Page 88 of Forever Always

“Oh my god!” I half-laughed, half-panted when we finally stopped running about a block and half away. My hands were on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. I really needed to start working out. Damn.

Beckett slumped against the wall, just as out of breath as I was. “Fuck. I can’t believe I forgot to lock the door. They almost got a show.”

I snorted a laugh. “Yeah . . . I can’t believe we did that.”

Becks pushed off the wall and pulled me to his chest. “It was worth it. This has been the best day of my life, Ri. Thank you.”

I kissed his jaw, absolutely beaming. “I was just thinkin’ the same thing. I’m so glad I was able to give this to you. I gotta make Liam a card or something.”

Beckett just shook his head. He was right up against me, and it hit me that he never got to come. “Shit, Becks, you never . . .” But he brushed me off.

“Maybe when we get home. Not takin’ that chance again.”

“True. So . . . what now?”

I wasn’t ready to go back to the apartment yet. Even if it meant having to wait to get Becks off, it just felt so good to be out and about.

Beckett looked around, like he was trying to figure out where we were. “There’s that Waffle House down the road from here. They’re still open. Let’s go get somethin’ to eat. I’m starvin’.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you sure?” I really fuckin’ wanted to. I couldn’t even remember the last time we’d gone out to eat, even somewhere like Waffle House. I just didn’t want him spending money we didn’t have.

Beckett kissed my jaw. “It’s a special occasion. We’ll be fine.”

I decided to trust him and agreed. Besides, I really wanted a waffle.

We didn’t end up stumbling home till almost 4 am. We were both exhausted, but we still gave each other mutual hand jobs before we crawled into bed and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

CHAPTER 32

BECKETT

My fingers fumbled as I struggled to open the front door, freakin’ exhausted. I’d been working overtime at the factory for the last week, plus I had picked up extra shifts at the bar. Riley had been pissed, especially because he was making good money at the restaurant so I didn’t really need to. We already had most of next semester’s tuition saved up, and as long as Dad didn’t fuck us over again, we’d be okay.

But I still found myself saying yes every time I was asked to work an extra shift. Part of it was because it was ingrained in me not to turn down money. We might’ve been okay right now, but that could turn around at any fuckin’ second. We’d learned that lesson the hard way.

The bigger part was that the longer Mr. Chase was MIA, the more freaked out I became. We had that one amazing night that I’d always be grateful Ri gifted me with, but after that things had started to go downhill. That had been a much-needed break from reality, but when I’d woken up the next morning to yet another article exposing even more atrocities that Mr. Chase had done, I was back to square one. I couldn’t be alone. Whenever I was, I panicked until I either wanted to hurt myself or get so high I forgot all my issues.

Neither of those were good options, so instead I worked. And worked some more. Since our date, I’d barely seen Riley for more than a few hours, which I hated, but I couldn’t stop myself. I only saw Jay when he showed up at the bar. He’d been staying almost exclusively at Dakota’s house, and between that and our work schedules, it wasn’t as easy finding time with my best friend as it had been only a couple weeks ago.We did try to make sure no one was ever out alone though, and for the most part, it had worked. Today, though, Jay had picked up an extra shift and Ri was also working. Even Dakota was at the hospital. So I didn’t have a choice but to come home on my own.

I finally got the door open and was about to walk in when I felt a hand wrap around my bicep. I spun around, fist already up and swinging.

My first froze midair, like an invisible wall was in the way, and I was unable to move another inch forward as I came face-to-face with Mr. Chase.

The air whooshed out of my lungs as he bodied me into the door, something sharp pressed against my neck. A knife.

No. No. Fuck. No. This couldn’t be happening.

I stumbled inside and nearly lost my balance. Mr. Chase was right there. He held me in place and pushed the knife harder. He kicked the door shut before I could even begin to get my thoughts straight.

It was too much. The knife, the man. I fought to stay in the present, but it was too hard.

“She left me! She abandoned us! And you’re just flaunting it in my face, aren’t you? But I’ll make it better. You just stay still and I’ll cut this right off so she can’t haunt us anymore.”

“Give me the knife, Mr. Cooks. We both know you won’t use it.”

My hand shook as I held the bread knife I’d nicked from the cafeteria. “I’ll slit your fuckin’ throat. I swear I will! I won’t let you touch me no more! I’m fuckin’ done. Back the fuck off.”

“Language, Mr. Cooks. You know how I feel about you speaking like that when we’re together.”

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