should be concerned about is the way Erin and Ryan are eyeing each other before I even have a chance to introduce them.I’m pretty sure Ryan just eye-fucked the shit out of her and clearly he has no idea who he’s dealing with.
Beck stands up and gives Erin a quick hug while Ryan can’t take his eyes off Erin’s boobs.I slide in next to Beck leaving the only spot for Erin, which is next to Ryan.
As soon as she sits down, Erin slips her fingers under Ryan’s chin and forces his eyes to hers.“Hi, my name’s Erin Connelly and yes, I have amazing tits, but if you keep staring at them, I’ll never let you see them with my clothes off.”
Ryan nearly spits his beer out as Beck and I laugh out loud.That’s Erin for you.
