Page 68 of Forever Always

“Well, you don’t drink it. I figured it was to tell Dad fuck you.”

Becks kissed my head. “I guess it sorta was. But it’s okay. I ain’t mad. You needed to let go. It’s been a hard day.”

Beckett started takin’ my clothes off. “Are you gettin’ me naked, baby?”

He kissed my shoulder bone. “Yeah, butterfly. But just so you can shower.”

“You gonna shower with me? I need you.”

“‘Course, Ri. I’ll always be here.”

I was smiling as Becks took his own clothes off and helped me under the water. By the time he’d scrubbed me down and guided me back to the room, I was feeling a little sober and everything was starting to hit me.

“Do you think he’s really my dad?” I asked as we climbed in bed.

“I do.”

“Where was he then? Why show up now?”

“Let’s talk about it in the mornin’. You need some rest.”

I pouted, but before I could get one complaint out, my eyes started closing. “Don’t leave me, Becks.”

He kissed me softly and wrapped his limbs around me, pinning me to the bed. “You ain’t gonna puke on me, are you?”

I glared. “No. Squish me hard, Becks. I need to feel you.”

His arms and legs tightened and he burrowed his face in my neck, his scruff scratched my skin in the best of ways.

“I love you, Becks.”

“Love you too, Riley. We got this. I got you.”

“Forever?”

He nipped at my skin. “Always.”

CHAPTER 25

BECKETT

I felt it as soon as he walked through the door of the bar. Sure, the bells dinged, but I didn’t even look. I just knew it was Wesley.

I’d taken the time before he showed up to do a quick Google search but didn’t come up with much. There was an obituary for a Margaret Hayes where he was listed as a surviving child, a random article from 25 years ago about a local boy joining’ the Navy, and then a whole lot of nothing.

He came and sat down on a bar stool across from me, and I had to clench my fists together and take a step back so I didn’t punch the asshole without getting the story.

Riley had been a mess after he’d met Wesley Hayes. I’ felt so fuckin’ helpless. When my butterfly had pushed me away and told me to leave, it was like my heart was being cut out with a blunt knife. I’d take Dad trying to literally cut my skin off over that any day. Riley was upset, and I knew we’d be fine, but it didn’t stop me from feeling like I was shattering from the inside out, and it was this man’s fault.

I clenched my jaw. I’d invited him here for a reason, and it wasn’t to kick his ass. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I could. I’d seen him training in the gym. The guy knew his shit.

Still, if he was here to hurt Riley in any way, I wouldn’t back down. I’d fuckin’ die trying. I sized him up. “Somethin’ to drink?”

“Just whatever you have on tap, thanks.” I acknowledged him with a nod and grabbed a glass to fill.

Luckily, it was slow, but it didn’t seem like he was ready to talk yet, so I took a few minutes to wipe down the tabletops and make sure the regulars were good before I came back and stared him down.

“Is Riley okay?”

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