Page 158 of Whirlwind

Squeals, screeches filled my ears. “Thank you so much, you guys, this is great.” Yelps and nervous giggles.

Engaged to Beck Lanier?

No, no, no, no, no. HANG THE FUCK ON.

“When’s the wedding?” One of the girls asked on a loud whisper.

“Soon. Got to record a new album first.” Beck grinned.

The girls shifted their weight on their fancy sneakers. “We didn’t believe that story about you and Myles’s girlfriend. What a mess. We felt so bad for you and Myles.”

“Appreciate it.” Beck said. “Really do.”

“Girls, come on!” A woman stood a few yards away, waving at the girls. Their mom?

“We have to go. This was so exciting! Thank you, Beck, thanks Violet. Congrats! We can’t wait for the wedding!” The three girls turned, hair flying, tripped on themselves, giggling, and hopped off.

“What was that?” I faced him.

He cocked an eyebrow, his shoulders drawing up.

“Beck Lanier, what did you just do?” The words fell from my mouth.

“I don’t want to lose you, Violet. You going back to Meager is putting me on edge. I don’t know what Ladd said to you, but you weren’t straight with me and there’s a reason for that. You’re mine and now the whole world knows it.”

“I’m yours?”

He leaned in close to me. “You are mine, baby. Mine in every way. You’re just not ready to admit it yet—to me or yourself.”

“So now you just started a rumor about our engagement?”

“Not me, no.” He swiped on his phone and showed me the screen. Headlines from a reliable gossip source on Twitter screaming that Beck and Violet got engaged in Greece. Photos of us kissing at the cafe in Athens, arm and arm in Athens, in Mykonos, with quotes from witnesses.“He gave her a ring, she shouted out loud and they kissed. So romantic!”Even a close up of the ring Beck gave me in all its edgy purple brilliance.

The ring that still wouldn’t budge off my finger, especially now after such a long flight.

“This isn’t funny.”

“No, it’s very serious. And in two point two minutes, those girls who just talked to us and took pics will spread the news even further. Like wildfire on a dry prairie. By the time I get to LAX, photographers and reporters will be waiting, and I’ll be smiling. I’ll have Naomi feed that fire. And by the time you get to South Dakota, we’re completely confirmed as engaged.” He took my hand, his tongue flicked over the ring. Crude, sexy, lewd, possessive.

I freaking loved it.

I freaking hated it.

“You—you can’t do that.”

“It never ceases to amaze me that I have fallen for the one girl that isn’t crazy for a chance with Beck Lanier.”

“I’m not most girls, you arrogant—”

His firm hand gripped my jaw. “You are definitely not like any other girl, and that’s why I don’t want to lose you. Right now I have to go to L.A. and be there for my best friend, deal with my band and cement our plans for our new record. Then I will come to you, and we’ll be together.”

My pulse pounded at the firmness of his voice, the firmness of his pronouncement. I sputtered.

“Until then, our engagement is my insurance policy that you’re mine.” His grip eased and he stroked the side of my face.

“Beck! This isn’t—”

His face suddenly streaked with red, our lips a breath apart. “I’m falling in love with you, Violet.” He took my mouth in a fierce kiss, his hands sliding around my neck. The air knocked out of me, a dodge ball to the chest, an explosion of everything I thought I knew.

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